How much do you need to earn to live in Tokyo? We calculate the gross monthly salary required to cover rent, food, transport, and utilities — accounting for Japan's tax system.
You need at least ¥296,880/month gross to live in Tokyo on a budget.
For a comfortable lifestyle, aim for ¥385,258/month gross (¥301,600 net after ~22% tax).
| Expense | Budget | Comfortable | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent (1BR) | ¥170,000 Cheapest neighborhood (Setagaya) | ¥227,500 Median neighborhood | ¥295,000 Premium neighborhood (Minato) |
| Groceries | ¥28,000 | ¥33,600 | ¥42,000 |
| Transport | ¥11,000 | ¥11,000 | ¥11,000 |
| Utilities | ¥11,500 | ¥11,500 | ¥11,500 |
| Dining & Entertainment | ¥15,000 | ¥18,000 | ¥22,500 |
| Total Monthly Expenses | ¥235,500 | ¥301,600 | ¥382,000 |
¥296,880/month gross
¥385,258/month gross
¥496,799/month gross
1-bedroom second-hand rents across 8 neighborhoods in Tokyo
Setagaya
15 min by metro
¥170,000 - ¥200,000
Koto
12 min by metro
¥180,000 - ¥220,000
Meguro
8 min by metro
¥190,000 - ¥230,000
Minato
5 min by metro
¥270,000 - ¥320,000
Chiyoda
0 min by metro
¥240,000 - ¥290,000
Shibuya
0 min by metro
¥230,000 - ¥270,000
See all 8 neighborhoods, detailed expense breakdowns, and savings projections.
Explore TokyoEnter your actual salary to see your take-home pay, affordable neighborhoods, and savings potential.
Open calculatorWe total monthly expenses (rent, groceries, transport, utilities, dining out) for each lifestyle tier, then reverse-calculate the gross salary needed to cover those expenses after Japan's income tax and social contributions. Rent data comes from second-hand market listings (what expats actually pay). All figures are based on 2026 data from official government statistics. See our data sources for full attribution.
On a budget lifestyle, you need at least ¥296,880/month gross salary to cover basic expenses in Tokyo. For a comfortable lifestyle, aim for ¥385,258/month gross. These figures include rent, food, transport, utilities, and dining out, with taxes calculated for Japan.
The average 1-bedroom rent across 8 neighborhoods in Tokyo is approximately ¥232,500/month. Rents range from ¥170,000 in Setagaya to ¥320,000 in Minato.
Monthly groceries for a single person in Tokyo cost approximately ¥28,000. 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 ¥296,880/month, the effective tax rate is approximately 21%. At the comfortable level of ¥385,258/month, it rises to approximately 22%. This includes income tax and social contributions.