Cost of Living in Japan for Indian Students: Rent, Food & Transportation

The monthly cost of living in Japan includes accommodation, food, transportation expenses and more. According to the Japanese Embassy to India, Indian students need nearly 50,000 per month to survive in Japan. Check out the details about life expenses in Japan in this blog.

According to Numbeo, cost of living in Japan for Indian students is around YEN 131,000 to YEN 151,000 (INR 74,458 to INR 85,826) per month without rent. This is updated according to March 2026. The expenses for living depend on various factors such as spending habits and the lifestyle of a student.

More than 200,000 international students from various nations are studying in the universities of Japan. If you are going to study in Japan for 2026 intake, this article will help you with budget planning.

Cost of living in Japan is slightly higher in the Asia continent. According to Numbeo, it is 161% higher than in India and 33% cheaper to than in the USA. An Indian student needs at least INR 70 to 90 thousand per month to study in Japan.

This amount excludes the rent amount, as it differs from place to place. In this article, we will walk you through the total cost of living in Japan for International students, including groceries, entertainment, and accommodation.

Cost of Living in Japan for Indian Students

Japan is an island on the eastern coast of the Asia continent. It is well known as the land of the rising sun. Japan is a densely populated country. Population density is 338 people per square kilometre. Every year this country welcomes students from across the world, including India. If you are one of them and are going for higher studies in Japan then you must be aware of Japan's cost of living. Multiple fully funded scholarships in Japan for Indian students to cover the cost of living.

Cost of Living in Japan Per Month 2026

Below, we have mentioned an overview of the per-month total cost for an Indian student in Japan.

Budget Planning for the First 3 Months in Japan 2026

You need to keep a budget between INR 2.70 lakhs and 3.23 lakhs for the first three months to settle in. This amount includes the cost of accommodation (Cheap), food, travel, and other necessary expenses. This amount will help you settle in Japan for the 2026 intake. Here is a 3-month budget breakdown, which you should know:

Key Points About Japanese Living Costs

• Tokyo and Yokohama are the most expensive cities in Japan.
• According to the Embassy of Japan in New Delhi, the cost of studying in Japan for Indian students is between INR 5.81 L to INR 11.63 Lakhs.
• Indian students can work par time up to 28 hours/per week. Check out top 10 highest paying part time jobs in Japan.
• Cost of living in Japan is 161% higher than the cost of living expenses in India.

Cost of Living in Japanese Cities

More than 90% of the total population of Japan lives in urban areas of country. Cities like Tokyo and Sapporo are popular among Indian students. These cities are more expensive than other Japanese cities. Check monthly expenses in these cities.

Grocery Price of Living in Japan

Below are the updated prices for daily essential items during your stay in Japan. These figures are based on the latest data from Numbeo (March 2026). To help with your budget planning, we have converted the prices from Japanese Yen (JPY) to Indian Rupees (INR) using the current exchange rate (0.58).

Source: Numbeo

Accommodation Cost of Japan in 2026

Average monthly house rent in Japan depends on choice of accommodation. On-campus accommodation offered by the university is less expensive than off-campus housing. Tokyo is one of the most expensive cities in Asia so you need to pay extra to stay in the city. Japan is one of top 10 safest countries in the world among global conflicts.

Cost of Living in Japan vs Popular Study Destinations

Cost of living is an important factor for international students. Japan offers a unique cultural experience. It's living expenses are generally higher than those of other popular study destinations worldwide. Living expenses in Japan are more expensive than other popular study destinations in the world.

When looking at Japan vs Korea, students find that while Japan has a reputation for being expensive, its living expenses are actually quite competitive with Western destinations.

Below, we've listed the cost of living in various countries that will give you a clear picture to compare:

Transportation Expenses of Japan

Japan is a beautiful country and you can explore it all. As an international student in Japan, you should have an idea about the expenses related to transport. Below, we have mentioned point-wise information to help you better.

• One-Way Ticket (local transport)- INR 123
• Monthly Pass- INR 5,000
• Taxi Start- INR 326
• Taxi 1 km- INR 224
• Taxi 1 hour (Waiting Charges) - INR 1940

Average Salary in Japan 2026

What is a good salary range in Japan? This is an important question and you should know answer. This will help you to understand living expenses and get an idea of the required budget. According to Salary Explorer, the range of average salary in Japan is between 130,000 JPY (INR 73,200) and 2,300,000 JPY (INR 12,95,000).