Speaker A
Toriyama-san, how much is your rent? Your rent? My rent is about 80,000 yen, I think? That's expensive.
Discussion on living costs in Japan, focusing on rent, salary, utilities, and lifestyle for residents in Tokyo and Chiba.
Key Takeaways
- Rent is a major expense and varies greatly between Tokyo and surrounding prefectures like Chiba.
- Utility and food costs significantly affect monthly budgets, especially for families with pets or children.
- Working hour restrictions for foreigners limit income potential, making high Tokyo rents challenging.
- Cooking at home is a cost-saving strategy compared to eating out.
- Careful budgeting and lifestyle choices are essential to manage living expenses in Japan.
What the video covers
- Toriyama-san and Miyazaki-san discuss their monthly rent and salaries, highlighting differences between Tokyo and Chiba Prefecture.
- Rent in Tokyo is significantly higher than in Chiba, with Tokyo studio apartments costing about 100,000 yen compared to 50,000 yen in Chiba.
- Utility bills, especially heating, are rising and impact monthly expenses.
- Food expenses vary depending on cooking habits, with eating out costing more than cooking at home.
- Cell phone bills are a notable monthly expense, with costs differing based on usage.
- Miyazaki-san struggles to save money due to high expenses and lifestyle choices like frequent eating out and traveling.
- The video explains typical apartment layouts in Japan, such as one-room and 2DK apartments.
- Foreigners working part-time in Japan face work hour limits, affecting their potential income and living costs.
- Living far from Tokyo Station can reduce rent but may increase commuting challenges.
- The conversation emphasizes budgeting and lifestyle adjustments needed to live comfortably in Japan.
Chapters
- 00:00Introduction and Rent Discussion
- 00:48Salary and Living Expenses
- 02:19Family and Income Details
- 03:50Utility Bills and Household Costs
- 05:28Food Expenses and Cooking Habits
- 09:14Cell Phone Costs and Other Expenses
- 13:50Saving Money and Apartment Layouts
- 17:32Rent Differences Between Tokyo and Chiba
- 20:06Foreigners Working in Japan and Income Limits
- 22:22Living Far from Tokyo and Budgeting Advice
Full Transcript — Download SRT & Markdown
Speaker A
Is that so? So, let's talk about rent today. That's good. Miyazaki-san, how much is your rent?
Speaker A
50,000 yen. Oh, 50,000 yen? Is that in Chiba Prefecture? Chiba Prefecture. Chiba Prefecture, huh? [Laughter] Oh, then that's pretty cheap.
Speaker A
Right. Rent in Chiba Prefecture is cheaper than Tokyo. That's true. Tokyo has the image of high rent.
Speaker A
Right. Tokyo has great transportation, so that's why it's expensive. I see. So, how much do you make, Miyazaki-san?
Speaker A
Salary? Salary. My salary is 200,000 yen. 200,000 yen, and rent is 50,000 yen. Right.
Speaker A
How's your life? It's tough. Yeah. 200,000 yen salary, 50,000 yen rent. It's tough. Yeah. I don't live alone.
Speaker A
I see. You're married and have a wife, right? Yeah. 200,000 yen for the two of you, so it's tough.
Speaker A
I see. Does your wife not work? No. My wife doesn't work either. Yeah. So my salary is 250,000 yen. That's nice.
Speaker A
But it's 250,000 yen, and your rent is 80,000 yen. Oh, I see. So are you struggling to make ends meet?
Speaker A
It's pretty tough. Have you thought about what you spend your money on? Yeah. That's good too.
Speaker A
How much do your electricity and water bills cost at Toriyama's house? Electricity and water. Yeah.
Speaker A
That's the high-heat bill. High-heat bill. Yeah. High-heat bills are really high these days. They're getting high. They're getting high.
Speaker A
Oh, at my house it costs about 40,000 yen. It costs 40,000 yen. Do you leave the water running? No, no. We have kids and pets. A dog. A dog.
Speaker A
A dog. Yeah. Your air conditioning bill is high because you have pets. Ah. Your air conditioning bill is high.
