Job Discussion Forums

[sethness]

Gordon -- LOL, "Alpha Centauri". Good one!

DJ-- How much you need for an apartment depends on where you will be (city or country) and what kind of apartment would satisfy you-- modern, warm, clean, near public transport, or the opposite?

Aside from teh employer (who may already have a furnished or unfurnished apartment set up for you), your biggest factor will be the quality of the apartment (as mentioned above) which can range from "free for a full furnished decrepit house way out in the country" or "$1,000-plus for a closet-sized unfurnished apartment in a major metropolis".

Your second biggest factor is what is euphemistically called "key money" or "security deposit", which is zero-to-several-months'-rent, depending again on the quality and location of the apartment. (Don't plan on getting ANY of that money back, by the way-- Americans expect a security deposit back; Japanese landlords expect to suck it up on routine cleaning/replacement-wallpaper/replacement-flooring. And the "key money" is basically a huge up-front commission to the real estate agent.)

Your third biggest factor is, how soon can you find an apartment when you land in Japan? If the employer hasn't set one up for you, you may find yourself in a youth hostel ($25 to 30 a night for a bunk in a shared room) or a "monthly/weekly mansion" ($1,000 to 1,500 for a furnished efficiency apartment in a hotel, with evvvverything in it).

Also keep in mind that if your employer doesn't become a co-signor on your housing contract, it may be difficult to find a landlord who will trust you. Most Japanese apartment-renters have guarantor-cosignors: responsible Japanese people (usually family members or employers) who sign a paper saying that they will be financially responsible for any debt you leave unpaid if you fly out of the country with your apartment bill unpaid.

Lastly, consider the initial expenses of life in Japan: Cellphone ($70 a month, 0 startup costs); First month's utility bills (figure $150 for gas, water, electric); first month's internet (figure $200 installation, $50 a month after that).

Oh yeah, and food and commuting. Many employers will reimburse you for commuting, which can stack up to as much as $100 a month, but they REIMBURSE you about 6 weeks after you initially buy those bus/train/cab tickets-- and no receipts = no cash back.

If you're truly penniless, consider a country where start-up costs are less (viet nam, for example). If you absolutely have your heart set on Japan, and you're penniless, consider stipulating your needs to the employer, or possibly searchign for a host-family to take care of you (in exchange for your English conversation) for your first month or two.

[djpoole]

Thank you soooo much for such a detailed and informative reply.

Danaliese

[Glenski]

Assuming that you come without a job lined up, you will have to get lodging. Guest houses run 50,000-80,000 yen/month (sometimes with a refundable 25,000 yen deposit). No utilities. Food will run 30,000-50,000 yen/month depending on you. Get that phone and pay for it (roughly 10,000 install, then 5000-8000 yen/month). Without an employer, figure on 20,000 yen/month for local transportation.

Then, you'll have to figure in health insurance, haircuts, dry cleaning, photocopying, and travel costs outside of the city if you get interviews there. Local Internet cafes cost. Newspapers cost. All of the above are involved in job hunting, so if you want something else, I consider it a luxury.

Plan on supporting yourself like this for 2-3 months before the first paycheck comes in. Do the math. I've written this countless times before and am tired of it.