Cost of Living in Japan
Cost of living. A lot of people ask me about it, complain about it when they’re here, but I think I’ll let the numbers do the talking:
Starbucks grande hot chocolate
¥480
Movie ticket
¥1800
– except on the first day of every month, when theaters offer ¥1000 specials; shows after 10 pm are ¥1200.
Subway club sandwich
¥490
w/ “large” drink +¥300
and two chocolate chip cookies +¥200
= ¥990
Precooked white rice at most supermarkets
¥100-300
Transportation between Osaka and Tokyo (550 km)
¥13240 by unreserved shinkansen, 155 minutes
¥21500 roundtrip fare by ANA
¥3500 by highway bus, 8 hours
¥400,000+ by taxi (someone tried this between Osaka and Fukuoka)
Levi’s blue jeans
~¥10,000 at department stores
English books
¥1000-3000
Frosted Flakes cereal
¥436
– the box is smaller than you’d expect
– not too many other kinds of cereal are available except at import stores (Honey Nut Cheerios ¥800)
1 L lowfat milk
¥126
– not all carry lowfat milk
1 L Minute Maid Orange Juice
¥236
Western style beds
¥100,000+
Comforters
¥6,000+
City streetcar fare
¥100-200
Average monthly salary for first-time English teachers
¥255,000
– before taxes
Social pension payment/month
~¥23,000
Social insurance payment/month
~¥13,000
Unemployment insurance payment
~¥2,000
Japanese-style bicycle with basket
~¥10,000+
Cars in Japan
Don’t even think about it. Although the initial cost would be comparable to those in most countries, being in Japan gives you the “opportunity” to obtaining a Japanese driver’s license, learning to drive on the left side, paying for auto insurance, and covering required inspections every two years (¥100,000+). Trains and buses will never be more convenient than they are here – use them.
Air travel
Not terrible if you’re going from a major city like Tokyo, but be sure to avoid traveling during Shogatsu (early January), Golden Week (early May), and Obon (mid-August), when fares can double or triple.
Nightlife
Many bars offer beer from ¥300-500, but on the weekends, clubs usually have a high cover of ¥3,000+ to enter; drinks may or may not be included. Look for nomihodai (all you can drink) deals.
International first class postage
¥110 (letter)
Monthly membership to a gym
¥7,000, usually ~¥10,000
1 355ml can of Coca Cola
¥120
1 small, small serving of Häagen-Dazs ice cream
¥263
One bundle of 5-6 bananas
¥200-400
One big red apple
¥200-300
Watermelon
¥10,000+
Melon (cantaloupe)
¥2,000+
“Super” fruit
There is a demand for “luxury” fruit items like ¥100,000 mangoes, ¥200,000 watermelons, even ¥40,000 oranges… naturally I haven’t been able to taste these and determine the difference, but I can’t imagine how it’d be worth it.
One slice of chocolate cake from the bakery
¥420
Taxis
Usually charge a base fare of ¥500-600, about 10X that you’d expect in Beijing or other parts of SE Asia.
