Living Cost in Tokyo vs Osaka, Kyoto and Fukuoka for Students
Key Takeaways
- JASSO's 2023 survey puts an international student's average monthly living costs at ¥105,000 across Japan, excluding tuition and study costs.
- By region, the living-cost rows of the same survey add up to about ¥130,000 a month in Tokyo, ¥101,000 in Kinki (Osaka and Kyoto) and ¥82,000 in Kyushu (Fukuoka).
- Housing drives the gap: students spent ¥57,000 a month on housing in Tokyo against ¥40,000 in Kinki and ¥29,000 in Kyushu.
- On everyday prices the gap is smaller: the Statistics Bureau's 2025 index, excluding rent, is 102.7 for Tokyo, 100.8 for Kyoto, 100.0 for Osaka and 99.5 for Fukuoka.
- University residences cost far less than private flats, from ¥16,700 a month at Osaka University's Toyonaka C wing to ¥55,600 for a single room with bath at the University of Tokyo's Komaba Lodge.
Table of Contents
- How much does it cost an international student to live in Japan?
- What do students spend each month in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Fukuoka?
- Is Tokyo more expensive than Osaka, Kyoto and Fukuoka for everyday prices?
- How much is student housing in each city?
- Does part-time work cover more of the cost outside Tokyo?
- Which city fits your budget?
The living cost in Tokyo is the highest of any Japanese city for an international student, and rent explains most of the gap. Osaka and Kyoto sit close to the national average on prices, and Fukuoka sits a little below it. How much you actually spend can depend as much on where you live, a university dormitory or a private flat, as on which city you pick.
This guide compares the four cities using official numbers only: the Japan Student Services Organization’s (JASSO) survey of what international students spend, the Statistics Bureau of Japan’s regional price index, and the cost and housing pages that the University of Tokyo, Kyoto University, Osaka University and Kyushu University publish. Every figure is in yen as published, with the year it refers to. We read each source on 5 November 2026.
How much does it cost an international student to live in Japan?
The national benchmark is JASSO’s. Its Study in Japan cost-of-living page puts the average monthly spending of a privately financed international student at ¥105,000, not counting tuition and other study costs. Housing averages ¥41,000 a month across Japan and ¥57,000 in Tokyo. Both figures come from JASSO’s 2023 Lifestyle Survey of Privately Financed International Students, which ran from November 2023 to March 2024 and was published in October 2024. It is the latest edition.
That average hides a wide range by region. The rest of this guide breaks it down. For tuition, fees and the full cost of a degree, see our guide to the cost of studying in Japan.
What do students spend each month in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Fukuoka?
JASSO’s full 2023 survey report (Japanese) breaks spending down by region. Tokyo has its own column. Osaka and Kyoto both fall in the Kinki region, and Fukuoka in Kyushu, so the survey does not separate Osaka from Kyoto. Monthly averages, in yen, from Table 7-4:
| Monthly spending (2023 survey) | Tokyo | Kinki (Osaka, Kyoto) | Kyushu (Fukuoka) | All Japan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | ¥57,000 | ¥40,000 | ¥29,000 | ¥41,000 |
| Food | ¥37,000 | ¥32,000 | ¥27,000 | ¥32,000 |
| Utilities | ¥7,000 | ¥7,000 | ¥7,000 | ¥8,000 |
| Commuting | ¥6,000 | ¥4,000 | ¥3,000 | ¥4,000 |
| Insurance and medical | ¥3,000 | ¥3,000 | ¥3,000 | ¥3,000 |
| Hobbies and leisure | ¥10,000 | ¥7,000 | ¥5,000 | ¥8,000 |
| Other daily costs | ¥10,000 | ¥8,000 | ¥8,000 | ¥9,000 |
| Living costs, total of the rows above | ¥130,000 | ¥101,000 | ¥82,000 | ¥105,000 |
The total row is our addition of JASSO’s published rows, which are rounded to the nearest ¥1,000. The All Japan total matches JASSO’s own ¥105,000. The survey also records study and research costs separately, at ¥56,000 a month in Tokyo, ¥54,000 in Kinki and ¥48,000 in Kyushu.
