So, Is Tokyo Expensive? Nah (my weekly budget + 10 tips)
Tokyo is my second home. I spend a lot of my time (and money) here. It’s an amazing city that blends the new with the old and has amazing people, food and attractions.
Suffice to say, it’s a fan favorite for most travelers.
But the question remains. Is Tokyo expensive?
This guide answers that question, but spoiler – no (it doesn’t need to be). You can definitely do Tokyo on a budget.
As a part-time local, this is what you can expect when visiting (or living) here.
Let’s get to it.
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Is Tokyo Expensive to Visit? (my weekly costs)
In my experience (and for my lifestyle), Tokyo is not expensive.
Especially when compared to other major cities (like New York or London), Tokyo is super affordable.
Of course, your expenses depend largely on where you stay and eat, your travel preferences and what you do.
But if you’re looking to do things on a budget – without sacrificing on experience – it’s absolutely possible.
Here are my (slightly inflated) weekly costs living in Tokyo versus what I would personally save if I was just visiting (not including flights):
The Cost of Visiting Tokyo (*as a minimalist budget traveler)
My Weekly Costs (living in Tokyo) → ~¥40-50,000
My Weekly Costs (visiting Tokyo) → ~¥80-100,000
Of course, these are just estimates and everything depends on your travel style and spending habits. You could probably do things even cheaper (and you could definitely make things pricier).
Also, since I stay in Tokyo for months at a time, I save on accommodation costs and I tend to do less on a daily basis (since there’s less pressure to do it all in one week).
So let’s break things down some more.
*Note: I’m using Japanese Yen to share what I spend, since exchange rates fluctuate a lot. So be sure to check the current rate before your visit.
Food (~¥25,000/week)
One of my main priorities is food, so I don’t feel bad about spending more here. And what better place to spend your money than the food scene in Tokyo?
(for real, it’s legit)
But I still manage to keep these costs pretty low.
You can easily get by with around 3,000 yen per day for food (as long as you’re not eating extravagantly or going out to boujee dinner spots every night).
While I tend to cook at home a lot, eating out in Tokyo isn’t too expensive either. There’s no tip culture and convenient (reasonably priced) bento boxes are everywhere.
But how much does a meal cost in Tokyo?
You can grab a lot of solid dishes for less than (or around) 1,000 yen.
For example, a decent sized bowl of ramen at Ichiran is 890 yen (at the time of writing this). And I rarely pay more than 1,500 yen (per person) when I go to Kura Sushi, which is a popular conveyor belt sushi chain.
And if you’re really into noodles (like me), I also recommend Tokyo Abura Soba (oil soba). It’s super delicious and their large bowl (with no extras) only costs around 800-900 yen.
But if you just want to grab a light lunch or a quick breakfast, here are my go-to options:
Katsu or Tamago sando (cutlet or egg sandwich) from the konbini: ~¥300
Oinarisan (rice ball wrapped in fried, sweetened tofu – super good): ~¥300
Conbini bento boxes (fried cutlets, curry or ramen are common options): ~¥5-700
Accommodation (~¥15-60,000+/week)
For Tokyo accommodation, you can do things pretty cheap (for example, staying at a hostel), or really pricey (like staying at the Ritz-Carlton).
I live just outside of Tokyo and my monthly rent is 66,000 yen. This works out to just 16,500 yen per week — which is super cheap. So how do I keep my costs so low?
I rent a monthly share house (in Kanagawa). This saves me a lot of money since it’s a long-term rental (over one month).
While my situation is on the cheaper side of things, that doesn’t mean you can’t keep your expenses down as a short-term visitor.
There are tons of affordable listings on AirBnB and cheap hostels or capsule rooms are spread throughout the city (some for less than $20 USD per night). You can also find decent mid-level hotels from around 6-7,000 yen per night (for more space and privacy).
But wherever you decide to stay, I always like to over-budget for travel essentials like accommodation or food.
If you’re staying at a cheaper hostels or capsule hotel, you could probably go as cheap as 25,000 yen for weekly Tokyo accommodation costs.
But if you prefer a little nicer accommodations, I think budgeting around 50-80,000 yen per week would be safe.
And if you can swing a longer-term stay (1 month or more), then you can grab an even cheaper room in a share house — sometimes for as low as 60,000 yen per month or less.
Recommended: Share Houses 101 (my experience)
Experiences (¥0-5,000+/week)
There are lots of free experiences in Tokyo, so you could technically spend nothing in this category.
Still, there may be some specific things on your list.
