Lots of little things I wanted to say, so here's a numbered list! 1. First things first. My "Being Japanese" documentary I'm trying to get off the ground has 7 days left in the crowdfunding campaign. Perks start at $5, I'm really excited, and I've already started collecting stories igg.me/at/lwif-being-japanese-documentary/x 2. This cost of living video is kind of part 2 of my quality of life video ua-cam.com/video/oqh2F9Xeqx8/v-deo.html 3. I actually made a whole playlist with a bunch of videos that will help illustrate what the quality of life is like in Japan, from childcare centres to tours of homes ua-cam.com/play/PLwBDd34gIIWm7pg8ZdqHPjfXxjxE1Z75q.html 4. I was purposely not trying to get into too much details, because there are so many variables, from location to lifestyle. I started collecting all that kind of data, but it got messy so fast, that I chose to focus in on the three main cost differences I found between life in Vancouver vs. Tokyo. I am working on a more messy, discussiony video on the X channel. If you have questions, just leave them below. 5. Overall, Japanese households make less money, but they also have less expenses. I have a suspicion that for the bottom 20%, the quality of life is better in Japan, but that's a whole other series of videos that I will be investigating. 6. The overall thing that still impresses me about the 23 wards of Tokyo (9 million), Tokyo Metropolis (13 million), and the Tokyo Metropolitan area (37 million), is that housing is so varied in pricing for all income levels, from public housing, to micro apartments, to full blown custom houses. I really wish Canada had a simple national zoning policy that allowed for more mixed use and more density. For major cities like Toronto and Vancouver, it's so hard for all but those at the top to make a go at it nowadays. 7. I tried very hard to get all the details correct, sources are in the description. I really hope I didn't misrepresent anything.
Hi Dude! I'm from India living in Ota-ku, Tokyo. Recently started working here. I have been your subscriber from long time. I would love to meet your family especially Shin and Aiko!
Greg, thanks again. You're videos are amazing. I'd bet if you ever run out of things to talk about as far as Japan and it's culture, you could do voice over work for others making UA-cam videos! My DH has a what Americans call a "Made For Radio"voice, although he has never used his voice in that manner. I often get asked when someone calls my home, and DH answers the telephone and it's for me, I am always asked "Does his looks fit that awesome sounding voice? I'd have to say(and I am being partial here) that yes, his voice fits his looks! LOL! (and of course that's just my opinion).....Anyway, your voice is really awesome to listen to. I just finished ( yesterday or the day before) watching the video with the kids making their CAT PALACES, etc...and it was great. It reminded me of when my parents had cats( I think I commented about this in your video) and we were always making houses or toys for them out of boxes. I have a cat now, and have taken a small rectangular Amazon packing box, cut round holes in in, and put certain treats in the box for the cat. Of course it took some time to make (as I had to put partitions in the box for the treats etc., but let's suffice it to say, my cat has been enjoying the treats and the play time he has had getting the treats out of the box. You can buy a toy like this, but it was fun making the box with my grandkids. This is similar to what I did.....I don't know if it was cheaper to make it, but we had fun! www.amazon.com/Unique-Design-New-2017-Interactive/dp/B01MU2NX59/ref=pd_sbs_199_3?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B01MU2NX59&pd_rd_r=1e5ce821-8516-11e8-8137-95af0e3aa013&pd_rd_w=CEdq2&pd_rd_wg=6G2CZ&pf_rd_i=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=5825442648805390339&pf_rd_r=Z9HZGP99M1DAE3K8ERTK&pf_rd_s=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_t=40701&psc=1&refRID=Z9HZGP99M1DAE3K8ERTK&dpID=51AcNOzNuAL&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=detail
Never really paid too close attention to your videos but subscribed because your videos look pretty. This is the first time I actually listen closely. I live in Vancouver. And you are either misinformed about Canada or completely biased against Canada/in favour of Japan. For starters, you can actually live in Vancouver/Canada within 30-60 minutes of the downtown core for $1k-$2k CAD. So highlighting that you can do this in Tokyo makes it sound like you can’t do that in Vancouver. It’s okay to prefer one city over the other. I’ve lived all over the world and I have my favourites. But don’t make it sound like you’re offering unbiased/documentary-style information.
We had an issue in Tokyo in the middle of the night with my daughter, and we had to pay 100% of the bill. Including the ambulance ride, police, and examination medicine and treatment it was under $200 USD.
Honestly thought you were going to take a different route after saying you had to pay 100% of the bill, but damn $200? In California, that ambulance ride would set you back at least 5 times that 😭
Yeah I was so scared when they demanded payment up front and in full before we could leave. Then I saw the bill and was like I couldn't pay it quick enough and made sure that once I paid that was it... I should also say granted it was 3am but there was NOBODY in the hospital. It was crazy quite.
Actually, that was a little true with me. I mean I'm not huge into stats. But I actually think they are important, and I was a little disappointed. Not a lot, it was more like one of those "Ah man, really? That's a bummer. You got me! XD" Moments.
Don’t let the cost scare you from visiting or moving to Japan! It’s definitely a misconception that it is super expensive in Tokyo. It definitely can cost a lot of money depending on your lifestyle but I think the cost of living can definitely be much less than in North America
II AZHAR II dude it’s a video about comparing North American living prices (specifically Vancouver) to Tokyo’s, calm tf down they’re just further expanding on the video’s points
Crescent Moon don't bother talking to that idiot he obviously is blowing crack outta his arse if he thinks people can't talk about topics related to the video
One thing I greatly admired about the Japanese as a whole is that you can be poor in Japan and still be safe in most aspects such as education, healthcare, working infrastructure, and physical security. Poverty in America can almost be life sentence of low quality public education, access to emergency healthcare (not preventive healthcare), failing and outdated infrastructure, and physical dangers of thugs/criminals in your neighborhood.
The healthcare thing is so accurate. I was injured in Japan and required therapy for about two months. The total cost was a little over $200 U.S., which included medicine. In the states, the first doctor visit could cost more than what I paid for my complete care in Japan (which was covered by my employer).
The Dog Man my child had a febrile seizure as an infant, and we went to the ER, for 4 hours we had an initial bill of $14,000! Then more bills trickled in. The phone consult to a neurologist was a $2000 because he was out of network. The first ER physician was on contract with the hospital so also out of network and we got a separate bill from him. All totaled, those 4 hours cost over $20,000.
The Dog Man insurance refused the out of network costs beyond the 20% they had to pay. But that’s what brings up such a huge problem. You go to an in network hospital but they don’t tell you that the physicians there may NOT be in network. If you’re going for a routine procedure you could call and find out, BUT, that brings another huge problem, COST. You call up for the cost of a procedure, and they can’t tell you. They give estimates at best. You can’t get a price list they simply don’t want a price list out because everybody pays differently based on their insurance or lack of insurance. I do my best to make sure I know what our medical costs will be but it’s just a hassle. They tell you we need to be better consumers and price check, that’s great advice, but we also need medical providers that have open, available price list.
@@trishayamada807 idk why americans complain. i have good insurance a doctors vist costs me 20 dollars and prescription 10 dollars or less. in a sense thats even cheaper than the 30 percent co payment in japan
All these horror stories I hear of the healthcare system in the US and yet all these years nothing much has changed... Dude this gov is just not taking very good care of its underpriviledged citizens, and avoiding its responsibilities by selling it as 'freedom'.