Two points stand out. Housing makes up most of the difference: Tokyo students pay almost twice as much for housing as students in Kyushu. And rent is rising. The same report’s Table 10-4 shows Tokyo housing at ¥50,000 a month in the 2021 survey and ¥57,000 in 2023, and Kinki rising from ¥37,000 to ¥40,000.
Is Tokyo more expensive than Osaka, Kyoto and Fukuoka for everyday prices?
Yes, but by less than rent suggests. The Statistics Bureau’s 2025 Retail Price Survey (structural edition) (Japanese, published September 2026) compares consumer prices in each prefectural capital and major city against a national average of 100:
| City (2025) | All items | All items except rent | Food |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tokyo (23 wards) | 105.3 | 102.7 | 103.6 |
| Kyoto city | 101.1 | 100.8 | 101.1 |
| Osaka city | 100.6 | 100.0 | 100.4 |
| Fukuoka city | 99.3 | 99.5 | 99.6 |
The Tokyo wards rank first in the country on all items. Take rent out, though, and the gap between Tokyo and Fukuoka shrinks from 6 points to about 3. Food in Tokyo costs about 4% more than in Fukuoka. The survey publishes the housing index by prefecture only: Tokyo 129.8, Kyoto 102.2, Osaka 98.0 and Fukuoka 96.4. Kyoto is slightly dearer than Osaka on prices, which the student survey cannot show because it groups the two cities together.
How much is student housing in each city?
Universities publish their own dormitory fees, and these are often well below the regional averages above. The figures below are monthly, as each university published them when we read them on 5 November 2026.
- Tokyo. The University of Tokyo’s finance and living page says a small one-room flat for one person typically costs around ¥80,000 to ¥100,000 a month, and food around ¥50,000 to ¥60,000. Its Komaba Lodge charges ¥55,600 for a single room with its own bath, or ¥33,400 for a room with a shared shower and toilet, plus ¥12,200 for utilities, for the period to 31 March 2027.
- Kyoto. Kyoto University’s Yoshida International House charges ¥44,900 a month for a single room for students starting from October 2026 (¥38,300 for students enrolled by September 2026), including water, internet and bedding.
- Osaka. Osaka University’s International House Toyonaka (C wing) charges ¥16,700 a month for a 14.3 m² single room, plus a ¥3,000 common charge for water and internet from 1 April 2026 and ¥2,400 for bedding, as of April 2026.
- Fukuoka. Kyushu University’s accommodation page lists residences from ¥16,500 a month (Ito Kyosokan) to ¥41,000 (Settle International), and its cost of living page estimates housing and utilities at ¥15,000 to ¥50,000, food at ¥30,000, and a total of ¥80,000 to ¥115,000 a month.
Dormitory places are limited, so apply early. Study in Japan’s accommodation guide notes that student dormitories avoid the security deposit (shiki-kin), gratuity money (rei-kin) and renewal fees that private apartments charge. Those upfront payments are not in the monthly figures above.
Does part-time work cover more of the cost outside Tokyo?
JASSO’s survey suggests it does, although part-time work can cover only part of your costs. Table 5-7 of the 2023 report (Japanese) shows average monthly income from part-time work of ¥50,000 in Tokyo, ¥65,000 in Kinki and ¥68,000 in Kyushu. Money sent from home averaged ¥120,000 a month in Tokyo, against ¥70,000 in Kinki and ¥41,000 in Kyushu.
In other words, students in Tokyo relied more on family support, and students in Kyushu relied more on their own earnings. Study in Japan’s part-time work page sets the limit at 28 hours a week, and up to eight hours a day during long school holidays, with permission. Our guide to part-time jobs in Japan explains the rules.
Which city fits your budget?
- Tokyo has the highest living costs, about ¥130,000 a month in JASSO’s survey, and rent is most of the gap. If you study at the University of Tokyo, its residences cost well below the ¥80,000 to ¥100,000 the university quotes for a private one-room flat.
