Cost of Living in Tokyo
Japan
Monthly budget (single)
$2,708–$4,287/month
¥404,179 – ¥639,851 (local currency)
Last updated: 2026-03
Can you afford to live in Tokyo?
Enter your monthly take-home in USD. We compare it to typical budgets for your household size (estimates, not financial advice).
Cost breakdown
| Category | USD | Local currency |
|---|---|---|
| Rent (1-bed, city center) | $2,031–$3,159 | ¥303,134 – ¥471,493 |
| Rent (1-bed, outside center) | $1,072–$1,692 | ¥160,000 – ¥252,537 |
| Utilities (electricity, heating, water) | $85–$164 | ¥12,687 – ¥24,478 |
| Internet & Mobile | $34–$56 | ¥5,075 – ¥8,358 |
| Groceries (monthly) | $429–$643 | ¥64,030 – ¥95,970 |
| Eating out (per meal, mid-range) | $56–$102 | ¥8,358 – ¥15,224 |
| Coffee | $5–$7 | ¥746 – ¥1,045 |
| Public transport (monthly pass) | $107–$130 | ¥15,970 – ¥19,403 |
| Gym membership | $39–$73 | ¥5,821 – ¥10,896 |
| Cinema ticket | $16–$20 | ¥2,388 – ¥2,985 |
Budget scenarios
Single
$2,708–$4,287/mo USD
¥404,179 – ¥639,851
Top expenses
- Rent (1-bed center): ~$3,159/mo
- Groceries: ~$643/mo
- Transport: ~$130/mo
Couple
$4,287–$6,544/mo USD
¥639,851 – ¥976,716
Top expenses
- Rent (1-bed center): ~$3,159/mo
- Groceries: ~$643/mo
- Transport: ~$130/mo
Family
$6,205–$9,590/mo USD
¥926,119 – ¥1,431,343
Top expenses
- Rent (1-bed center): ~$3,159/mo
- Groceries: ~$643/mo
- Transport: ~$130/mo
Neighbourhood guide
Tokyo Center
CentralUrban core, transit access
Est. 1-bed rent: $2,539–$3,949/mo (¥378,955 – ¥589,403)
Tokyo Midtown
CentralMixed residential
Est. 1-bed rent: $2,234–$3,475/mo (¥333,433 – ¥518,657)
Tokyo Outer
SuburbanQuieter, family-friendly
Est. 1-bed rent: $1,625–$2,527/mo (¥242,537 – ¥377,164)
Quality of life scores
Pros & cons
✅ Pros
- • Safety
- • Transit
- • Food
❌ Cons
- • Small apartments
- • Work culture
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Estimates are for comparison only and do not constitute financial advice. Sources include our internal dataset and periodic third-party index updates.