How much is life in Tokyo

     Tokyo is a multimillion metropolis where all the achievements of Japanese civilization are concentrated, modernity and antiquity, nature and human creations coexist here. Business quarters made of glass and concrete are adjacent to tiny wooden temples, and office clerks can dine in a traditional Japanese garden. In Tokyo Prefecture live 38 million people, and another 20 million come here every day to work. About 500 thousand permanently resident foreigners in Tokyo. 

Income

In Japan, there is no minimum wage in our understanding of the word. There is a starting salary, the same for all, which rises depending on the production of years in the company. The starting salary for university graduates is 200 thousand JPY per month. Without higher education, the starting salary can start at 18 thousand JPY per month. Each year, the salary rises by about 10%. In addition, once a year a bonus is charged to permanent employees, which varies from industry, company and economic indicators. If you work part-time or contract, the salary is calculated depending on the hours worked. The minimum hourly wage is 900 JPY.

In Japan, there are several mandatory types of taxes that are paid by all persons with income: income tax, tax on living in Japan and insurance tax. All three types of taxes are mandatory, including insurance. For ordinary employees, these taxes are deducted from the salary. The rest must calculate the amounts on their own and file tax returns once a year. The amount of tax deductions is affected by the level of income, the number of dependents. Interestingly, if both spouses are employed, the tax burden of the family is less than if only one of the spouses is employed.

Moving to Japan

Many students from all over the world come to Japan. After graduation, some of them find work here and remain to build a career. In addition, Japan constantly needs teachers of English, so native speakers from the USA, Canada, Australia, and the UK often come to teach. Non-carrier students can work well with English teachers in private schools and individually. To come to study, you need an invitation from the university and financial support - a scholarship or bank account with the necessary amount for tuition and accommodation. For work - a job offer from the company and its willingness to make you a work visa.

In Japan, experts in the field of information technology can get well settled. Programmers and teachers of English do not even need Japanese for employment. All other professions and even IT areas need the business level of Japanese.

A long-term visa can be obtained to study at a university or a language school, during employment or during the marriage. It is given for one, three or five years. You can apply for citizenship after five years of life and paying taxes in Japan, after giving up your previous citizenship. To get permanent residence, you must live in Japan for ten years.

Housing in Tokyo

100-350 thousand JPY for renting an apartment. The cost of rental housing depends on the distance from the center, proximity to railway stations and the novelty of the building. In the center, a small room up to 15–20 square meters can cost about 100 thousand JPY. Such "rabbit holes" (in Japanese Usagi-goya) in the center and near the railway stations are in special demand. A standard apartment with several bedrooms of 40 square meters costs 200-350 thousand JPY.

The farther from the center, the more housing space and prices are lower. Housing is rented without furniture and appliances (only kitchen set and stove). Sometimes there are several built-in wardrobes, as well as a washbasin with a mirror in the bathroom.