Thinking about studying abroad? Studying at a new place with lots of mixed feelings?
Exploring a new culture different from yours can be exciting. Living in Japan as an Indian is like entering into a new phase of life and it can be absolutely interesting!
The famous land of the rising sun, Japan, is an island country on the east coast of Asia. There is no denying that living in Japan will make everyone smile, as it is the most urbanised and densely populated country in the world.
We believe you are here to understand what living in Japan as an Indian could be like and the average cost of living in Japan.
We’ll deep-dive into answering all your questions and hope it will put your mind at ease and help you in making a well-informed decision about studying in Japan.
An Overview of Cost of Living in Japan for Indian Students
Before estimating the cost here, we would like to advise you to carry a forex card with you to make transactions smoothly there. Niyo Global Card can be a good choice here as it provides the benefits of all forex cards and much more.
The estimated living cost in Japan will be around 2,50,000- 5,50,000 YEN. Japan has a comparatively low cost of living compared to other countries. The cost of living in Japan also depends on which city you live in, like Tokyo, Kawasaki, Yokohama, Chiba, Hiroshima, Kitakyushu, etc. So here is an estimated cost of living for an Indian student.
| Factors | Average Cost Per Month |
| Accommodation | 12,000 YEN-60,000 YEN |
| Food & Groceries | 28,000 YEN |
| Transportation | 4,000 YEN |
| Household Bills | 10,000 YEN |
| Entertainment | 5,000 YEN |
| Miscellaneous | 8,000 YEN |
| Insurance and medical | 3,000 YEN |
The above are the rough estimates. The cost of living in Japan varies a lot depending on which city you are residing in.
The average cost of living in Japan, without including education, in the city of Kyushu is 73,000 YEN and in Tokyo is 1,08,000 YEN.
To understand all the above points in detail, let’s start with the accommodation.
1. ACCOMMODATION
The most crucial factor affecting the cost of living in Japan is accommodation. It is the most expensive thing to settle anywhere in the world. From a student’s point of view, it depends on whether they reside in a hostel provided by the universities or take a room. So here is the cost of living in Japan per month:
| Type of Accommodation | Average Rent per Month |
| Dormitory Accommodation | 12,000 YEN |
| Off-campus Accommodation | 60,000 YEN |
Dormitory accommodation means taking a room with numerous beds for individuals or groups. They might be separate washrooms or not, depending upon the university policies.
Moreover, renting accommodation in Japan individually will be somewhat expensive for students. It’s a better option to opt for dormitory accommodation because then you can be part of a group and it would motivate you to study and make the best use of your student life in Japan.
Now, let’s take a look at the average rent in various popular student-cities in Japan.
| City | Average Cost of Living Per Month |
| Tokyo | 2,24,296.46 YEN |
| Yokohama | 2,18,352.21 YEN |
| Osaka | 1,71,107.06 YEN |
| Sapporo | 1,820.35 YEN |
| Kobe | 2,083.92YEN |
2. FOOD AND GROCERIES
Food is considered an essential factor that makes a considerable difference in the cost of living for an Indian living in Japan. Being an Indian, the question will arise whether Indian food is available or not in Japan. So yes, Indian food is available in Japan. There is a particular market to shop for Indian spices.
Universities mainly do not include the expense of food in Japan. Students have to manage on their own. Here’s an estimate of the cost of food and groceries in Japan.
| Particulars | Cost |
| Milk (regular), (1 litre) | 192.68 YEN |
| Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500 g) | 208.02 YEN |
| Local Cheese (1 kg) | 1,712.56 YEN |
| Rice (white), (1 kg) | 492.73 YEN |
| Eggs (regular) (12) | 245.72 YEN |
| Apples (1 kg) | 727.33 YEN |
| Lettuce (1 head) | 185.44 YEN |
| Water (1.5 litre bottle) | 123.77 YEN |
| Potato (1 kg) | 442.47 YEN |
| Banana (1 kg) | 340.76 YEN |
| Onion (1 kg) | 340.29 YEN |
| Oranges (1 kg) | 625.29 YEN |
| Tomato (1 kg) | 633.88 YEN |
| Three-course meal for 2 people in a mid-range restaurant, | 5,000.00 YEN |
3. TRANSPORTATION
The cost of living also includes commuting expenses. It varies depending on the distance between your university and residence or how much you roam around the city. Moreover, the commuting cost adds up to your budget if you take up a part-time job.
