In Japan, the standard of living is on par with that of all first-world nations, including the US.
Americans who work with Japanese companies or attend Japanese language courses may want to make the move to live in Japan.
However, finding an affordable place to live is on your agenda.
Here are two wards, eight cities, and two general regions for you to consider when moving to Japan’s cheapest locales as an American.
Use this list of information to help you decide where you want to visit and live when in Japan.
Contents
1. Kyushu Is the Cheapest Japanese Island
Thousands of tiny islands make up the nation of Japan along a narrow strip connected to five main islands.
Together there are Hokkaido, Honshu–home of Tokyo, Shikoku, Kyushu, and Okinawa islands.
For the most sought-after living, Kyushu as an island is reported to be the most ideal for rural communities.
However, living in a rural environment may be counter-productive to someone who is trying to go to college or get a job.
The rural areas tend to lack public transportation and experiences that are afforded by the big city lights of Tokyo and other major Japanese metropolitan areas.
2. Rural Japan at Large Is the Most Affordable
By far, the cheapest way to live in Japan, whether you are Japanese or a foreigner, is to move to the countryside.
A rural dwelling via the akiya system will be more affordable and easier to obtain and maintain compared to city living, which is mostly weekly rentals and tiny apartments.
This system is set up to provide a way for locals and new residents to take care of ancient structures and aging buildings.
Instead of building a new house from the ground up, residents can be approved by the akiya system for home ownership.
Save money and reduce living expenses by choosing the akiya system and renting a home in some parts of rural Japan.
Become a part of the local Asian heritage and learn more about architecture than you ever imagined.
Some of the houses available come with ancient relics like Samurai swords according to the latest reviews.
Renters in rural Japan pay about 40,000 yen or $300 US, compared to 71,000 yen in city complexes in the most expensive capital city of Tokyo.
There are also more options for investing in property and building one’s own home in rural areas.
At the same time, there are fewer business opportunities and things to do in rural Japan as compared to the big cities of Sapporo and Tokyo.
Therefore, most recommend moving to a cheap city in Japan for the optimal living experience.
3. Osaka
In Osaka, Japan, the cost of living is more affordable compared to the big city living expenses associated with Tokyo.
In March 2024, the cost of living for a single person in Osaka was slightly more than 119,000 yen, which is $770 US.
Also called the Manchester of Japan, Osaka is well-known for creating textiles for the fabric and textile industry.
This is a labor pool that provides lower-income employment for Osaka residents.
4. Hiroshima
Slightly higher in cost of living compared to Osaka, but still relatively low, is Hiroshima.
The cost of rent for a single-person unit per month in Hiroshima is $1,087 in the US currency, as of April 2024.
A take-out dinner for one at WcDonald’s costs about 775 yen for comparison.
Life in Hiroshima can be less costly because of the college presence of Hiroshima University in the prefecture.
However, there could be a combative presence for Americans moving to Hiroshima due to the atomic bombings of World War II, which decimated the city.
5. Kita Ward
In Kita Ward, a studio apartment is only 32,000 yen or $206 US a month.
This is one of the more affordable living opportunities in Japan.
The reason why Kita Ward is such a cheap place to live in this Hokkaido Prefecture is its location.
Also known as the Northern Ward, Kita is a metropolis of Tokyo.
Commute to the big city for work and appreciate the slower, more affordable lifestyle of the City of Kita.
Moving to a ward like Kita can make transitioning to Japanese culture more fluid and less combative with the locals as well.
6. Kyoto
Living expenses for a single person in Kyoto, Japan range from 150,000 to 200,000 yen a month.
This amount is between $900 and $1,200 in US currency for comparison.
Meanwhile, Kyoto is a more popular Japanese city that attracts plenty of tourists and business opportunities.
Still more affordable than Tokyo, Kyoto does experience the occasional earthquake.
As a result, the cost of living is not as high as in more stable cities like Tokyo, Japan.
7. Fukuoka
Fukuoka, the largest and most populated city on Kyushu Island, has a cost of living that is the same as Japan at large.