Personally, I may spend around 5,000 yen per week at most. And that would be an atypical week for me (if friends are visiting, or I’m just feeling the vibe, for example).
So I usually don’t spend much on experiences.
But if you’re keen to do some of the popular stuff, here are some costs:
Shibuya Sky → ¥2,200
Tokyo Sky Tree → ¥2,300 (just the Tembo deck; weekend price)
Street Kart (go karting in Tokyo) → ¥17,500
Tokyo National Museum → ¥1,000
Tokyo Disney → ¥7,900-10,900
teamLab Planets → ¥3,800
*scheduled reopen January 2024
Of course, prices can vary depending on the day, whether or not it’s a holiday or if you pay ahead of time for tickets.
So planning ahead helps here.
Recommended: 28 Unique Things to Do In Tokyo
Transportation (~¥4,000/week)
This cost also has a lot of fluctuation and depends on what you’re doing and where you’re living.
But if you’re just sticking around Tokyo, mostly walking and only taking local trains (not taxis or reserved seating trains), then budgeting around 4,000 yen should get you by.
Some days, I don’t even use the train. This is especially easy if your accommodation is in a decent location.
Some travelers will opt for buying a Japan Rail Pass (available to short-term tourists). But this may end up costing you more if you’re only staying in Tokyo.
I use a Suica IC card to pay my train fares and reload it periodically at ticket stations (these IC cards also work like debit cards in many stores and restaurants).
IC cards do have a shortage currently (autumn 2023), but apparently they should be available again by 2024 (otherwise you can just download and use the app).
Regardless, Tokyo is known for its hyper-efficient transportation. So be prepared to get spoiled.
Shopping ($0-10,000+/week)
Shopping isn’t necessary, and technically you can get by without purchasing anything.
But chances are, if you’re visiting Tokyo, you probably want to grab some unique finds. So this budget has the biggest range and totally depends on your travel goals and spending habits.
Personally, I love shopping at thrift stores and vintage shops. So if you also prefer these, you can save some money this way.
Shimokitazawa, Kichijoji and Shibuya are all great places to go thrifting.
But there are other options (that don’t break the bank either).
For example, Uniqlo is ubiquitous in Japan, makes great quality clothing and has a ton of decently priced threads.
But keep reading for more info on thrifting in Tokyo below (tip #10).
Hot Tip: Stores in Tokyo usually run large sales at least twice a year – once in the summer and once at the beginning of the year, around January.
Living In Tokyo vs. Visiting As A Tourist
You may be asking, is Tokyo expensive to live in? In my experience, no.
But what about visiting? It could be — but it doesn’t need to be.
For example, spending just $100 a day is probably more than enough for Japan — especially if you’re savvy and plan ahead.
But I always like to budget more than needed (you know, just in case).
The biggest differences between living in Tokyo versus just visiting are probably your accommodation and food expenses.
Living here or staying longer (1+ month) means you’ll likely have a kitchen and can also save money on accommodation fees.
Plus, you won’t always feel obligated to go out and spend money to enjoy Tokyo. Staying in and relaxing is definitely an option here.
So if you can swing it, I definitely recommend spending a whole month in Tokyo/Japan.
You can rent a cheap room in a sharehouse and have more time to explore all the city has to offer.
Also, with sharehouses (or long-term AirBnB stays), you don’t need to worry about furnishings, utilities or any other extra costs associated with apartment living.
The two sharehouse companies I usually stay with (and can recommend) are Borderless House and Oakhouse.
But of course, there are plenty more options, so feel free to keep researching.
Recommended: How to Move to Japan In 4 Steps
How to Travel Tokyo On A Budget (10 tips)
I’ve hinted at or mentioned a few of the tips below throughout this post. But let’s put everything into a scannable list.
Here are my top tips for visiting Tokyo on the cheap.
1. Look for Cheaper Alternatives to Popular Attractions
There’s plenty to do in Tokyo for free.
So if you’re looking to save a few coins, definitely do some more digging.
For example, if you want to enjoy an observation deck viewing, check out the 200-meter high Tokyo Metropolitan Government Observatory.
You still get incredible views (like you would with Tokyo Sky Tree or Shibuya Sky), but it’s completely free.
They also have a small cafe and gift shops at the top, so you can grab a seat and a coffee to relax, which is nice.
Or if you’re looking for a concert, you can always watch the street buskers by Shibuya crossing or outside Harajuku station (and many other areas).