Speaker A
Is that so? I see. That's tough. Yeah, yeah, yeah. The Miyazaki family's heating bill is 20,000 yen.
Speaker A
That's cheap. Right. We don't have any pets, and it's just me and my wife.
Speaker A
We don't have any kids, so it's pretty cheap. So, you're not struggling that much, are you?
Speaker A
Well, it is. I mean, rent is 50,000 yen. Yes. Heating bills are 20,000 yen. Now it's 70,000 yen. That's right.
Speaker A
You still have money. I eat a lot. [Laughter] I see. The money I spend on food is food, right?
Speaker A
Right. When I say food, I mean eating a lot for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I'm living a luxurious life.
Speaker A
Right. I can't feel satisfied unless I eat. Yeah. That's where the money comes in.
Speaker A
I see. By the way, how much do you spend on food? I think it's about 60,000 yen for my wife and me.
Speaker A
60,000 yen? That's right. At my house, we have pets and kids, but it's only 30,000 yen a month. You get by on 30,000 yen? Your wife is a good cook, so you save money.
Speaker A
Oh, so you cook at home? That's right. Cooking at home is called cooking for yourself. That's right.
Speaker A
Cooking at home is called cooking for yourself. So cooking for yourself doesn't cost money.
Speaker A
Yes. That's right. Hmm. So, Miyazaki-san doesn't cook for himself, he eats out. That's right, because we're not good at cooking.
Speaker A
Yes. That's right. We go out to eat. I see. Eating out, you know. Yes. So that costs 60,000 yen a month. That's right. Eating out every single day.
Speaker A
But that's a bit extravagant. I guess. The other thing that costs the most money is your cell phone. Ah, your cell phone.
Speaker A
That's right. Cell phones are expensive. How much does a cell phone cost in Japan a month?
Speaker A
Mine is about 10,000 yen. Oh, 10,000 yen. But each phone costs 10,000 yen. Yes. Yes. Yes.
Speaker A
You have two phones, including your wife's. Yes. Yes. So it costs about 20,000 yen.
Speaker A
Oh, it costs 20,000 yen. Right. Do your kids have cell phones? My kids don't have any yet.
Speaker A
Oh, so you have two cell phones at home? Yes, two cell phones. Yeah. How much do you spend on cell phones, Miyazaki-san?
Speaker A
My wife and I both spend 5,000 yen on our phones. Huh, why is it so cheap? The phone base. Because I don't make calls or anything.
Speaker A
I see. I don't email either. I don't have any friends. So I only use it to contact my wife.
Speaker A
Right. Yeah. So it doesn't cost much. That's good. Yeah. Yeah. What else do you spend money on?
Speaker A
And you travel a lot, don't you? Do you travel? I love traveling. [Laughter] Can you really travel on a 200,000 yen a month salary?
Speaker A
Right. I force myself to travel. Do you have debts? I have debts. You see, the other day, [Laughter] you borrowed money from Toriyama-san. Oh, that's right.
Speaker A
I haven't paid it back yet. Yeah. So I have debts too. Yeah. So you travel. I see. But you know, it's better to hold off a little and save up some money, right? Right? You can't save money.
Speaker A
By the way, Toriyama-san, do you save money? My salary is 250,000 yen, so yeah. Yeah. I don't save much. Oh, I see.
Speaker A
I only save 10,000 yen a month. Yeah, so you save 10,000 yen a month.
Speaker A
Yeah. Oh, isn't that great? [Laughter] Miyazaki-san, don't you save 10,000 yen a month? No. You can't save money. Ah, I see. You just can't help wanting to spend it.
Speaker A
Yeah. I see. Yeah. By the way, can you tell me the layout of your house, Miyazaki-san? What do you mean by floor plan? Floor plan means the size of the rooms, how many rooms there are, things like that. Like the number of rooms.
Speaker A
Right. The number of rooms. Ours is a one-room apartment. A one-room apartment means there's only one room.
Speaker A
Right. Yeah. There's just one big room. That's what they call a one-room apartment. I see. Yeah. There's a bathroom, kitchen, and toilet, but they're all in one room, so it's pretty small. I see.
