Cost of Living in Japan 2026: Student Edition
Moving to Tokyo as a student costs roughly ¥457,500 up front plus ¥142,000 per month in 2026 — and Sapporo is about 23% cheaper to live in each month. Here is the full breakdown by city.
| City | Monthly cost | One-time move-in |
|---|---|---|
| Tokyo | ¥142,000 | ¥457,500 |
| Osaka | ¥122,000 | ¥367,500 |
| Kyoto | ¥119,000 | ¥354,000 |
| Nagoya | ¥117,000 | ¥345,000 |
| Fukuoka | ¥112,000 | ¥322,500 |
| Sapporo | ¥110,000 | ¥313,500 |
What's included
Monthly figures assume a student in a share house and include rent, food (~¥35,000), utilities (~¥12,000), tax & national health insurance (~¥5,000) and leisure (~¥25,000). Move-in costs include deposit, key money, agency fee, first month's rent and insurance (~4.5× rent), plus basic furniture, flights, visa and setup.
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Methodology: figures are 2026 estimates for a single international student in a share house, based on typical advertised rents and standard student living costs across each city. Actual costs vary by ward, lifestyle and exchange rate. Data by yuzu.help — free to cite with a link.