Lol. I live in Tokyo right now and I only have a pocket money of 1300 dollars. That money can last me up to 4-5 months since I know how to cook and I have a bike as a mode of transportation. The reason why people says that it's expensive in Tokyo is because it's so tempting to waste money here. So many things to do in Tokyo which is bad for people who can sway easily. If you're one of them, and plan to stay here for a year, then Tokyo is not for you.
I was a tourist in Tokyo for 8 days last year. I find the prices not as expensive as what most tourists who visited Tokyo said. The prices are reasonable.
Nothing like this could exist here. If you look at all the best societal models like Germany, Sweden, and Japan, you’ll notice that the singular quality that stands out is conformity and the willingness to change your own behavior for the betterment of overall society with an ever present awareness of others. Countries with more emphasis on individual success and focus have resulted in some wonderful things as well but will never posses the mindset needed to replicate this sort of civility on a large scale. It’s so sad.
I don’t necessarily agree with that. If the United States wanted to have better societal models than Germany, Japan and Sweden it can do it. The United States has the infrastructure and resources to be the best societal model in the world however there is concentrated power elites that prevent that from happening. Also the people aren’t informed and are very ignorant of other countries societal models. If the people were more aware it will be a lot easier to implement it.
Robert Hollar huh? Greg literally said his cost of living in Japan is lower than in Canada. It is working out well for Japan. And stop with the fear mongering with debt. Debt isn’t a bad thing for a rich country. It’s actually a good thing most of the time.
@@Name-jw4sj The debt is a problem, and is a problem for most countries. Japan is in a death spiral, economically speaking, because of all the bad loans it absorbed and structural banking problem. When this is combined with incredibly low birth rates and effectivly 0 immigration, your doomed to decline. That's not to say that parts of Japan aren't great and that Japanese people aren't great, but Japan's outlook isn't nearly as positive as other countries.
Sun Wukong true London is ridiculous! I’m looking at renting a tiny studio in Canary Wharf for £1400 because anywhere else more central, a decent studio or apartment is £2000 a month and more! 😭
Everyone here needs to keep in mind that he is a skilled, degreed professional with a good job and a solid understanding of Japanese and cultures. If you don't have these qualities and just simply day dreaming about going to Japan and have a good living there just by teaching English you'll be greatly disappointed. Remember, competition is tough is any developed metro cities or countries. Remember you're facing applicants from US, Canada, UK, Australia and New Zealand, even Singapore and Hong Kong.
Dan K exactly! That's my point above. I see so many viewers here are too naive, thinking if they can teach English there is enough for them to move and live there and they get to live in a style just like this guy from Canada I say they are all dreaming.
I think the largest advantage he has is that his wife is native Japanese. He was basically already one foot in. Granted he is talking about how expensive it is to live in Japan compared to Canada. That comes on the presumption that you are working the same level of job in both countries - which is what most dreamer commenters miss out on.
I don't think any of you have lived in Japan for any length of time. I have been here 21 years and have a family. Teaching English does pay well if you choose the right company and you're prepared to put in the hours. It has enabled me to buy a large house (6LDK) and to take regular European holidays with the whole family. My daughters are in Third Level Education, which would have been impossible to afford in the UK. All mortgages are automatically insured, which mean that if you die it's paid off and your family are secure. Transportation is miles cheaper and eating out regularly is affordable. Apart from the horrendous summer climate. what more can I say in favour?
in a lot of countries in Asia and Latin America you live like a king for 500$ a month and that is why many people retire in countries like Indonesia, Thailand and S America. California is a great place to live though if you have money
Even then, I feel like the outer wards of Tokyo are cheaper in general than most parts of the US. Food (especially eating out), health care, and housing is generally cheaper.
@Lola Montez His wife does work. Being in child care acclimatizes kids to the way of how the Japanese school system runs. Also, Vancouver has the second most expensive housing market in the world.
Lola Montez Japan is a largely homogenous population. Unless you’re Japanese which this guy probably isn’t, you’ll likely experience discrimination whereas, in Vancouver he wouldn’t have to worry about it. And yes, there is the language barrier, not to mention clothing isn’t sized for western folks. He’s really comparing apples and oranges.
Having lived in Tokyo for 10 years now, how much it really costs one to live here largely depends on where in the city one lives. It's really one of the biggest factors, in my opinion. When I first came to Tokyo, I lived in Minato-ku; now I live in Adachi-ku. That little move brought my living expenses down by about 70% (no joke). A modern, but modest, apartment in certain areas can easily cost thousands of dollars per month. But by going out to the periphery of the city, one can find better apartments for much, much cheaper rent, which should be no surprise. However, the degree to which the prices drop is actually quite astonishing.
Hi Greg. I'm a Japanese man living in Toronto. I'm originally from around Tokyo and came here to go to university. It's been almost 19 years since I came here. You nicely covered living costs in Tokyo. I agree with you that it is cheaper to live in Japan. I am surprised that there are many people who believe the living costs in Japan are high. I think it is due to those biased surveys. In Toronto and many other cities in Canada, a bachelor apartment costs CAD 1,000 per month at a minimum (even in a 30-50 year old building) and it is nearly impossible to buy a house since the cost is prohibitive (almost a million dollar). Food and groceries are cheaper in Japan as well. For example, in Japan a big mac costs JPY 390 (tax included) but in Canada it is CAD 6.19 (+tax). Home internet and car insurance are also less in Japan.
I have recently returned from a year of living in Japan, now I am back in Germany again. Overall, the cost of living between these countries seems similar, but the distribution on which item on the list costs how much varies significantly. Housing costs nowadays are almost equal, since living in major German cities has become very expensive in the past decade. Same as in Japan, move to more rural areas and there's a steep decline in housing cost. Transportation feels equally expensive as well, because owning a car in Germany is still more of a neccessity than in urban Japan. Our public transportation is maybe not as expensive as the Japanese, but the quality isn't as good either. Utilities are a bit of a mixed bag. Water is fairly cheap in most municipalities in Germany, while Electricity and Gas are a little more. Overall, I'd say utilities in Germany are cheaper than they are in Japan. Groceries are cheaper in Germany, easily. We don't have separately packaged apples and layers upon layers of plastic wrap and the customers are generally not as focussed on the outside appearance of the product, but way more price savvy. Though from my experience shopping in the big supermarkets in Tokyo is also reasonable price wise, I felt like many many people still resort to Konbini because it's, duh, convenient. Healthcare is hard for me to gauge because I was not enrolled in the Japanese National Healthcare insurance but through a German company. Also, since I did not have an income or pay taxes, I never get to see anything of the numberwork besides getting my own "MyNumber" card. Childcare is equally hard for me to compare since I do not have kids. I know for a fact though that the situation about acquiring a spot for the young ones at a facility is very hard in the cities and 'still hard' elsewhere if you want it nearby. One thing I wish would have been mentioned is the tax system since I never got to experience that. Taxes in Germany are generally high and if you're in a rather high income position like me earning more than 50k€ a year, your taxes and social security will come in at a total of roughly 40-45% of your gross income. A lot of this is taken for healthcare (around 15%) and pensions (another ~15%).
I'll try and talk about the taxes when I make the X channel vid. Had a whole section about it. I think overall, like for the median household, taxes take up somewhere around 20-25% of income. Canada and Japan were fairly similar in that regard.
It depends on where you live. In my neighborhood, the tiny fresh vegetables and fruits store is more packed than the supermarket. And the prices are usually 20-30 percent cheaper.
