✦ Cost of living
Tokyo
Tokyo, Japan
US = 100
In plain terms: Tokyo is about 8% pricier than a typical US city. A one-bedroom in the centre runs around $1,300/month.
▤ Category breakdown
Index vs the US average — the line marks 100. Lower is cheaper.
- Housing122+22%
- Food & groceries105+5%
- Transport90−10%
- Utilities115+15%
- Healthcare85−15%
- Goods & services106+6%
Is Tokyo expensive?
Yes, moderately. Tokyo indexes at 108 against a US average of 100 — roughly 8% above it. That is above average without being in the top bracket, and which neighbourhood you rent in decides most of the gap.
Of the 87 cities we track, Tokyo ranks #28 by overall cost — 59 of them are cheaper.
What a month in Tokyo costs
One person
$2,760/mo
A one-bedroom outside the centre, modest everyday spending.
Couple
$4,030/mo
A one-bedroom in the centre, two adults sharing the bills.
Family of four
$7,390/mo
A three-bedroom in the centre, two adults and two children.
| Monthly line | One person | Couple | Family of four |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent | $900 | $1,300 | $2,800 |
| Food & groceries | $480 | $700 | $1,180 |
| Transport | $540 | $790 | $1,330 |
| Utilities | $230 | $350 | $580 |
| Healthcare | $240 | $350 | $590 |
| Goods & services | $370 | $540 | $910 |
| Total per month | $2,760 | $4,030 | $7,390 |
Estimates, not quotes. Rent comes from this city's own figures; every other line is a US-average household basket (shaped by the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey) scaled by this city's category index. Your own total moves with the neighbourhood, your habits and whether you run a car. How we calculate these figures →
Good to know before you move to Tokyo
Astonishingly safe, clean and well-connected for a megacity — and, thanks to a weak yen, cheaper than most Western capitals right now.
- Currency
- Japanese yen (¥ JPY)
- Languages
- Japanese
- Time zone
- UTC+9
- Internet
- 220 Mbps
- English
- Rarely spoken
- Safety
- 82/100
- Climate
- ❄ 6°C · ☀ 27°C · 130 sunny days/yr
- Tap water
- Safe to drink
- Power
- A/B · 100V
- Driving
- Left-hand side
- Popular areas
- Shibuya · Shinjuku · Setagaya
About
“The Eastern Capital”
Astonishingly safe, clean and well-connected for a megacity — and, thanks to a weak yen, cheaper than most Western capitals right now.
Tokyo's reputation for being unaffordable no longer matches reality. A weak yen has made the world's largest metro area cheaper than most Western capitals for anyone earning in dollars or euros. One-bedroom apartments in central wards rent for well below London or New York, and Japan's famously low inflation has kept everyday prices flat for years while wages elsewhere chased rising costs.
The city's efficiency does much of the heavy lifting. The train and subway network is so comprehensive that almost nobody owns a car, convenience stores sell genuinely good meals for a few dollars, and a bowl of ramen or a set lunch rarely breaks the bank. Utilities and mobile plans are the line items that feel pricey by Asian standards; rent is reasonable, and eating out is a bargain.
For newcomers the real costs are practical rather than purely financial: key money and guarantor requirements when signing a lease, a language barrier in day-to-day bureaucracy, and long hours in traditional companies. But for remote workers and expats who can navigate that, Tokyo offers world-class safety, cleanliness and transport at a price that, right now, is a genuine bargain.
- Currency
- Japanese yen · JPY
- Languages
- Japanese
- Coordinates
- 35.68, 139.69
- Emergency
- 110
What things cost
Housing
Taxes
45%
Income tax
progressive
10%
VAT / sales
30%
Corporate
20.315%
Capital gains
$2,600
Avg net salary
per month
Plus ~10% local inhabitant tax.
Visas & residency
Work visas by category; Highly Skilled Professional points system.
✈ Short visits visa-free for many; work needs a status of residence.
Points-based, fast-track PR.
Permanent residence after ~10 yrs. Sooner via HSP points.
Quality of life
Quality of life
81/100
Safety
82/100
Healthcare
85/100
Pollution
45/100
Internet
220 Mbps
Jan avg
+6 °C
Jul avg
+27 °C
Sunny days
130/yr
Walkability
92/100
Public transit
98/100
Family-friendly
72/100
Living there
- English spoken
- Low
- Expat community
- Large
- Coworking spaces
- 90
- Tap water
- Safe to drink
- Private health insurance
- $40/mo
Popular areas
Relocation & documents
Where to look
Updated: · Sources: Cost/quality survey (placeholder) · Economy: World Bank Open Data (GDP per capita, life expectancy, inflation) · Minimum wage (EU + Türkiye): Eurostat earn_mw_cur, 2026-S2 · Taxes: national tax authority / OECD (headline figures)
Can you live in Tokyo without a car?
94/100
Car-free score
92/100
Walkability
98/100
Public transport
Yes — Tokyo scores 94/100 on our car-free score, so commuting, errands and nights out all work on foot or by public transport. Most residents here can skip car ownership entirely, and the savings go straight into the rest of the budget.
Transport in Tokyo indexes at 90 against a US average of 100 — about 10% cheaper than a typical US city. That line covers fares, fuel and running a vehicle, so it is the one that moves most when you drop the car.
Tokyo ranks #1 of 87 cities we track for walkability. See the most walkable cities →
The car-free score is our own composite: 60% walkability, 40% public transport, both on a 0–100 scale. Like the rest of our quality-of-life figures, they are calibrated estimates, not official statistics.
Cost of living in Tokyo — in your currency
- 1-bed rent, city centre$1,300
- 1-bed rent, outside centre$900
- Inexpensive meal$8
- Monthly transit pass$90
- Utilities (monthly)$200
Converted from USD at approximate rates (2026-09).
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? Frequently asked questions
Is Tokyo, JP expensive to live in?
Tokyo, JP's cost-of-living index is 108 (US average = 100) — about 8% more expensive than a typical US city — and it ranks #28 of the 87 cities we track. On our estimates one person needs around $2,760 a month and a family of four around $7,390, rent included.
How much does it cost to live in Tokyo, JP?
Tokyo, JP's cost-of-living index is 108 (US average = 100) — about 8% more expensive than a typical US city. A one-bedroom apartment in the centre costs around $1,300 per month.
What are the average living costs in Tokyo, JP?
Living costs in Tokyo, JP are about 8% more expensive than the US average — its cost-of-living index is 108 (US = 100). Monthly living expenses scale with that, and housing is the biggest line: a one-bedroom in the centre runs around $1,300. See the category breakdown above for where the money goes.
What is the average rent in Tokyo, JP?
A one-bedroom in the city centre averages about $1,300 per month, and around $900 outside the centre.
What taxes would I pay in Japan?
Japan has a top income-tax rate of 45% and a VAT or sales tax of 10%. See the taxes section above for the full breakdown.
What is the weather like in Tokyo, JP?
Tokyo, JP averages around +6 °C in January and +27 °C in July, with roughly 130 sunny days a year.
Is Tokyo, JP safe?
Tokyo, JP scores 82 out of 100 on our safety index, where higher means safer.
Can you live in Tokyo, JP without a car?
Tokyo, JP scores 94/100 on our car-free score — 92/100 for walkability and 98/100 for public transport. The higher the score, the more of daily life you can cover on foot or by transit instead of paying to run a car.
❖ Compare Tokyo with…
★ Ranked in
Estimates use approximate cost-of-living indices (US average = 100) and are for general guidance only.