7.

Living expenses in Japan

Monthly Expenses
Monthly living expenses in Japan for a student from overseas (including tuition) on average nationwide comes to
about 138,000 yen. The most expensive region is the Kanto region at 151,000 yen. The Kanto region includes
Tokyo, where the monthly living expenses average 154,000 yen.
The high expense of Tokyo can be attributed to the high rent costs in the city, along with the costs of
transportation for commuting and will not be as high in the Fujisawa area. Moreover, the cost of living varies
depending on factors such as housing expenditure, food budget, lifestyle, etc.

Rents
Rents vary according to factors such as location, room size, and facilities. The following is a typical example for
ordinary, not furnished apartments in Shonandai.
Single room with kitchen area, toilet and bath:
from ¥30,000 and up per month
In addition to rent, you have to pay costs for electricity, water and gas as well as internet if you decide to get a
connection.
Moreover it is customary in Japan to pay other fees such as a key money, a deposit and a comission when you
move in. This can amount to an up-front payment of several months' rent when signing and means that your first
month in Japan will be more expensive than an average month.

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Examples for budget and spending (student/living alone)

●Student of Faculty of Policy Management ●Student of Faculty of Environment and Information Studies

Support from parents ¥60,000 Scholarship ¥51,000

Budget Scholarship ¥40,000 Budget Part-time-job ¥55,000
Part-time-job ¥40,000 total ¥106,000
total ¥140,000 Rent ¥51,000
Rent ¥68,000 Food ¥20,000
Food ¥16,000 Electricity, water, gas ¥10,000
Electricity, water, gas ¥10,000 Spending Social expenses ¥5,000
Spending Social expenses ¥7,000 Phone ¥5,000
Phone ¥8,000 Books ¥2,000
Books ¥5,000 Transport ¥3,000
Transport ¥20,000 Savings ¥10,000
Miscellaneous ¥6,000 Total ¥106,000
Total ¥140,000
(Sophomore student from Toyama Pref., male)
(Sophomore student from Okinawa Pref., female)

8. Sources and useful links

Keio and SFC

・Keio University International Center 2015 International Student Handbook:
http://www.ic.keio.ac.jp/intl_student/handbook/handbook.pdf
・SFC-Information for International Students:
http://www.gakuji.keio.ac.jp/en/sfc/sl/housing.html
・Keio University International Center:
http://www.ic.keio.ac.jp/en/life/housing/ryu_boshu.html

Housing Information
・Housemate – Shonandai branch:
http://syonandai-housemate.com/entry/4499/
・Mini Mini - Shonandai branch:
http://minimini.jp/shop/10016/shonandai/index.html
・Leopalace 21: For International Students:
http://en.leopalace21.com/students/
・ABLE: For International Students:
http://www.able.co.jp/international/
・Kyoritsu Maintenance:
http://www.gakuseikaikan.com/international/english/index.html
http://www.kif-org.com/placehall/e04.html

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