(English Translation below) Danke für deinen Vergleich! Ich bin Lehrerin (verbeamtet) und überlege, als Ortlehrkraft nach Japan zu gehen - als Ortlehrkraft ist mein Gehalt Verhandlungssache, weswegen ich dieses Video anschaue, um berechnen zu können, wie hoch mein Gehalt sein muss. Hier in D verdiene ich >50k und habe als Beamtin eine deutlich geringere Brutto/Netto-Differenz als andere Arbeitnehmer (ca. 20% Unterschied vs. 45%). Allerdings habe ich auch entsprechend hohe Fixkosten, alleine die PKV frisst schon über 400€. Gleichzeitig möchte ich natürlich, wenn ich in Japan lebe, auch nicht so knapp mit dem Geld sein, dass ich mir das Reisen nicht leisten kann.. // Many thanks for your comparison. I'm a teacher from Germany and am thinking about working at the German school in Japan. Thus if they ask me about my income expectations I want to be sure to tell them a decent number which will provide a comfortable life because obv I want to do trips around Japan whilst I'm there. So it's important for me to calculate how much I'l need for housing, bills, daily expenses and insurance.
Eventually the only people left in L.A will be illegals that are surviving because of all the government subsidies they're getting, and the ultra-rich, for whom the high taxes don't effect that much just because of how much money they're making. And the homeless, don't forget the vast increase in the homeless population. I've lived in L.A my entire life. I am being forced to leave California now because the cost of living makes it impossible to survive anymore. Just gas alone is almost twice the amount it costs in the rest of the country. Because of that, I had to quit my job. The commute was too long, I was spending too much on gas. The food is also crazy expensive. The roads are so bad I have to constantly repair my car and get new tires. It's like living in Calcutta, only the roads are probably better there.
@@WestSide1207 The illegals are not getting any subsidies citizens can't get. Got kids? WIC, food stamps, health care for them because we as a society have decided it's best that way. If you own a car you're not poor. When I lived in Orange County the immigrants would get around on bikes or the bus, no whining, they'd just work. Food is not crazy expensive, just cook at home.
I live in Seattle, and it's not as high as people think it is, to live here. I live in Southern California for 15 years(under duress), and it was absolutely disgusting how expensive it was. It didn't matter where you looked; Los Angeles County, Orange County, whatever parts of those counties. If you wanted to live in an area that was reasonably safe(which, not really a lot of neighborhoods or areas down there that I would ever refer to as any real level of "safe"), it ate at a good 2/3 or pay monthly income, and in most cases, more than that. Up here, I make more money, there's way more options for safe areas and neighborhoods, and rent or mortgages in those safe areas, is vastly cheaper. Tax is higher up here, but there's a lot that makes up for that. Healthcare is also MUCH better up here, than it ever was in California. Not to mention all the doctors I have to see(I have about 50 filing cabinets worth of medical conditions), are much more attentive, and listen to me when I tell them about something I need, or something going on. Several of my conditions were never handled professionally while in California, and it made my health all the worse down there. I spent more time in hospitals(ER and ICU), than I did at home. Up here, I've barely needed to go, aside from my regular check ups and tests that just come with my conditions. I feel like food up here is not only better, but much cheaper than what I paid in food costs in California, as well. I have just me, and my dog(who is a wolf hybrid service animal), and the overall costs for everything, have come out to me saving several thousand dollars a month, over what my monthly costs were in California. That's my simple breakdown, on what I have to compare it to, for me.
I live in the United States and here's a run down of cost based on my circumstances: Housing: 3 bedroom 2 bathroom older home approximately $850-$1000 a month includes taxes and insurance on the home. Transportation: we have 3 vehicles husband, son and myself 2 are paid for gas is $2.69 a gallon right now to fill all vehicles approximately $140 last about 2 weeks Water, sewer and trash $65 a month Car insurance $300 a month (NO public transportation available) Health insurance for son and husband $125 a month Myself $130 Electric average $150 a month House gas $125 a month average Food $400 month Dog food $44 a month I'm thinking I want to start living in my SUV
That's a LOT. If your monthly earnings are enough to support this currently, isn't it better to relocate to someplace maybe more convenient for all of you? You have it really tough.
Another great video! As somebody who will be moving from England to Tokyo, this Autumn, I find this very helpful. I think the main extra expenses for me would be health care as I take daily prescription medications. My housing cost will rise because I will be living alone, whereas I currently reside with 2 other people. It is amazing when property searching how the price varies. 40 mins outside the centre of Tokyo can get you a 2DK for the same price as 1K or studio apartment near to the Yamanote Line. I think transportation will be a similar price because I aim to live around 40 minutes commute to Shinjuku. I will be selling my car in England and will save money on petrol and car insurance/tax,etc. Best wishes to your lovely family.
My aunt is able to live in Tokyo paying like $100/month for a three bedroom government apartment in Adachi ward. She was one of the few lucky applicants winning the housing lottery. She had to take care of her kids when her husband had diabetes being unable to work.
I'm a Japanese who living in small city of Japan. This is because a chronic deflationary spiral and Japanese are forced to overuse the excess service by companies. Japan is the paradise for wealthy foreigners. However, for foreigners working in small companies in Japan, there is the hell. Unfortunately, basically Japanese are serious citizens. Even if employment conditions are bad, it is the nature of Japanese to have the spirit to contribute to the enterprise unconsciously. As in Japan, countries with low prices are abundant on earth. However, there are no convenient services, comfortable environments, and safe security like Japan. Why? Citizens of whole countries are not hard worker. The Japanese made the current Japanese society at the expense of their private life. Thank you for reading.
@kiyonexus Have the mental capacity to fill in the gaps, or are you just not competent enough to comprehend and sort out minor flaws in convention? In that case I believe you need just as much guidance in English literacy (if not more) than the person above.
佐藤珠代 You're right. I've been to Japan few times and I think I have a good idea about Japanese society and Japan's work-culture. It's a beautiful country and your people are amazing; the huge sacrifices they make for their companies are unmatched anywhere else in the whole World.
Right let’s see here I’m Japanese and I’m living in a small city in japan. (Japan is neither small nor a city). This is because a chronic deflationary spiral.(I have no idea what this means.). And Japanese Workers are pressured to work overtime by companies by threat of being fired( overuse is excessive usage. Overwork is excessive work. Service is something like a product. A product may be a food or object. And a service may be a massage or vaccination. The word you are looking for is work.) Japan is a paradise for wealthy foreigners(The is used for singular concise definitions. A is used for incomplete defentitions) [Foreigners face discrimination and the varying culture makes it very hard to adjust, calling it a paradise is wrong]. However, for foreigners working in small companies in japan, It is hell (“There” is used for pointing at objects. The word you are looking for is “it”) basically the Japanese are serious citizens(this is where “the” needs to be used), Even is employment conditions are bad, it is the nature of the Japanese to have the spirit to contribute to the enterprise subconsciously(you need to use “the” again) [also one of the highest suicide rates in the world is not exactly an indication of an subconscious desire to contribute I can’t speak for you but it seems to me that most Japanese are tired from the constant overwork.] As in Japan. There are a lot of countries with low cost of living( abundance is used for minerals or other objects. ) However, there are no convenient services, comfortable environments, and safe security like Japan. [okay very very wrong a lot of places have those things, and do it better, Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland, and many other countries consistently rank above japan in standards of living.] Why? Citizens of other countries are not hard workers. (How does whole make sense in this situation)[also very very wrong a lot of places also have hard workers, in fact it can actually be argued that japan’s workaholic culture decreases its efficiency as a nation. If its hardworking nature is so great how many multi billionaires does it have compared to country like the US which is more laid back] The Japanese made the current Japanese Society At The Expense Of their private life.[every nation on earths society is formed by the contributions of its citizens. Japan isn’t special in this regard.] Thank you for reading.
