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Cost of Living in Japan
As you may be aware, Japan ranks amongst the most expensive countries to live in the world. Check out our relocation cost survey to gain a better idea of the costs involved with education, shopping, accommodation and more.
- International Schools
- Market Basket
- Car Lease/Purchase
- Social Clubs
- Housing
- Japanese Language Schools
*All costs are listed in Japanese yen and are subject to change.
International Schools
American School in Japan (ASIJ)
Please see www.asij.ac.jp/ for further information.| Tuition: | Full Academic Year |
|---|---|
| Preschool through Grade 12 | JPY 2,020,000 |
| Application Fee *Non-refundable fee per student |
JPY 20,000 per student |
|---|---|
| Capital Assessment (Preschool – Grade 12) *Non-refundable, annual fee per student |
JPY 100,000 |
| School Year 2004/2005 | JPY 100,000 |
| School Year 2005/2006 | JPY 100,000 |
| School Year 2006/2007 | JPY 100,000 |
| Registration (Preschool – Grade 12) Building Maintenance *Non-refundable, one-time payment for all new students, upon registration |
JPY 300,000 JPY 500,000 |
| Bus (optional for Grades K-12) | JPY 325,000 |
ABC International Preschool
Please see www.abcinternationalschool.com/ for further information.| Tuition: | Full Academic Year |
|---|---|
| Depending on how many days per week and the program type | JPY 558,000 – JPY 2,132,000 |
| Application Fee | JPY 20,000 |
|---|---|
| Registration (per family) *Non-refundable, one-time payment for all new students upon registration |
JPY 200,000 |
Market Basket
The following prices are representative of a Japanese supermarket in central Tokyo. The same items at an international supermarket will be higher on average, and the same items at a supermarket located in the suburbs will be priced lower.
Dairy
| Milk (1L) | JPY 198 | Eggs (pack of 10) | JPY 188 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Butter (200g) | JPY 299 | Yogurt (500g) | JPY 260 |
| Cheddar cheese (200g) | JPY 504 | Whipped cream (200ml) | JPY 299 |
Meat, Poultry & Seafood
| Beef (100g) | JPY 339 | Ham (135g) | JPY 380 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ground beef (100g) | JPY 280 | Salmon (100g) | JPY 158 |
| Beef fillet (100g) | JPY 422 | Pork loin (100g) | JPY 248 |
| Chicken breast (100g) | JPY 80 | Chicken thigh (100g) | JPY 149 |
| Sausages (120g) | JPY 369 | Black tiger prawns | JPY 100 each |
Fruit & Vegetables
| Cucumber | JPY 248 for 3 | Tomatoes | JPY 178 each |
|---|---|---|---|
| Potatoes (500g) | JPY 198 | Lettuce | JPY 158 each |
| Broccoli | JPY 298 | Pumpkin | JPY 570 each |
| Apples | JPY 198 each | Oranges | JPY 106 each |
Drinks
| Apple juice 1L | JPY 189 | Soft drink 350ml | JPY 120 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mineral water 2L | JPY 239 | Soft drink 1.5L | JPY 312 |
| Table wine 750 ml | JPY 1280～ | Beer 350ml | JPY 218 |
Other Groceries
| Sugar 1kg | JPY 244 | Bread (loaf of 6 thick slices) | JPY 159～ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coffee 100g | JPY 150～ | Tea bags (pack of 25) | JPY 281 |
| Jam 165g | JPY 189 | Cookies (packet of 16) | JPY 197～ |
| Cooking oil 1L | JPY 498～ | Cereal (330g) | JPY 413～ |
| Potato chips 90g | JPY 145～ | Pasta (450g) | JPY 208 |
| Rice 2kg | JPY 1050 | Flour (500g) | JPY 134 |
| Ketchup 300g | JPY 207 | Mayonnaise (350g) | JPY 380 |
Toiletries
| Shampoo (200ml) | JPY 398～ | Mascara | JPY 800～ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lipstick | JPY1300～ | Moisturizer | JPY 700～ |
| Tampons | JPY 294 for 10 | Toilet paper (4 rolls) | JPY 289 |
| Kleenex (5 box pack) | JPY 358 | Soap (3 bars) | JPY 270 |
Cleaning Products
| Bath cleaner | JPY 310 | Glass cleaner | JPY 300 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mould cleaner | JPY 268 | Toilet cleaner | JPY 320 |
| Washing powder (1.2kg) | JPY 398 | Softener | JPY 378 |
| Cleaning wipes | JPY 270 | Dish washing detergent | JPY 258 |
Car Lease/Purchase
The majority of expat housing includes one parking space, with the exception being the newer high-rise apartment buildings in Tokyo where the cost can be as high as JPY 80,000/month.
By law, you must have a registered parking space before leasing or purchasing a car in Japan. While Japan’s public transportation systems are easily accessible and convenient for singles, most expat families coming to Japan benefit from having a car, allowing them to easily take their children to school, go to the supermarket and other day-to-day places.