- Kyoto and Osaka together come to about ¥101,000 a month in the Kinki figures. Prices are close to the national average, and Kyoto is slightly dearer than Osaka. See our Kyoto University guide.
- Fukuoka is the cheapest of the four. Kyushu students spent about ¥82,000 a month, and Fukuoka’s prices sit just below the national average.
Whichever city you choose, budget from the official figures above rather than from a single quoted average, and add tuition and one-off moving costs on top. Our earlier guide to living costs across Japanese cities covers more cities, including Sendai.
If you are comparing universities in different Japanese cities, talk to our Japan admissions team about programmes, scholarships and applications.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the living cost in Tokyo for an international student?
In JASSO’s 2023 survey, students in Tokyo spent about ¥130,000 a month on living costs, adding up the published rows for housing, food, utilities, commuting, insurance, leisure and other costs. Housing alone was ¥57,000 a month. Tuition and study costs are extra.
What is the average living cost for international students in Japan?
JASSO’s Study in Japan site puts the national average at ¥105,000 a month, excluding tuition and study costs, based on its 2023 survey of privately financed international students.
Is Osaka cheaper than Tokyo for students?
Yes. Students in the Kinki region, which includes Osaka, spent about ¥101,000 a month on living costs in JASSO’s 2023 survey, against about ¥130,000 in Tokyo. On the Statistics Bureau’s 2025 price index, Osaka city scores 100.6 against 105.3 for the Tokyo wards.
Is Kyoto cheaper than Osaka?
Slightly the other way round on prices. The Statistics Bureau’s 2025 index puts Kyoto city at 101.1 and Osaka city at 100.6 on all items. JASSO’s student survey groups both cities in the Kinki region, so it gives no separate student figure for each.
Is Fukuoka the cheapest of the four cities?
Yes. Students in Kyushu, which includes Fukuoka, spent about ¥82,000 a month on living costs in JASSO’s 2023 survey, and Fukuoka city’s 2025 price index is 99.3, just below the national average of 100.
How much is rent for students in Tokyo?
JASSO’s 2023 survey found students in Tokyo spent ¥57,000 a month on housing on average. The University of Tokyo says a small private one-room flat typically costs around ¥80,000 to ¥100,000 a month, while its Komaba Lodge charges ¥33,400 to ¥55,600 plus utilities.
How much is a university dormitory in Kyoto?
Kyoto University’s Yoshida International House charges ¥44,900 a month for a single room for students starting from October 2026, or ¥38,300 for students enrolled by September 2026, including water, internet and bedding.
How much is a university dormitory in Osaka?
Osaka University’s International House Toyonaka C wing charges ¥16,700 a month for a single room, plus a ¥3,000 common charge for water and internet and ¥2,400 for bedding, as of April 2026.
What does Kyushu University say living in Fukuoka costs?
Kyushu University’s cost of living page estimates housing and utilities at ¥15,000 to ¥50,000 a month, food at ¥30,000, and a total of ¥80,000 to ¥115,000 a month. Its residences range from ¥16,500 to ¥41,000 a month.
How much do students spend on food in Tokyo compared with other cities?
JASSO’s 2023 survey found monthly food spending of ¥37,000 in Tokyo, ¥32,000 in the Kinki region and ¥27,000 in Kyushu. The Statistics Bureau’s 2025 food price index is 103.6 for the Tokyo wards and 99.6 for Fukuoka city.
Can part-time work cover living costs in Japan?
Only partly. In JASSO’s 2023 survey, students earned on average ¥50,000 a month from part-time work in Tokyo, ¥65,000 in Kinki and ¥68,000 in Kyushu. Students can work up to 28 hours a week with permission, and up to eight hours a day in long school holidays.
What costs are not included in these monthly figures?
Tuition and other study costs, and the upfront payments for a private flat, such as the security deposit, gratuity money and renewal fees. Study in Japan notes that student dormitories usually avoid these upfront payments.