I'm brazilian, resident of this beautiful country, but boy, i have never had that so called "american dream". I've always wanted to live in Japan. Your videos keep my dream alive! Thank you so much kep it up.
I did the opposite, I moved my family from Tokyo to Vancouver and yeah I feel that Tokyo life was cheaper. I make quite a bit more money in Vancouver but our lifestyle didn't change all that much aside from having a bigger apartment. Healthcare is good here but in Japan you don't have the long waits and need for referrals. I love living in both cities though. Good video!
I've heard many horror stories about long waits in Canada. While I was there they once told me I had to wait one month just to renew by BC prescription!
@@thestorykeeper6818 In the US I can't even get a doctor's appointment for a few months. Pharmacies keep closing...so getting a new prescription each time sucks. The majority of bankruptcies here are from medical bills. At least your tax dollars go towards more than the largest military budget in the world even after combining the next five or so.
I am also from Vancouver, and I have visited Japan 4 times now. I have to say eating at restaurants is also cheaper than in Vancouver. Generally and a "mid range" restaurant, you will end up paying about $8 - $11 dollars CAD per meal(tax included). Tipping does not exist in Japan. In Vancouver, the average meal at a "mid range" restarurant is about $11 - 14 (plus tax and tips). I actually found a really economical place very close to a busy train station in Tokyo, that offered small portion plates for $1-3 each. It was also healthy things, unlike a fast food place. I had my lunch there almost every day for about $6
San Francisco it’s now the most expensive place to live in the world average rent $2.500 a month it’s really expensive her in the bay area to buy house it’s very high
Great video Greg! The video answers a previous question I had more deeply! I share your love of data and charts so I know how you feel about topics like this haha
I'm a native Japanese who's been living in America as an immigrant for almost 30 years. The apartment prices in DFW are actually higher than most parts of Japan. Food cost is also higher in America, especially for eating out. Electricity and gas (car) prices are cheaper in US, but most household in Japan has no need for cars. Tax... well, Tax is cheaper in Texas than in Japan. First of all there's no taxes. Housing prices are really about the same, but you can afford a much bigger house in Texas. Overall cost of living is pretty comparable, but depending on whether you live in apartments and how much you cook yourself, cost of living in DFW can be significantly higher than living in most parts of Japan (Tokyo 23 dist excluded)
I live in Palm Springs, California USA. The cost of living depends on the season. In the winter the cost is lower due to the electric bill not having to run the A/C. The summer has temp as high as 125°F but being so hot the work in the summer is slow. This is a vacation town so the work picks up in the winter and rents go up. You always want to rent in the summer to start. I’m an over the road truck driver so work is no longer a factor for me. But, I was a taxicab driver and summers had been a struggle.
I can't believe it's possible to get an apartment in Tokyo for $750 a month. I live in Cork, Ireland and a single bedroom apartment is €1000 a month, even outside the city =/
@@archmad what's your point? Income tax rates in Japan are kinda similar, but on the whole (considering the brackets) lower than in Ireland. I'm actually surprised at how generous the tax brackets are in Japan.
Wow! Thank you so much for making this video! My husband and I are considering moving to Japan for work within the next couple of years and was concern about health care, housing, etc. This is great information! Thank you! ☺️
**sigh** Every time I see one of the "Life Where I'm From" videos, or the videos from "Not Just Bikes", I'm reminded of just how different my life could have been, and what a great life I likely would have had, if I had never listened to/trusted others, thinking that they knew better for me, and and instead, had left the US cesspool at 18 or 20, instead of getting myself stuck in the quicksand of the system, and totally trapped in American suburbia for life!!! Still, I love these videos to escape my miserable & empty existence, into fantasy about "what could've been"...............
What a critical way of dissecting cost of living reports. I feel at easy with your reporting because you do not have an ulterior agenda like other news sites. You can totally knock out top channels with this reporting. Impressed.
I wish we could have Japanese style zoning laws here in the US, that ability to grow taller as needed would be a godsend. We'll never get our housing costs to reasonable levels here, but its great to have an example of a country that's handling it better.
This is a concise summary of cost of living in Tokyo. When I was living there, I was surprised to find I spent way less a month in expenses. Great videos - keep up the good work!
As always, great job with the video and all the information. Sweden, well Sweden is expensive, so for me Japan is cheap, not (lets say) Thailand cheap, but still cheaper than Sweden in most cases. I have lived in Japan for 3 years and travel there every year so I think I have some small knowledge of this :)
Considering the cost of living in Canada, I am scarcely surprised. One of the biggest problems in the Vancouver area is foreign investment which is driving the real estate prices much too high, and all for people who don't even live here.
My UA-cam wall is filled with Videos relating to japan. But your videos are which I look forward to. Thank for making such a quality videos 🙏🏼 love ❤️ from Ireland 🍀
Thanks for clarifying the differences for employed health care versus for those like yourself. Also the information about the childcare. Great and not stuff people talk about enough! Thank you :) (And my number 1 thanks is to you using sources!)
3:43 you should tell that the amount is according the *july 2018 currency* right so in the future people won't be confuse ( just to be detail for any future comparisons )
That's a good point, especially since there are many things for which I didn't list the value in Yen. I usually do list the Yen, but I don't know I didn't do it for all the amounts in this one.
Just the video I needed the right time. I'm considering moving my family from Australia to Tokyo at the moment as my wife is from there. Thank you for the informative video.
After living in Paris, I feel Tokyo is very expensive. Fruits and many veggies cost minimum 100yen/piece (mango cost 400yen VS 1.5 euros, one apple is 150 yen VS 2 euros per kilo, etc). Shinkansen tickets are about 10,000 yen one way VS 10-20 euros in France to travel similar distance, and let’s not forget that even public high schools in Japan cost as they’re not considered as mandatory 😔
Just came across your channel. I moved to Kuala Lumpur after spending several years in LA and Ho Chi Minh city. Kuala Lumpur or KL for short is dirt cheap by comparison. My well furnished NY styled apartment in KL cost me just US 1500 per month, fully furnished with washing machine/dryer, refrigerator, full kitchen, stove and oven with hot water shower in two bathrooms, complete with rain shower. Oh did I mention my apartment has 3 rooms fully furnished? Great view facing the city skyline which is gorgeous. Its near the brilliant subway system and there are free air conditioned wheel chair friendly buses too. Now I dont want to leave this city at all. There are loads of US, UK, Japanese and Australian International schools with their respective courses. Not to mention US, UK and Australian Universities here. Great place to stay and work and the pace of life is not hectic. Also the food is super delicious here. Its a street food haven, this place. I can understand why people want to live in Asia. It just makes Dollar and Cents sense!
I live in Tokyo and this is so true. You can be really poor but you can live right next to Tokyo SkytreeX) But you can’t get a big room though... Also the medical bills aren’t expensive at all.
i love when u talk about zoning laws.. mmm that urban planning goodness! ive noticed that in canada and america the zoning laws are very strict, and the reason behind this is to get everyone to buy a car. the way japan does this is so much better because instead of a car, you have a bike or because you walk or transit. much more efficient.