| One-way Ticket (Local Transport) | 220.00 YEN |
| Monthly Pass (Regular Price) | 9,260.00 YEN |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 l, 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) | 2,278,746.51 YEN |
| Gasoline (1 litre) | 164.24 YEN |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.4 l, 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) | 2,879,500.00 YEN |
| Taxi 1 hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) | 3,000.00 YEN |
| Taxi 1 km (Normal Tariff) | 406.50 YEN |
| Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) | 600.00 YEN |
It is a recent charge taken in Japan. Moreover, students must take public buses or ride on a cycle to save expenses. It will reduce your monthly expenses in Japan and strengthen your physique.
4. Household Bills
If the student prefers to reside in an apartment or share a room with friends, the utility bills would include gas, water, electricity, wifi services, television, mobile, etc.
Almost all of these facilities are within the university itself. You will already get the mention of these costs in the fees of the higher or bachelor or masters education fee.
Here is a quick rundown of the utility bills.
| Bills | Average Cost Per Month |
| Pocket Wifi device | 2,500 YEN |
| Broadband or fibre optic internet | 4,000 YEN |
| Traditional subscription of mobile | 6,000 YEN |
| Starting plans for mobile | 2,000 YEN |
5. Entertainment
Being a student, it helps to include entertainment expenses in your budget.to cover both your fitness and other entertainment-related expenses. Here’s what you can expect.
| Entertainment Options | Average Cost |
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 student | 8,421.49 YEN |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) | 2,574.73 YEN |
| Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat | 1,800.00 YEN |
| Cinema tickets | 1,900 YEN per ticket |
| Museum tickets | 700 YEN per ticket |
| Mug of beer | 500 YEN |
The cost of living in Japan will rise depending upon extra co-curricular activities other than those we have covered so far.
Students living internationally invest in many things other than in studies, like learning instruments, learning different languages, sports and many more.
So take those expenses into consideration while calculating monthly expenses in Japan.
6. Miscellaneous
Do not ignore the small expenses in your day-to-day lives. These can be expenses related to shopping, medicines, health insurance, stationery, doctor visits, or anything else.
These miscellaneous expenses play a significant role in calculating the cost of living in japan for Indian students. Many discounts are available in the stores with your student ID. So don’t miss that too.
| Miscellaneous Items | Average Costs |
| Hair Shampoo | 482.55 YEN |
| Toilet paper, 4 rolls | 200.95 YEN |
| Toothpaste, 1 tube | 240.61 YEN |
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) | 6,005.64 YEN |
| 1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) | 8,128.69 YEN |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, …) | 4,315.66 YEN |
| Doctor’s visit | 4,547.15 YEN |
| Haircut, simple | 2247.14 YEN |
| Stationary | 2,000 YEN |
| Books and Novels | 3,000 YEN |
So, these were all the factors that affect the cost of living in Japan per month for an Indian student.
Opting for a public university and public transportation will save you a considerable amount throughout your stay in Japan. Moreover, scholarships are also provided to students with good grades in their academic journey so far. So you could account for any scholarships you receive while calculating the cost of living in japan for Indian students.
FAQs
- Which is the best city for education in Japan?
There are many cities in Japan that are well-known for excellence in education. The best cities are Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Sendai, Nagoya, Fukuoka, and Tsukuba. The cost of living in Japan varies not only from city to city but according to the area also. Basically, all those mentioned above have a slightly higher cost of living than others.
- How many Indian students have gone to Japan for higher studies?
Many students have gone to Japan for higher studies. Students have mixed reviews about their experience. A survey reports that many Indians are unsatisfied with their studies or living in Japan. Due to this, only 0.3 percent of Indian students have shifted to japan to continue their education. So the overall result is negative, but many students now also go into the field where Japan specializes.
- What are the part-time job opportunities for students in Japan?
Internationally, students start earning after their 10th or 12th. They work part-time after school or college. Japan offers a lot of part-time opportunities for students. Moreover, there are online websites also, from where you can apply and work after school hours. Jobs are available in every field you want.