Again, Kyushu Island is noted for having cheaper places to stay in all of Japan.
The average rent is 67,500 yen a month for a single-bedroom city center apartment in Fukuoka.
This is $435 in US currency, which is far lower than the $1,149 rent that Americans pay on average for the same size of living space in the US.
Residents can save money on housing and living expenses while having a less fast-paced lifestyle as compared to those Japanese residents in Tokyo.
8. Tsushima City
In Tsushima City, Japan residents appreciate one of the least expensive cities and villages in the island nation.
The average cost of rent is $895 a month for one person in US currency, which is far cheaper than most of the places otherwise on this list.
Consider a move to Tsushima City to learn to be a sushi chef or at least to enjoy plenty of cheap fish.
Save money while living in Tsushima City, which can be used for traveling around the thousands of smaller islands of Japan while you are living there.
9. Yokohama
Yokohama has a cost of living that is 22 percent lower than Tokyo, including rental expenses.
For someone moving to Japan, the rent prices are 35 percent lower in Yokohama as well.
You will also save money at restaurants when dining out in Yokohama, where the costs of meals are nearly 15 percent less than that of Tokyo.
This is a good city for experiencing unique foods and Asian cuisines that are more affordable compared to the metropolitan areas.
10. Sapporo
In Sapporo, one of the most popular and well-known cities in Japan outside of Tokyo, there is surprisingly a low cost of living.
When side by side, Tokyo costs 25 percent more for housing and food per month compared to Sapporo.
Move to Sapporo and experience the rich cultural history of Japan while saving money.
You can even afford the Sapporo beer, which is indigenous to this area and a popular brew throughout the world.
Sapporo Premium Beer made in this city of Japan exclusively is about $4 US for a wine bottle size of 750 milliliters.
11. Kobe
Another well-known city in Japan, mainly for its beef, is called Kobe.
Not to be confused with the American basketball player, now deceased, Kobe Bryant, the city of Kobe in Japan is even more affordable than Sapporo.
Residents look to spend more than 30 percent less of their income on housing and utilities in Kobe as compared to Tokyo.
Savor the flavors of Kobe cattle with beef that is naturally sourced from Kobe, Japan.
However, you will save so much money in comparison to buying Kobe beef in the US.
Kobe and Wagyu cattle make for some of the most flavorful and well-marbled beef in the world.
Japan Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Japan Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: LOW
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW
- MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM
- TERRORISM RISK: MEDIUM
- SCAMS RISK: LOW
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the US Dollar Worth in Japanese Yen?
In Japan, the price of a meal is 1,000 yen, which is the equivalent of about $7 in the US.
Therefore, the strength of the US dollar is stronger than the Japanese yen and will carry you farther if you move there.
This allows Americans to spend less of their currency when considering the overall rate of exchange.
However, as an American, it can be jarring to read 750 yen for the price of a Happy Meal at the fictional WcDonald’s, which is only six dollars in the US at McDonald’s.
Expect to spend less of your value in American currency when you live and purchase items in Japan.
This can help you save even more money on living expenses when you travel abroad for your long-distance move.
However, once you begin working in Japan and are earning yen yourself, you will realize the true value of the Japanese yen.
What Is the Cost of Rent in Japan Compared to the US?
Most affordable wards and cities in Japan are cost-efficient for renters of apartments or other forms of housing.
Numbeo reports that Americans pay 66.9 percent less for rent when living in a Japanese city in comparison to US cities.
Therefore, new residents coming to Japan may want to consider renting from a ward rather than a city when moving to the island nation.
What Is the Cost of Living in Japan?
The reports show the cost of living for one person in Japan is approximately $1,100 compared to $2,400 in the US.
A four-person household in Japan spends 451,887.3 yen a month, which is $2,921.50 US.
The cost of living in Japan is more than 50 percent cheaper than in the US based on the LivingCost.org data.
As a result, American adults can spend less per US dollar on living abroad in Japan.