Mitsukidoll learn basic japanese, get a visa (think about the industry you’ll work in before hand as they have separate work visas), travel to japan, find a home (if you enrolled in the JET programme and not put in Tokyo you’ll be helped at this step), get a job, and your done Edit - bring a lot of money with you as until you get your first paycheque you’ll have to buy food, pay for transport, all upfront costs for your home, some must have furniture (bed, microwave oven, dishes and utensils, rice cooker, hangers and washing machines unless you know how to wash in your sink) and maybe rent if you have to pay before your salary
It’s been a while since I’ve watched one of your videos (which is a shame), and I have to say I really notice how amazing the quality has become! (Not to say it wasn’t always great!)
A ghetto in japan is equivalent to a middle class neighborhood in the USA, if you find an apartment for $700 a mo. 30 min away from LA you’ll be in or around a section 8 housing project surrounded by criminals. Just for reference😀
ive always had a big love for japan and all things japanese, ive went there for vacation twice and each time i loved being there and truly felt whole. i plan on learning japanese, however my language skills are pretty bad and studying the different kana is pretty rough for me, since my memory is terrible. ive done quite a bit of research on visas and such, which worries me as im still relatively young and i dont know what i want to do in life, so im a bit worried regarding things like bills and allowed entry into the country and such. still, none of that deters my love for japan and i hope that one day ill be able to call japan my home.
As a Brit looking at teaching English in Japan in a few years (Gotta get through Uni first) I was always worried about the cost of living in Japan alone, and what it's like actually living in Japan. But thanks to the videos you've made it seems to be no different, if not easier/better in Japan in terms of costs etc. even if the healthcare system isn't what I've gotten used to here. Anyhow, thanks for all the videos, they've been a real insight into living abroad and how similar everything is, even on the other side of the world, and have helped reduce the fears I have. Keep up the great work, and I look forward to the upcoming mini-doc.
Awww you shot Shinozaki in Edogawa. Brings back so many memories of my time there.. So nice that it gets featured on a popular YT channel. such a nice little suburb.
I live and work in Tokyo. Please, mentioning the cost of BASIC FOOD is a must. You need to spend 40,000 JPY a month per person minimum, then multiply by the number of people at home. This in Britain and America is 100% cheaper (in reasonable cities of course). Three people at home 120,000 JPY/monthly of food minimum (1,000 USD/month). How about the counts now? I agree with your reasoning in housing and transportation. Be aware that Tokyo train is absolutely packed like sardine can in morning rush hour. Childcare is absolutely true, be prepare to spend one if you get approved or five times more if you have no luck with public childcare.
Excellent and informational video with fantastic footage! Thank you sir for your research on the cost of living and differences from Canada and the US!
Thank you! I've been saying this for years now and most of my fellow Americans seem to be convinced that Tokyo must be more expensive than New York city. They only believe me because I spent a lot of time in Tokyo and even then they only half believe me. It would seem that the lack of NIMBY's are the main reason for the low cost of housing. Not in my back yard jerks are the main advocates of strict and unbearable zoning laws that cause housing to reach astronomical proportions. NIMBYS are some of the worst culprits in the cause of Seattle's housing crisis. Also Japanese healthcare is far better than the broken American system which I only tolerate because I have to until I make the move to Japan. I like how Japan has a copay though because it helps prevent abuse and creates additional revenue for the system. Can't wait to return to Tokyo, but this time for much longer!
Great video. I always love watching your stuff, it's such high quality and very cinematic feel. Maybe because I'm watching it on my 4k monitor helps in that matter. I just feel that your videos are more than good enough for TV. You have a great way to telling the story and keeping me engaged, keep up the great work.
Very informational video! But I was wondering what it would be like living as a foreigner who has come to study, like college. What would the expense be then?
I bet you can find the answer on UA-cam if you try looking for it, but basically, it's no different than what is explained in this great video. Well, you don't have to care about the cost of childcare as a student :D I'm a student in Tokyo and I've been here, as a student, for over three years now. I live about 25-30 minutes by train from central Tokyo. My monthly income (from scholarship) is about 1300 USD (using the current exchange rate). I pay $500 a month for rent, about $100 for electricity, water, gas, and internet, and my monthly insurance premium where I live is only $10 because I'm in the lowest income category as I don't have a taxable income, only the scholarship. For transportation, I have to pay about $70 a month for transportation from home to school. Employers usually cover employees' transportation costs but school, of course, doesn't.
Wages are lower in Japan than in Canada. I was going to add a whole income section to this, but it's something I'll talk about when I make the X channel vid.
That's crazy expensive for housing 😲 I live in Ireland an for a 3 bedroom house with front an back garden plus two toilets it's only £550 dunno what that is in dollars tho 🤔 we don't pay for water and my electricity is normally about £5-£10 a week (I've a tumble dryer) school starts at 3yrs old and it's free plus our health care is free too 😁 unless you want to go private then your Gunna pay out your butt oh an dental an prescriptions are free too. And that's Ireland folks 🇮🇪
meli sol it's more of a nursery daycare type thing they go for a few hrs a day an learn through play. 3yrs old is the perfect age to get them ready for school and our government agrees
Greetings from a fellow Vancouverite!! Cost of living here is skyrocketing and the housing market is just insane. I envy you for being able to live such a comfortable life in Tokyo 💖
I'm not surprised at all, Vancouver is getting crazier and crazier with the housing prices! I read that the mayor can't even afford to live there, I don't know if it's true.
The current mayor of Vancouver is an idiot who doesn't get that no locals want to buy the overpriced and depressing looking housing he wants built. People are simply gravitating towards the suburbs. In time Vancouver will be hollowed out, the suburbs will come onto their own and become more important than the city limits.
Love your videos. Practical and informative! Just what I've been looking for regarding Japanese daily life. Japan is on my list of places to visit, and so many videos just put a negative or dramatic spin on everything. Yours are right to the heart of information. ❤ I'm not so intimidated to go now!
I honestly think its Where you life in each Country I am in Nebraska USA and my cost seems cheaper then yours. My house is less then $1000 a month free standing, big yard, twice as big as typical Japanese home, walking distance to just about everything I would ever need. Work pays a big hunk of my insurance, don't pay for prescriptions , no copay... etc... I am sure where I live is probably cheaper then NY , parts of California etc.. but there are places even cheaper then mine ,,,
What makes living in downtown Tokyo great, is that you'll use the outbound trains for your morning commute and the inbound trains in the evening... basically going the opposite way of the poor folks who are jammed tightly in the train. Plus, your selection is much greater. Whereas in the suburban areas there is only a single station with a single line within 15-20 walking distance. Downtown, you'll easily have 5-8 stations with more than a dozen lines to choose from.
4:12 I live on this train line (Keikyu) in Yokohama, living in a public apartment (UR) with the Missus. 60,000 yen ($600) a month. Really love it. Graduated from Sussex university, in Brighton, and never ever considered moving up to nearby London, to work. Glad I made the choice I did.
Raleigh is fairly cheap if you live "Outside the beltline" (US interstate 440, Raleigh's ring road). Part of this is helped due to the fact that the further outside of the city you go, the more undeveloped/sparsely developed land you can find, So instead of paying $1200USD for a one bedroom apt. inside of Raleigh, you can go 20-30 mins outside of the city and pay $1200USD to rent a 3-bedroom house with a yard and sometimes a garage.
kai where do u from ?? 😂😂 I think most of the Asian countries have small apartment because of huge population.. so... we can adjust with living in small apartments...😊😊 it has become our habit.
