How much do you need to earn to live here, after Japan takes its share?
Here's the gross monthly salary that covers rent, food, transport, and utilities once Japan's tax system has taken its cut. (2026)
The floor in Kobe is roughly ¥189,642/month gross, on a lean budget.
For something that feels comfortable, think ¥283,093/month gross (¥224,880 net after ~21% tax).
| Expense | Budget | Comfortable | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent (1BR) | ¥100,000 Cheapest neighborhood (Suma) | ¥165,000 Median neighborhood | ¥191,000 Premium neighborhood (Kitano) |
| Groceries | ¥22,400 | ¥26,880 | ¥33,600 |
| Transport | ¥8,500 | ¥8,500 | ¥8,500 |
| Utilities | ¥10,100 | ¥10,100 | ¥10,100 |
| Dining & Entertainment | ¥12,000 | ¥14,400 | ¥18,000 |
| Total Monthly Expenses | ¥153,000 | ¥224,880 | ¥261,200 |
¥189,642/month gross
¥283,093/month gross
¥330,883/month gross
Second-hand 1BR rents across 5 neighborhoods in Kobe.
Suma
22 min by train
¥100,000 - ¥124,000
Rokko
15 min by train
¥124,000 - ¥154,000
Motomachi
8 min by walk
¥148,000 - ¥182,000
Kitano
10 min by walk
¥172,000 - ¥210,000
Sannomiya
5 min by walk
¥160,000 - ¥196,000
Motomachi
8 min by walk
¥148,000 - ¥182,000
All 5 neighborhoods, the full expense sheet, and what you could save.
Explore KobePlug in what you'd really earn. Get your take-home pay, neighborhoods within reach, and monthly savings.
Open calculatorTaxes, nearby cities, and side-by-sides.
We add up monthly expenses (rent, groceries, transport, utilities, dining out) for each lifestyle tier, then work backwards to find the gross salary that lands on that number after Japan's income tax and social contributions. Rent data reflects second-hand listings, which is what expats actually pay. All figures come from 2026 official government statistics. Full attribution lives on our data sources page.
On a budget lifestyle, you need at least ¥189,642/month gross salary to cover basic expenses in Kobe. For a comfortable lifestyle, aim for ¥283,093/month gross. These figures include rent, food, transport, utilities, and dining out, with taxes calculated for Japan.
The average 1-bedroom rent across 5 neighborhoods in Kobe is approximately ¥157,000/month. Rents range from ¥100,000 in Suma to ¥210,000 in Kitano.
Monthly groceries for a single person in Kobe cost approximately ¥22,400. This covers basic home cooking. Dining out and premium food will add to this budget.
Tax rates in Japan are progressive. At the budget salary level of ¥189,642/month, the effective tax rate is approximately 19%. At the comfortable level of ¥283,093/month, it rises to approximately 21%. This includes income tax and social contributions.