Cost of Living in Japan

All numbers are in Japanese yen (JPY), and the current exchange rate is available here: https://www.dnbnor.no/markets/interaktive_verktoy/valuta/valutakalkulator.html and here:http://www.xe.com/ucc/ (English).

Cost of housing and cost of living in Japan is highly dependent on location. Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto are the most expensive, but this is also where many of the educational institutions are located. The numbers below are based on a typical study in Tokyo, where the apartment (20-30m²) is located between 30 minutes and 1 hour travel by train from the place of study.

Monthly cost of living (1995)

Travel expenses

Travel to and from place of study       11.000

Cost of housing (JPY)

                             Rent                                60.000

                             Electricity                        3.000

                             Gas                                   4.000

                            Water                                2.000

                            Waste management        1.000

                            Telephone, domestic       4.000

                       Telephone, international   10.000

                            Heating, winter                2.000

 Cost of living

                              Food                             30.000

             Household expenditures             5.000

Study expenses

                           Tuition fee         40.000-80.000

                           Books                             10.000

Other

                          Welfare                          25.000

One-time costs

Plane ticket Norway-Japan (round-trip)         100.000

                                                                                -150.000

Key-money when moving in                               240.000

Buying a phone line (refundable)                       70.000

Furniture                                                              100.000

Excluding one-time costs, the monthly cost will be between 13.000 and 15.000 NOK. In a dormitory the cost will be between 10.000 and 12.000 NOK.

When you move into an apartment, you pay a deposit (same as in Norway), but you will also be charged “Keymoney,” (reikin) money paid as you move in, but not returned when you move out. “Keymoney” are not as common today, but some still charge it. “Keymoney” and deposit combined will cost around three months rent. Dormitories do not charge “keymoney”. Startup costs for the studies are as you can see considerable.

The size of tuition fees is varies from school to school.

The price of the airplane ticket is varies with the time of year. In the period of July-August prices can reach 200.000-250.000 yen, but as a student you can purchase a Kilroy-ticket, prices around NOK 7-9.000 (round trip). Check this with “Flyspesialisten”. (www.flyspesialisten.no)

About Japan and Asia:

Research Resources in Japan

Media in Japan and Asia

Government Organs and Political Parties

Window towards Japan
- a picture gallery