It is not open at all. They have barely changed their inmigration law. The government is getting ready for a controlled descent of the population. If they open the borders like Sweden or Germany did at some point, Japan will no longer be Japan. They only should allow to enter highly skilled workers from certain countries(EU, North-America, other east-asian countries).
5:28 Ai-chan looks so grown up! I find that live in London is a good deal cheaper than in Vancouver (born @ Burnaby General, grew up in North Delta) and much of what you spoke on re: child care and health care is similar between London and Tokyo. NHS (health care) in England is free for landed immigrants/permanent residents and nationals (immigrants who are on visas must pay a pre determined amount when they apply for their visa)... if one has an ailment from a list of qualifying ailments (diabetes or thyroid issues are two), then medicines are free in England while others must pay for prescriptions (~£8.80/CAD $15.50/USD $11.60 per item). Dental is subsidised to a point and is charged on a 3 band system, depending on the work to be performed; optometry care is way cheaper here than in Vancouver.. I can often get an eye exam for free, if I look online to see if anyone is offering free eye exams - generally, I've not paid more than about £20. As far as childcare goes, for toddlers between the ages of 2-4 from low income families, child care is free; for children who are 3-4 years old with 1 working parent, they qualify for 15 hours of nursery per week... if both parents work and are each earning above a predetermined minimum threshold, then the child(ren) qualify for 30 hours per week... if families (such as my own) have only one parent working (I've been a stay at home mom up to now), some nurseries will allow parents to top up the free nursery provision out of pocket, enabling the kids to stay full days during the week... not all facilities allow this top-up and will only accept fully funded children to stay the entire day while those on half provision leave at lunch time and of the places that do accept top up, the top up amount is set by the individual nursery (I'm hoping to find some form of employment this spring/summer so that my soon-to-be 3 year old will be fully sponsored when she starts nursery in September). Reception Class, which is similar to what Canadians know as junior kindergarten, starts when the child is 4 and is not mandatory, but most kids attend anyway, as it's fully funded by the government... compulsory schooling starts at Year 1 (equivalent to kindergarten in Canada), when the child is 5. It can be difficult to get into a good state school (even in London and even at the primary level!) and is usually dependent on how close the family lives to the school, amongst other factors (siblings already in attendance/if the child is in foster care or has been adopted/special educational needs etc) that determines the likelihood of one getting in to the school of their choice, if the school receives more applications than they have places (our daughter is an only child and we are hopeful that we live close enough to the school we'd like her to attend that she'll be offered a place for September 2020). Quite like in Japan, the children here in the UK wear a uniform to school, regardless of whether it's an independent/private school or a state/public school, starting from Reception - a pinafore and blouse and tie [in school colours, and on an elastic, for easy removal] for the girls in the winter and a cotton gingham dress in the summer; and a shirt and tie, long pants and a pull over for the boys in the winter; short pants in the spring/summer ... some Nursery schools have a uniform as well (usually jogging pants and a sweat shirt with the school logo on the chest) but it's up to the school to decide on the policy (those that don't opt for uniform just have the kids attend dressed similarly to how their Canadian counterparts would be dressed). Secondary school students wear a blazer, shirt/blouse and tie with a skirt for the girls and long pants for the boys.
the health care costs alone make Japan a great country to move to. compared to the United States where the costs are RIDICULOUSLY high for both the insurance and the actual care you get, no wonder so many people are leaving
The reason immigrants are pouring into the US is because they can get all kinds of welfare. They can basically live a wealthy life for free if they know how. Just look at Dearborn Michigan; it's almost entirely Muslims now and they live in very nice ($200-300 houses) and usually drive Masaratis or Rolls Royces even though they don't have jobs or have very basic jobs and can't even speak English. Our government is sabotaging it's own people. ua-cam.com/video/oEqKCvtBGRA/v-deo.html
Bristecom the government hasn’t been doing a good job controlling the immigration population in general. Everyone is welcome to come to the us, but we tend to focus more on simply getting rid of them then finding ways to help them. Especially those who desperately need to emigrate
Thank you for this video, the "Tokyo is ultra expensive" myth needs to be debunked. Tokyo has an amazing range for anything, which you don't get in all other big cities of the world.
Another great video, Greg! Thanks for making projects like such - keep up the amazing work. I hope I'll be able to support your future projects soon so that people can get access to beautifully crafted and informative videos like this :D
Lisa Khan i am not from Australia but i can tell you that apartments in Australia are not expensive at all(if you consider what’s the average salary in their cities). Sydney is expensive thats for sure but all other cities are not. You can check apps like “domain” or “realestate” and there you can see that in Melbourne CBD you can find decent 2 bedroom apartments that will cost you around 550k aud or 410k usd. For 410k usd in New York or LA CBD you cant get more than garage :)
Australia sounds almost perfect to be honest. The most complaints I see on the internet are about internet quality & international travel (flights are almost all long haul, this also affects shipping prices & time). Also the wildlife, but you get used to it apparently.
Lots of little things I wanted to say, so here's a numbered list!
1. First things first. My "Being Japanese" documentary I'm trying to get off the ground has 7 days left in the crowdfunding campaign. Perks start at $5, I'm really excited, and I've already started collecting stories igg.me/at/lwif-being-japanese-documentary/x
2. This cost of living video is kind of part 2 of my quality of life video ua-cam.com/video/oqh2F9Xeqx8/v-deo.html
3. I actually made a whole playlist with a bunch of videos that will help illustrate what the quality of life is like in Japan, from childcare centres to tours of homes ua-cam.com/play/PLwBDd34gIIWm7pg8ZdqHPjfXxjxE1Z75q.html
4. I was purposely not trying to get into too much details, because there are so many variables, from location to lifestyle. I started collecting all that kind of data, but it got messy so fast, that I chose to focus in on the three main cost differences I found between life in Vancouver vs. Tokyo. I am working on a more messy, discussiony video on the X channel. If you have questions, just leave them below.
5. Overall, Japanese households make less money, but they also have less expenses. I have a suspicion that for the bottom 20%, the quality of life is better in Japan, but that's a whole other series of videos that I will be investigating.
6. The overall thing that still impresses me about the 23 wards of Tokyo (9 million), Tokyo Metropolis (13 million), and the Tokyo Metropolitan area (37 million), is that housing is so varied in pricing for all income levels, from public housing, to micro apartments, to full blown custom houses. I really wish Canada had a simple national zoning policy that allowed for more mixed use and more density. For major cities like Toronto and Vancouver, it's so hard for all but those at the top to make a go at it nowadays.
7. I tried very hard to get all the details correct, sources are in the description. I really hope I didn't misrepresent anything.
Hi Dude! I'm from India living in Ota-ku, Tokyo. Recently started working here. I have been your subscriber from long time. I would love to meet your family especially Shin and Aiko!