Recommended: My Top 12 Tokyo Travel Tips
2. Look for Tax-Free Shops
If you’re a short-term visitor and have a stamp on your passport, you can save some money by avoiding the (10%) consumption tax at duty-free shops in Tokyo.
You can find these spots sprinkled throughout Tokyo, at some department stores and at the airport.
They usually have a big sign that reads “tax free shop”.
Here is a more comprehensive guide on how to take advantage of tax-free shopping in Tokyo.
3. Choose “Yen” When Using Credit or An ATM
If you’ve traveled abroad, you may already know about this tip.
But when paying with credit (or taking out cash at an ATM), you may get an option to choose the local currency or your home currency.
According to most sources I’ve found online and in books, it’s best to choose the local currency (in this case, Yen).
This relates to the exchange rates and who’s doing the conversions (your bank back home vs. the local vendor’s bank, for example).
You can read more about this here.
4. Book Smart
Accommodation fees will be one of your biggest expenses. So let’s book smart.
There are tons of great options to make your stay an epic one. But going cheap doesn’t mean sacrificing on comfort.
So here are some tips to save on your accommodation booking:
Avoid trendy and expensive areas
Stay slightly outside of the city or central locations
Opt for cheaper accommodations like hostels or capsule hotels
Book a longer-term stay at a sharehouse (for 1 month stays minimum)
Recommended: Where to Stay In Tokyo (top picks)
5. Don’t Get All Your Drinks At Expensive Cafes or Bars
I love cafes and unique bars with trendy vibes. But this lifestyle can get pricey.
Luckily, there are much cheaper options.
For example, you can grab a hot coffee at 711 for just 100-150 yen, which is way cheaper than the 390 yen tall black coffee at Starbucks.
You can then find a shaded spot under a tree at a park and relax for free (if the weather is right).
There are also drink vending machines all throughout Tokyo. And they sell hot canned coffee or tea (plus water, alcohol and other beverages).
Alternatively, you can also check to see if your hotel offers some free breakfast options or coffee.
6. Avoid Travel During Japanese Holidays
Japan has a couple major holidays you want to avoid if possible.
While there are many long 3-day weekend holidays, there are two longer vacation periods worth knowing about.
Golden Week and Obon.
Golden Week is usually during the end of April and early May. And Obon happens in August.
During these times, the whole country has the same vacation time. So naturally, prices are inflated and it’s a total zoo everywhere you go.
So if you’re looking to save some money (and avoid crazy crowds), plan your trip around these major holidays if you can.
7. Avoid Taxis + Walk When You Can
Unless you missed the last train and you need to get back to your hotel, avoiding taxis is the best way to save money on transportation in Tokyo.
Luckily, this is usually super easy here. Train stations are everywhere and public transportation it’s highly convenient and efficient.
For example, walking from one station to the next is usually pretty quick and painless. So if you can, opt for walking over taking a local train for shorter trips.
Because those short 130-yen train trips can seriously add up.
8. Eat Cheap(er)
The food in Tokyo (and Japan at large) is incredible. It’s one of the reasons I keep coming back!
From gyoza to ramen and sushi and katsu…so many amazing choices.
And luckily, you don’t need to break the bank. There are plenty of restaurants with very reasonable prices.
In fact, in my experience, these are quite easy to find. You can usually tell if a restaurant is more expensive (it just looks fancier).
So if you’re looking to save, opt for the simpler, smaller and local-style restaurants more than the touristy ones or fancy places.
Most times I go out with friends, I usually pay around 1,000 (or less) for a meal.
A few of my go-to spots are:
Tokyo Abura Soba (oil soba noodles – so good!)
Kura Sushi (conveyor belt sushi chain)
AFURI Harajuku (amazing ramen)
Saizeriya (very cheap Italian restaurant; all throughout Tokyo/Japan)
Grabbing a bento box from the conbini or a supermarket
9. Watch for Surcharges
Most of the time, you’ll know exactly what you’re paying.
But it can help to be aware of any potential surcharges or extra fees – for example, at bars or clubs especially.
Besides these situations, you may also consider the 10% consumption tax when shopping.
So, while surcharges aren’t the biggest issue, it’s always worth considering.
10. Shop Secondhand
If you’re keen to do some serious shopping, you don't need to break the bank.
There are lots of great areas for thrifting (such as Shimokitazawa or Shibuya), but many of these shops will still be pricey.
In my experience, Hard Off (or Mode Off) always seems to have the best prices for secondhand clothes.
But just stay patient and make it a shopping day – looking for deals.
Want More? Okay. Here’s More.
