Job Discussion Forums

[travelinbri]

in yen, I know there is a huge spectrum, but in general, what is the cost of living per month of someone living in rural Japan, can youg et by on 100,000 yen a month? More? Less?
Thanks

[guest of Japan]

In rural Japan I think you could live on that amount, but it would be a terrible way to live. You would have enough money to pay your rent and other bills, but not enough to actually leave the house and find enjoyment.

[travelinbri]

so, if I am not much of a drinker or partier, what would be a realistic amount to live off? 150,000?

[guest of Japan]

You can live off 150,000 in the short term. If you're thinking of being in Japan for the whole of a year, then don't even think about taking a job paying less than 200,000. You do others a great disservice by working below the 250,000 yen threshold.

[PAULH]

OP

what do you plan on doing- living in a tent? even rent alone will be 30-40,000 yen depending on the size of your apartment. Food costs of 20-30,000 yen (1,000 yen a day) transportation and utility costs. Nothing to speak of insurance, clothing, medical costs.

Could survive on it if you eat cup-ramen and onigiri every day but I'm sure its not very good for you.

As the other poster says, if you work for peanut wages it gives the employer more reason to pay everyone less. Why pay what the market will bear and is a liveable wage when you can work for next to nothing?

[Glenski]

As Paul wrote, your costs are going to be something like this.

rent 30,000-40,000 yen/month
utilities 15,000 yen/month
food 30,000 yen/month

That's 75,000 to 85,000 yen/month right there.

You're going to want a phone with or without Internet options. This will run you 5000-8000 yen/month after installation charges (which could be 10,000 yen to 70,000 yen).

Want insurance? National health insurance (first year only) is 2500 yen/month. (It still only pays for 70% of your costs, so if you visit the hospital for anything, you still have to pay something.)

Employers usually pay for local transportation, but if yours doesn't, expect to fork out 15,000 yen/month.

That's 100,000 yen.

Everything else in life will cost you more money. Getting paid 150,000 gives you 50,000 to 65,000 yen more per month, but let's look at some basic things.

Postage
Dry cleaning
Sightseeing (entrance fees, transportation, lodging)
Souvenirs and gifts
Going out to bars, pubs, dance clubs, snacks, etc. (conservative drinking can run 30,000 to 50,000 yen/month)
Film developing and purchases
Replacing clothes, batteries, etc.
Cable or satellite TV (3500 to 5000 yen/month)
Long distance phone charges
Smoking

All of the above will contribute to your expenses. Just simple drinking will raise your outgo to the 150,000 yen/month mark. That leaves nothing for everything else.

I hope this shows you that even 150,000 yen/month is insufficient.

[PAULH]

You havent also added in the fact, that if you are living in a rural isolated area, bus and train services may not be that convenient and some places are too far to get to by bicycle or get to in a straight line.

A small K-car may be needed which means you need parking space, gasoline, insurance, maintenance costs and registration. You dont say where in mind you want to live. Inland Shikoku or somewhere close to civilisation? I lived in Shikoku and barely managed on 200,000 yen a month.

[travelinbri]

Sorry, you guys got me all wrong, I am not gonna take a job for that amount, I am wondering how much of my paycheck I would be able to save per month.

[canuck]

My friend was in a rural town in Yamaguchi-ken. He saved close to half of his 250,000 a month, plus or minus a little bit every month. He was frugal, but not a hermit. He saved around 1.2 million yen in one year while on his working holiday visa.

[PAULH]

[Gordon]

You can probably live like a monk and save half your 250,000 yen paycheque, but why would you? You only live once and I think Japan is the worst place to live if you can't/don't spend any money. You would also probably get some serious deficiencies in your diet for being so cheap with the fruit and vegies.

[Eleckid]

You don't have to live like a monk to be able to save half of your 250,000yen/month. I'm single & I live alone, so saving money is not a problem.

I don't live in a rural area, but close to one. It's a small suburb & it's minutes from the rural area. Just spend your money wisely, change the style of food you eat, & cut off any unneccessary entertainment. I don't rent tapes or dvds simply cuz I don't need them. I wasn't into tv shows or movies too much when I was back home. I don't drink & I don't go to clubs or bars (didn't do those back home either). I don't smoke either. That saves me a lot. I would go to movies here once in a while, if I get the chance & if there's really good movies I want to watch.

I usually go around by bicycle, cuz my area is pretty convinient. Once in a while I'll take the train to Sakae for some shopping. I go on site-seeing trips about 10 times a year. I travel with a my Japanese friend, cuz they know the cheapest way to get there & they also know where is good. They also tell me which food is good & can explain to me what they are. I also need them for translation cuz my Japanese is poor.

I don't crave for western food here, and I do eat meat. But I don't like fatty meat. It's strange, in Canada, fatty meat are the cheapest, cuz most ppl like leaner, healthier meat. But here, it seems like the opposite. Chicken breast is much cheaper than chicken thighs & leaner meat is cheaper than fatty meat. Again, that saves me a lot cuz I tend to eat chicken & fish more than beef or pork. Buying fresh ingredients is also cheaper than getting the packaged, heat & ready food. I'd get my meat & rice from a cheaper grocery store, & non-perishable food & veggies from the 99 shop. Also, find out the discount day of your store & read their flyers. Sometimes I get my package of 10 M size eggs for only 28yen! Cooking western dish or eating out once in a while when I crave it doesn't hurt. Just don't torture yourself by eating unhealthy & cheap food. Your health is more important than money.

[canuck]

[dtomchek]

Hello:

Well, I live in rural Japan on the JET program and this is the breakdown of my bills

Take home pay-265,000 Yen per month
Rent-nothing but if I had to, it would be 11,000 Yen per month and it is not a bad size apt either
Bills 25,000 Yen per month but that includes Sky Perfect with all the movie channels so you don't have to pay that much
Food etc-Usually a Man (10000 Yen) a week does it for me. I have a scooter to help get around in

All in all, I saved about $15,000 last year which would include the refund we get on the Japanese Pension fund. I also took two trips last year to the Phillippines and Hawaii.

Yeah, you can save a lot but you have to learn how to enjoy your own company. The other writer was correct with the limited amount of buses that come thru (hence the scooter).

Is it worth it? I think so but then again, I am a little older and passed the drinking every night stage (was fun while I was in it though )

[Sadken]

How much is Sky perfect and what is it then?