Greg, thanks again. You're videos are amazing. I'd bet if you ever run out of things to talk about as far as Japan and it's culture, you could do voice over work for others making UA-cam videos! My DH has a what Americans call a "Made For Radio"voice, although he has never used his voice in that manner. I often get asked when someone calls my home, and DH answers the telephone and it's for me, I am always asked "Does his looks fit that awesome sounding voice? I'd have to say(and I am being partial here) that yes, his voice fits his looks! LOL! (and of course that's just my opinion).....Anyway, your voice is really awesome to listen to. I just finished ( yesterday or the day before) watching the video with the kids making their CAT PALACES, etc...and it was great. It reminded me of when my parents had cats( I think I commented about this in your video) and we were always making houses or toys for them out of boxes. I have a cat now, and have taken a small rectangular Amazon packing box, cut round holes in in, and put certain treats in the box for the cat. Of course it took some time to make (as I had to put partitions in the box for the treats etc., but let's suffice it to say, my cat has been enjoying the treats and the play time he has had getting the treats out of the box. You can buy a toy like this, but it was fun making the box with my grandkids.
This is similar to what I did.....I don't know if it was cheaper to make it, but we had fun!
www.amazon.com/Unique-Design-New-2017-Interactive/dp/B01MU2NX59/ref=pd_sbs_199_3?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B01MU2NX59&pd_rd_r=1e5ce821-8516-11e8-8137-95af0e3aa013&pd_rd_w=CEdq2&pd_rd_wg=6G2CZ&pf_rd_i=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=5825442648805390339&pf_rd_r=Z9HZGP99M1DAE3K8ERTK&pf_rd_s=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_t=40701&psc=1&refRID=Z9HZGP99M1DAE3K8ERTK&dpID=51AcNOzNuAL&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=detail
Hey man, did you take the giant monster insurance into account during of Cost Of Living analysis?
Смешные котеки
Never really paid too close attention to your videos but subscribed because your videos look pretty.
This is the first time I actually listen closely. I live in Vancouver. And you are either misinformed about Canada or completely biased against Canada/in favour of Japan.
For starters, you can actually live in Vancouver/Canada within 30-60 minutes of the downtown core for $1k-$2k CAD. So highlighting that you can do this in Tokyo makes it sound like you can’t do that in Vancouver.
It’s okay to prefer one city over the other. I’ve lived all over the world and I have my favourites. But don’t make it sound like you’re offering unbiased/documentary-style information.
We had an issue in Tokyo in the middle of the night with my daughter, and we had to pay 100% of the bill. Including the ambulance ride, police, and examination medicine and treatment it was under $200 USD.
Honestly thought you were going to take a different route after saying you had to pay 100% of the bill, but damn $200? In California, that ambulance ride would set you back at least 5 times that 😭
Yeah I was so scared when they demanded payment up front and in full before we could leave. Then I saw the bill and was like I couldn't pay it quick enough and made sure that once I paid that was it... I should also say granted it was 3am but there was NOBODY in the hospital. It was crazy quite.
Seriously, NC isn't that bad but it's still stupidly expensive... >_>
You may more for an Urgent Care clinic here in the US. That's amazing and hopefully it was nothing serious...
you went from 100 to zero real quick
I got so excited when you said, "if you love stats, get ready for an action packed video."
Then you stabbed me in the back, Greg.
Emily Fundling you got to be kidding 🤣
Rip stats
You should have seen my smile and then disappointment!!!
Lol. I know what you mean... I was looking forward to it too.
Actually, that was a little true with me.
I mean I'm not huge into stats.
But I actually think they are important, and I was a little disappointed.
Not a lot, it was more like one of those
"Ah man, really? That's a bummer. You got me! XD" Moments.
Don’t let the cost scare you from visiting or moving to Japan! It’s definitely a misconception that it is super expensive in Tokyo. It definitely can cost a lot of money depending on your lifestyle but I think the cost of living can definitely be much less than in North America
TokiYuYu nobody asked you to tell us about your country
II AZHAR II dude it’s a video about comparing North American living prices (specifically Vancouver) to Tokyo’s, calm tf down they’re just further expanding on the video’s points
Crescent Moon don't bother talking to that idiot he obviously is blowing crack outta his arse if he thinks people can't talk about topics related to the video
II AZHAR II Japan is not “my” country, I only live here. I’m not Japanese, nationality-wise or ethnicity-wise
@@iiazharii417 I didn't know people had to ask you for permission before making comments on UA-cam xD.
One thing I greatly admired about the Japanese as a whole is that you can be poor in Japan and still be safe in most aspects such as education, healthcare, working infrastructure, and physical security. Poverty in America can almost be life sentence of low quality public education, access to emergency healthcare (not preventive healthcare), failing and outdated infrastructure, and physical dangers of thugs/criminals in your neighborhood.
Not in most states
@GN
Not at all
@@TOAOM123 yes at all
@@AlCatSplat
Source please
The healthcare thing is so accurate. I was injured in Japan and required therapy for about two months. The total cost was a little over $200 U.S., which included medicine. In the states, the first doctor visit could cost more than what I paid for my complete care in Japan (which was covered by my employer).
i paid around $600 for my last visit in the US. crazy ain't it
The Dog Man my child had a febrile seizure as an infant, and we went to the ER, for 4 hours we had an initial bill of $14,000! Then more bills trickled in. The phone consult to a neurologist was a $2000 because he was out of network. The first ER physician was on contract with the hospital so also out of network and we got a separate bill from him. All totaled, those 4 hours cost over $20,000.
Trisha Yamada that's just awful :( hope your insurance covered it tho!
The Dog Man insurance refused the out of network costs beyond the 20% they had to pay. But that’s what brings up such a huge problem. You go to an in network hospital but they don’t tell you that the physicians there may NOT be in network. If you’re going for a routine procedure you could call and find out, BUT, that brings another huge problem, COST. You call up for the cost of a procedure, and they can’t tell you. They give estimates at best. You can’t get a price list they simply don’t want a price list out because everybody pays differently based on their insurance or lack of insurance. I do my best to make sure I know what our medical costs will be but it’s just a hassle. They tell you we need to be better consumers and price check, that’s great advice, but we also need medical providers that have open, available price list.
@@trishayamada807 idk why americans complain. i have good insurance a doctors vist costs me 20 dollars and prescription 10 dollars or less.
in a sense thats even cheaper than the 30 percent co payment in japan
Here in New Jersey, US I waited 3hrs for a Doctor to tell me my toe was broken and there was nothing he could do, the bill? Over $2,000 😒.
Did you had to pay that?
Sorry I live in Japan and that is absurd for me
Yup, You have to if you don’t they will take you to collections.
All these horror stories I hear of the healthcare system in the US and yet all these years nothing much has changed...
Dude this gov is just not taking very good care of its underpriviledged citizens, and avoiding its responsibilities by selling it as 'freedom'.
I'm confused. If there was nothing he could do then what did pay for, then?
Lol. I live in Tokyo right now and I only have a pocket money of 1300 dollars. That money can last me up to 4-5 months since I know how to cook and I have a bike as a mode of transportation. The reason why people says that it's expensive in Tokyo is because it's so tempting to waste money here. So many things to do in Tokyo which is bad for people who can sway easily. If you're one of them, and plan to stay here for a year, then Tokyo is not for you.
Just remember when you go to the store Eric, do not spend any money.
@@harrymcnicholas9468 don't go to the store. delivered is free
When did you go to KL?
$1300 to last for 4-5 months?? Is that $1300 only for things other than accomodation and utility fees which you have a separate budget for?
countryside is not good either. People there cant speak basic english.
I was a tourist in Tokyo for 8 days last year. I find the prices not as expensive as what most tourists who visited Tokyo said. The prices are reasonable.
Depending on which country you're from, in my case, i live in the ph and prices in japan is much more expensive.
Your footage is soooo high quality, so clear .. i had to click on the link to see what camera you were using!
