tools · 01
what does japan actually cost?
real monthly numbers, in yen. built from living here, not from a travel blog. slide your habits, then tap any number to make it yours.
city
housing
i'll be
your habits. slide to match your life
eating out: 4× a week
cafés: 3× a week
konbini runs: 4× a week
day trips: 1× a month
going out: 2× a month
ubers & taxis: 1× a month
your monthly budget · tap a number to edit
¥310,100≈ $2,001/mo
rent
share house, private room
language school
tuition, monthly average
groceries
cooking most meals
eating out
4× a week × ¥2,000 ≈ monthly
cafés
3× a week × ¥1,000 ≈ monthly
konbini runs
4× a week × ¥600 ≈ monthly
utilities
electric · gas · water
phone + data
budget sim
trains & ic card
outside your commute
commuter pass 定期券
school route · 通学 discount
day trips
1× a month × ¥8,000 ≈ monthly
going out
2× a month × ¥4,000. izakaya, karaoke
ubers & taxis
1× a month × ¥8,000. when the last train wins
health insurance
national health insurance (student rate)
pension
国民年金, student deferral available
personal + fun
gym, hobbies, weekends
want this as a full breakdown, with move-in costs nobody warns you about?
email me my budgetestimates from living here + public averages · usd at ≈¥155/$ · updated jul 2026 · your mileage will vary
a real month · not a hypothetical
what i actually spend, averaged from my own budget tracker.
rent
2dk · 40m² · kanagawa
¥74,000
language school
tuition, averaged monthly
¥72,000
groceries
¥16,000
eating out & snacks
¥12,000
cafés
mostly matcha, honestly
¥11,000
konbini
¥9,000
transport
trains + commuter pass
¥22,000
utilities & laundry
¥13,000
phone
¥4,000
health insurance
national health insurance
¥2,000
gym
¥7,500
subscriptions
the creator stack adds up
¥16,000
shopping & beauty
¥39,000
gifts & fun
¥14,000
everything else
adulting, fees, small stuff
¥23,000
a typical month
≈ ¥334,500
loose averages from my 2025-2026 budget trackers · business expenses excluded · trips extra · residence tax lands in year two. budget for it