What Does It Cost to Live in Tokyo for 3–6 Months?

One-person households in Japan spent an average of ¥173,042 a month in 2025, according to the Statistics Bureau of Japan.

However, if you rent a furnished apartment, your cost of living in Tokyo for 3 months can be more than twice the national average each month, mostly because of housing.

Rent alone can be 70% or more of your budget, and utilities, internet, upfront fees, and furniture can add hundreds of thousands of yen to a 3–6 month stay. Below, we explain each cost and show a sample three-month budget.

How Much Does It Cost to Live in Tokyo for 3 Months?

For one person in a furnished studio or one-bedroom in a central area, expect to spend about ¥430,000 to ¥745,000 a month. In total, the cost of living in Tokyo for 3 months is about ¥1.3 million to ¥2.2 million. For six months, plan for about ¥2.6 million to ¥4.5 million, plus any upfront fees.

Expense	Monthly estimate	3-month estimate
Rent	¥300,000–¥600,000	¥900,000–¥1,800,000
Utilities	¥20,000–¥25,000	¥60,000–¥75,000
Internet	¥5,000	¥15,000
Transportation	Up to ¥10,000	Up to ¥30,000
Groceries	¥45,000–¥50,000	¥135,000–¥150,000
Phone & personal spending	¥50,000–¥55,000	¥150,000–¥165,000
Estimated total	¥430,000–¥745,000	¥1,290,000–¥2,235,000

These are estimates, and your costs can vary with neighborhood, apartment size, lifestyle, and housing arrangement.

Tokyo Housing Costs for a 3–6 Month Stay

Of all the choices you’ll make for your stay, the type of rental has the biggest effect on your Tokyo housing costs, from monthly rent to upfront fees.

Monthly rent

Your Tokyo monthly rent depends first on the neighborhood. Central wards like Minato and Shibuya are among the most expensive. Within the same area, each extra room raises the price.

The building’s location and condition also affect rent, with higher prices near busy train stations, in newer or renovated buildings, and in buildings with a gym or lounge.

The type of rental also changes the price, since monthly rentals cost more than a standard lease, and a furnished, move-in-ready apartment costs more than a basic unfurnished one.

For example, an unfurnished 1LDK (one bedroom plus a living, dining, and kitchen area) in Ebisu or Nihonbashi costs about ¥220,000 to ¥300,000 a month, while a furnished one-bedroom in a central area costs about ¥300,000 to ¥600,000 a month.

Upfront costs

On a traditional lease, hidden rental costs in Tokyo can add up to 3 to 5 months of rent before you move in, though terms can vary.

The highest costs are the security deposit (shikikin), which is 1 to 2 months’ rent and mostly refundable, and key money (reikin), which is up to 2 months’ rent and non-refundable.

On a traditional lease, you’ll also pay an agency fee of up to 1 month’s rent plus 10% tax and 0.5 to 1 month’s rent for a guarantor company. Some landlords add contract or administrative fees.

Most traditional apartments come unfurnished, so you’ll also pay for furniture, appliances, and the cost to move everything in. If your rent is ¥300,000, move-in costs can exceed ¥1,000,000.

For a 3- to 6-month stay, the non-refundable fees alone add about ¥80,000 to ¥160,000 per month, even with no key money.

Furnished and mid-term housing

A mid-term rental is a furnished apartment in Tokyo you can book for 30 days or longer without committing to a standard long-term lease.

With a monthly rental, you avoid most upfront fees, and you won’t need to buy furniture, appliances, kitchen equipment, or household basics.

Furnished and serviced apartments are different options, since serviced apartments add hotel-style services, such as housekeeping and a front desk, which raise the price. A furnished monthly rental has the furniture and equipment of a regular home, and you can book it for one to six months or longer.

With Anyplace, every apartment has a dedicated home office with a desk and an ergonomic chair, plus private high-speed internet.

Our apartments also include a stocked kitchen, appliances, and an in-unit washer/dryer. You won’t need key money or a guarantor, and utilities, including internet, are billed separately at a fixed monthly rate.

Utilities, Internet, and Other Monthly Expenses

In addition to rent, recurring costs add about ¥130,000 to ¥145,000 a month, or ¥390,000 to ¥435,000 to the cost of living in Tokyo for 3 months.

Electricity, gas, and water cost around ¥20,000 to ¥25,000 a month for a one-bedroom, depending on apartment size, season, and usage. Most traditional leases don’t include utilities in the rent.

Internet costs about ¥5,000 a month. If you work remotely, confirm the apartment has a reliable connection and how it’s billed before you book. At Anyplace, utilities and internet aren’t included in the rent and are billed separately at a fixed monthly rate.

Transportation is a small part of the budget, as train fares are rarely more than ¥10,000 a month. A basic mobile plan starts at about ¥3,000 a month.

If you cook most days, groceries cost about ¥45,000 a month, close to the ¥49,321 the Statistics Bureau of Japan reports for one-person households, including dining out. Budget about ¥50,000 more for personal spending, such as toiletries, clothes, and entertainment.

How to Budget for a 3–6 Month Stay in Tokyo

Use the steps below to plan a realistic budget before you sign a lease or book an apartment:

1. Decide the maximum amount you can spend on housing each month.
2. Include utilities and internet when you calculate your monthly housing cost.
3. Ask for a full list of upfront fees before you sign.
4. If the apartment is unfurnished, add the cost of furniture, appliances, and household items.
5. Estimate your monthly spending on food and transportation.
6. Account for unexpected expenses.
7. Compare each option by its total cost for the full length of your stay, not just the advertised monthly rent.

If you’ll be in Tokyo for 30 days or more for work or a company relocation but don’t want a standard long-term lease, a furnished monthly rental lets you choose dates that match your project or assignment.

Finding Housing That Fits Your Tokyo Budget

Your personal cost of living in Tokyo for 3 months depends more on the type of stay you choose than on the city’s averages. If you plan to work from home during your stay, how the apartment is set up for work affects the value you get as much as the rent does.

At Anyplace, you can book a move-in-ready furnished apartment in Tokyo for 30 days or longer, with our concierge team available to help you throughout your stay. Each apartment includes a dedicated home office, private high-speed internet, a stocked kitchen, and in-unit laundry.