The following is a list of popular vehicles in Japan with costs for purchasing new or leasing over a 36-month period. Short-period leases are also available at higher rates.
| Car Type | Purchase (new) | Lease (new) - 36 months |
|---|---|---|
| Honda Accord 2.0 E Family Sedan |
2,250,000 | 65,500 |
| Honda Odyssey 2.3 M 7 Seater Family Wagon |
2,400,000 | 70,000 |
| Honda S2000 Sports Car |
3,800,000 | 80,000 |
| Toyota Camry 2.4 Family Sedan |
2,500,000 | 75,000 |
| Toyota Land Cruiser VX Ltd. 4WD |
4,500,000 | 125,000 |
| Mazda MPV 2.3 Sports 7 Seater Family Wagon |
2,600,000 | 75,000 |
| Mazda Atenza Wagon 4WD Station Wagon |
2,600,000 | 75,000 |
| BMW 320i Luxury Sedan |
4,500,000 | 125,000 |
| Mercedes E320 Avantgarde Luxury Sedan |
8,085,000 | 181,000 |
Taxes:
- New car – 5% consumption tax and 5% acquisition tax applies at time of purchase
- Used car – 5% consumption tax and 5% acquisition tax on present value applies
- Yearly Prefecture tax is due in May – approximately 40,000 Yen
- Yearly Light Vehicle tax is due in April – about 10,000 Yen (based on the size of the engine)
Shaken:
- Compulsory inspection done after 3 years for new cars and then every two years (75,000 – 200,000 Yen)
Insurance:
- Mandatory Insurance/Compulsory Accident Liability Insurance (CALI) - Usually valid until the Shaken deadline (JPY 30,000). Coverage is only up to 30,000,000 yen per accident.
- Supplemental Insurance – A comprehensive policy may cost as much as 120,000 yen per year.
Social Clubs
- Tokyo American Club
- Members can take advantage of the club’s eight restaurants and bars, extensive banquet services and meeting facilities, gym, bowling alley, squash courts, swimming pool, sports leagues, classes and lectures, organized domestic and international tours, Women’s Group, 25,000 volume library for every age group with Internet access, a video library with 10,000 tapes including the latest releases, an English language bookstore, child care center, barber, beauty salon, an outside ticket service, and much more.
For a complete tour of the facilities available, membership information, dues and online sign-up, please see the Tokyo American Club’s website at www.tokyoamericanclub.org/.
Corporate Membership
| Eligibility |
|
|---|---|
| Entrance Fee |
|
| Deposit |
|
| Dues |
|
Housing
There are many factors that influence the price of housing in Japan, including the location, size, age and over-all quality and popularity of the building. Negotiation on the list price may be possible, however this is generally rather difficult with newer buildings and very much depends on the time of year and other factors such as how long the property has been vacant for and how keen the owner is to find a new tenant.
Please note that owner’s in Japan prefer to have housing contracts signed and payments made by registered companies in Japan.
Central Location – Tokyo (Minato-ku)
| Size | Monthly Rent | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Bedroom | JPY 250,000 - JPY 600,000 | High |
| 2 Bedroom | JPY 400,000 - JPY 750,000 | High |
| 3 Bedroom | JPY 600,000 – JPY 1,200,000 | Moderate |
| 4 Bedroom | JPY 900,000 – JPY 2,200,000 | Moderate |
| 5 Bedroom | JPY 1,600,000 – JPY 2,500,000 | Very limited |
Central Location – Yokohama (Naka-ku)
| Size | Monthly Rent | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Bedroom | JPY 200,000 - JPY 300,000 | Limited |
| 2 Bedroom | JPY 300,000 - JPY 500,000 | High |
| 3 Bedroom | JPY 500,000 – JPY 800,000 | High |
| 4 Bedroom | JPY 650,000 – JPY 1,000,000 | Moderate |
| 5 Bedroom | JPY 750,000 – JPY 1,200,000 | Very limited |
Central Location – Nagoya (Meito – ku)
| Size | Monthly Rent | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Bedroom | JPY 150,000 - JPY 300,000 | Limited |
| 2 Bedroom | JPY 200,000 - JPY 400,000 | High |
| 3 Bedroom | JPY 300,000 – JPY 600,000 | High |
| 4 Bedroom | JPY 400,000 – JPY 700,000 | Limited |
| 5 Bedroom | JPY 500,000 – JPY 800,000 | Very limited |
Japanese Language Schools
There are numerous Japanese language schools in Tokyo with various types of courses available. The following schools’ costs are intended to provide you with an idea of the range in the standard fees.
Meguro Language Center
Please see www.mlcjapanese.co.jp for further information.| Private Lesson (excluding tax) | |
|---|---|
| Registration Fee | None |
| Lesson Fee (90 minutes, 8 times) | JPY 54,000 |
| Group Lesson (excluding tax) | |
| Registration Fee | None |
| Lesson Fee (90 minutes, 32 times) | JPY 115,200/person |
Berlitz
Please see www.berlitz.com for further information.| Private Lesson (excluding tax) | |
|---|---|
| Registration Fee | JPY 30,000 |
| Lesson Fee (80 minutes, 15 times) | JPY 168,000 |
| Group Lesson (excluding tax) | |
| Registration Fee | JPY 10,500 |
| Lesson Fee (80 minutes, 20 times) | JPY 75,600/group of 3 – 6 people |