Speaker A
What's the layout of your house, Toriyama-san? Mine is a 2DK. 2DK. Yes, there are two rooms, a kitchen, and a proper bathroom.
Speaker A
Wow, that's a really big house. Well, it's 80,000 yen. 80,000 yen rent, huh? Plus, you have kids, so a small room would be difficult. Yeah. I've been thinking about moving to Tokyo recently, but do you know how much it would cost in Tokyo?
Speaker A
Rent is different in Tokyo and Chiba, so it might be a bit difficult. I just looked it up, and a studio, a one-room house costs about 100,000 yen. That's right. I live in Chiba Prefecture, which is next to Tokyo, right? Yeah. So a studio is 50,000 yen?
Speaker A
Yeah. In Tokyo, it's 100,000 yen. Apparently it costs about 100,000 yen. That's expensive.
Speaker A
So 100,000 yen for a studio is probably too much for my salary. I don't have enough money. Yeah. So I wondered how much salary I would need to live in Tokyo.
Speaker A
I'd like another 100,000 yen. Yeah. Right now, I'm making 250,000 yen, so I'd like 350,000 yen. Can I earn that much? Hmm, that might be difficult.
Speaker A
[Laughs] I'd have to work harder. That's true. For example, if a foreigner were to live in Japan, say in Tokyo, yeah. How much money would I need to earn?
Speaker A
That's right. Yeah. Foreigners who work in Japan have set working hours, yeah. That's right.
Speaker A
Right. Is it not okay to work all the time? Yes, you can't work all the time.
Speaker A
How many hours are you supposed to work? About five hours a day. Yeah. 28 hours a week.
Speaker A
Does that mean you can work part-time or something? Right. When you work part-time in Japan, the limit is 28 hours a week. So there's a rule like that. That's right.
Speaker A
Right, so in terms of salary, you might not be able to earn 200,000 yen. You can't earn 200,000 yen?
Speaker A
Maybe 150,000 yen. So, I earned 150,000 yen. Yeah. But rent in Tokyo is 100,000 yen, right?
Speaker A
But, you know, there are places out there that are a little cheaper, like a studio apartment. Right.
Speaker A
Really far from the station. Yeah. Really far from the station. From Tokyo. Right. Really far from Tokyo Station.
Speaker A
Yeah. If you live somewhere with nothing around, you might be able to live for around 50,000 yen. That's right, somewhere on the outskirts of Tokyo.
Speaker A
Right. [Laughter] 50,000 yen on the outskirts of Tokyo makes me think of a rundown, not-so-nice apartment.
Speaker A
That's true. So you could either live there and put up with it, or pay 100,000 yen in rent and work hard. But 100,000 yen in rent and your salary is 150,000 yen. That's all you've got left.
Speaker A
That's right. Then you have to pay the high heating bills, cell phone bills, and food, as I mentioned earlier.
Speaker A
Yeah. You'd have to cover those three costs on 50,000 yen. That's pretty tough. You can d
Speaker A
How can you do it? You won't be able to eat nice food. [Laughter] You don't have to eat. [Laughter] You don't have to eat. 50,000 yen is totally doable. Well, I buy a cheap cell phone, and cook my own meals every day at the supermarket where they're cheap.
Speaker A
Right. Yeah. I can live on 500 yen a day . That's true. I don't drink alcohol or anything. Right.
Speaker A
I don't smoke either. Yeah. Eat cheap food. If you do that, you can somehow survive in Tokyo.
Speaker A
But me too. Yeah. In the past, when I didn't have much money, I would buy meat from the supermarket and cheap bean sprouts.
Speaker A
Bean sprouts. Yeah. I used to fry them in a frying pan and eat them.
Speaker A
Ah, I did it, I did it. That's right, so one meal costs about 500 yen.
Speaker A
Yeah. If you do that, you can survive in Tokyo. Yeah. I could live there. I could live there. I could definitely live there, but you don't have to force yourself to live in Tokyo, right?
Speaker A
Yeah, that's true. Do you really want to move that badly? Tokyo seems like it has a lot to offer and is fun.
Speaker A
Yeah. If that's the case, why not live in Chiba Prefecture and visit Tokyo? Oh, isn't that a little far?
Speaker A
It's far, but I'll bear with it. I see. Yeah. Well, it's only a short train ride away.
Speaker A
Yeah, that way you'll have money left over to spend on fun. That's true. What do you want to do for fun in Tokyo?
Speaker A
You'll probably make lots of friends in Tokyo. Oh. What will you do once you make friends?
Speaker A
Hmm. Karaoke. Karaoke . Karaoke. Yeah. Go to Skytree. Yeah. And Asakusa. Hang out in Asakusa.
Speaker A
Yeah. Yeah. No? Yeah. You don't have to . You don't have to. Then you don't need to rent a cheap apartment in Tokyo. [Laughs] Yeah. You can definitely live in a better place in Chiba than on the outskirts of Tokyo.
Speaker A
Right. Yeah. Well, there are a lot of places to live around Tokyo, so yeah. Yeah.
Speaker A
Chiba is fine, Saitama is fine, or Kanagawa is fine. It's true that rent would be cheaper if you lived nearby.
Speaker A
Yeah. Yeah. So, where should you live in the end? Well, living outside of Tokyo and going to Tokyo for fun might be the best option. Yeah. Well, Chiba or Saitama, which are easy to get to Tokyo, or Kanagawa.
Speaker A
Yeah. I guess it would be best to find a cheap place around there. That's right. And I'd get a part-time job in Tokyo.
Speaker A
Oh, I see. That's right, that way I could earn money and live in a cheap place, yeah. Yeah.
Speaker A
I could live a comfortable life. That's right. Yeah. Yeah. Well, if I'm close to Tokyo, I don't need a car or anything.
Speaker A
No need, no need. The train is enough. Yeah. Do you take the train, Toriyama-san?
Speaker A
Yeah. I drive more often than the train. Oh, I see. Yeah. The car is easier.
Speaker A
Hmm. My house isn't close to the train, so I live near the station. Right. Since it's not close to the station, I can't work without a car.
Speaker A
Yeah. So I live in the middle of nowhere in Chiba Prefecture. Right. [Laughter] Miyazaki-san, do you take the train or the car more often?
Speaker A
Yeah. Maybe the train? The train. My house is near the station, so yeah. It's faster to go to Tokyo by train.
Speaker A
Hmm. Yeah. Near an ekino soba means very close to the station. Right. Soba means near the station. Yeah.
Speaker A
I see. Yeah. Wow. So yeah. That's it. First of all, Miyazaki-san, you have to cut down your food expenses. That's right . You need to lower your monthly food expenses from 60,000 yen. Yeah. It's tough. It's tough. That's right.
Speaker A
Yeah. Cell phones are expensive for me too , yeah. I'll think about it. That's right. Maybe not making more phone calls, yeah. Or sending fewer emails, yeah.
Speaker A
That's right. Let's save money. Yeah. So saving money in Japan, well, it's a lot of work, yeah. But if you try it, it makes life easier and you can save money.
Speaker A
Yeah. That's right. So in the next video, yeah. Japanese money-saving techniques. Oh. Let's talk about that theme. Yeah.
Speaker A
By the way, what is saving money? Saving money is yeah. yeah. How to get by without spending too much money, yeah . Something like that.
Speaker A
That's right. Try not to spend money as much as possible. Ah, magic. Magic. That magic is like Japanese human magic.
Speaker A
Ah, right. So next time I'll bring up this theme, so please look forward to it.
Speaker A
Yes. Yes. Everyone, please ask me any questions you have about Japan, anything you want to know or are curious about.
Speaker A
We'll go out and answer them. Yes. Yes. Press like. Yes. Yes. Well, see you in the next video. Okay. Okay .
Topics:Japanese living costsrent in TokyoChiba Prefecture rentJapanese salaryutility bills JapanJapanese apartment layoutforeigners working in JapanJapanese budgetingcooking at home Japanpart-time work Japan
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