Nothing like this could exist here. If you look at all the best societal models like Germany, Sweden, and Japan, you’ll notice that the singular quality that stands out is conformity and the willingness to change your own behavior for the betterment of overall society with an ever present awareness of others. Countries with more emphasis on individual success and focus have resulted in some wonderful things as well but will never posses the mindset needed to replicate this sort of civility on a large scale. It’s so sad.
True, but the cost to individual initiative is very high in those countries.
Well for Japan it really not working out so well... Japans debt to GDP is over 230%... The birth rate is also scary...
I don’t necessarily agree with that. If the United States wanted to have better societal models than Germany, Japan and Sweden it can do it. The United States has the infrastructure and resources to be the best societal model in the world however there is concentrated power elites that prevent that from happening. Also the people aren’t informed and are very ignorant of other countries societal models. If the people were more aware it will be a lot easier to implement it.
Robert Hollar huh? Greg literally said his cost of living in Japan is lower than in Canada. It is working out well for Japan. And stop with the fear mongering with debt. Debt isn’t a bad thing for a rich country. It’s actually a good thing most of the time.
@@Name-jw4sj The debt is a problem, and is a problem for most countries. Japan is in a death spiral, economically speaking, because of all the bad loans it absorbed and structural banking problem. When this is combined with incredibly low birth rates and effectivly 0 immigration, your doomed to decline. That's not to say that parts of Japan aren't great and that Japanese people aren't great, but Japan's outlook isn't nearly as positive as other countries.
I live in one of the most expensive cities in the world which is HK. Property prices are INSANE
Jr B "Average home size in Japan/Canada...>1000sqft"
Meanwhile in HK...
我們一起哭吧⋯⋯
Is it worse then London? This place is crazy I want out
Worse than London. In fact we broke a few records
But you are lucky that your city now is now under communism.
Sun Wukong true London is ridiculous! I’m looking at renting a tiny studio in Canary Wharf for £1400 because anywhere else more central, a decent studio or apartment is £2000 a month and more! 😭
Everyone here needs to keep in mind that he is a skilled, degreed professional with a good job and a solid understanding of Japanese and cultures. If you don't have these qualities and just simply day dreaming about going to Japan and have a good living there just by teaching English you'll be greatly disappointed. Remember, competition is tough is any developed metro cities or countries. Remember you're facing applicants from US, Canada, UK, Australia and New Zealand, even Singapore and Hong Kong.
I don’t know any Japanese. But I get a good job here in Tokyo. But getting to know some Japanese people may be good too.
Dan K exactly! That's my point above. I see so many viewers here are too naive, thinking if they can teach English there is enough for them to move and live there and they get to live in a style just like this guy from Canada I say they are all dreaming.
I think the largest advantage he has is that his wife is native Japanese. He was basically already one foot in.
Granted he is talking about how expensive it is to live in Japan compared to Canada. That comes on the presumption that you are working the same level of job in both countries - which is what most dreamer commenters miss out on.
I agree. And I saw many of the viewers below were dreaming about just teaching ENG is enough for them to live in JP but no, not at all.
I don't think any of you have lived in Japan for any length of time. I have been here 21 years and have a family. Teaching English does pay well if you choose the right company and you're prepared to put in the hours. It has enabled me to buy a large house (6LDK) and to take regular European holidays with the whole family. My daughters are in Third Level Education, which would have been impossible to afford in the UK. All mortgages are automatically insured, which mean that if you die it's paid off and your family are secure. Transportation is miles cheaper and eating out regularly is affordable. Apart from the horrendous summer climate. what more can I say in favour?
Crying while I watch this in California...
"What's the cost of living like where you're from?"...cries some more.
I'm sorry for you, I wish you the best...
in a lot of countries in Asia and Latin America you live like a king for 500$ a month and that is why many people retire in countries like Indonesia, Thailand and S America. California is a great place to live though if you have money
@Sarah K. Hope you are not living in SF like I am where you need income over $100,000+ just to have a decent lifestyle.
Right? I’m in Oregon and Canada sounds like a dream.
When he said "I moved from Vancouver" I'm like... oh so that's why it's cheaper lmao.
Even then, I feel like the outer wards of Tokyo are cheaper in general than most parts of the US. Food (especially eating out), health care, and housing is generally cheaper.
birdlikebirds exactly lol Vancouver is one of the most expensive cities in the world
exactly, wow, big difference from Vancouer to Tokyo, lol
@Lola Montez His wife does work. Being in child care acclimatizes kids to the way of how the Japanese school system runs. Also, Vancouver has the second most expensive housing market in the world.
Lola Montez Japan is a largely homogenous population. Unless you’re Japanese which this guy probably isn’t, you’ll likely experience discrimination whereas, in Vancouver he wouldn’t have to worry about it. And yes, there is the language barrier, not to mention clothing isn’t sized for western folks. He’s really comparing apples and oranges.
Having lived in Tokyo for 10 years now, how much it really costs one to live here largely depends on where in the city one lives. It's really one of the biggest factors, in my opinion. When I first came to Tokyo, I lived in Minato-ku; now I live in Adachi-ku. That little move brought my living expenses down by about 70% (no joke). A modern, but modest, apartment in certain areas can easily cost thousands of dollars per month. But by going out to the periphery of the city, one can find better apartments for much, much cheaper rent, which should be no surprise. However, the degree to which the prices drop is actually quite astonishing.
Hi Greg. I'm a Japanese man living in Toronto. I'm originally from around Tokyo and came here to go to university. It's been almost 19 years since I came here. You nicely covered living costs in Tokyo. I agree with you that it is cheaper to live in Japan. I am surprised that there are many people who believe the living costs in Japan are high. I think it is due to those biased surveys.
In Toronto and many other cities in Canada, a bachelor apartment costs CAD 1,000 per month at a minimum (even in a 30-50 year old building) and it is nearly impossible to buy a house since the cost is prohibitive (almost a million dollar). Food and groceries are cheaper in Japan as well. For example, in Japan a big mac costs JPY 390 (tax included) but in Canada it is CAD 6.19 (+tax). Home internet and car insurance are also less in Japan.
I have recently returned from a year of living in Japan, now I am back in Germany again.
Overall, the cost of living between these countries seems similar, but the distribution on which item on the list costs how much varies significantly.
Housing costs nowadays are almost equal, since living in major German cities has become very expensive in the past decade. Same as in Japan, move to more rural areas and there's a steep decline in housing cost.
Transportation feels equally expensive as well, because owning a car in Germany is still more of a neccessity than in urban Japan. Our public transportation is maybe not as expensive as the Japanese, but the quality isn't as good either.
Utilities are a bit of a mixed bag. Water is fairly cheap in most municipalities in Germany, while Electricity and Gas are a little more. Overall, I'd say utilities in Germany are cheaper than they are in Japan.
Groceries are cheaper in Germany, easily. We don't have separately packaged apples and layers upon layers of plastic wrap and the customers are generally not as focussed on the outside appearance of the product, but way more price savvy. Though from my experience shopping in the big supermarkets in Tokyo is also reasonable price wise, I felt like many many people still resort to Konbini because it's, duh, convenient.
Healthcare is hard for me to gauge because I was not enrolled in the Japanese National Healthcare insurance but through a German company. Also, since I did not have an income or pay taxes, I never get to see anything of the numberwork besides getting my own "MyNumber" card.
Childcare is equally hard for me to compare since I do not have kids. I know for a fact though that the situation about acquiring a spot for the young ones at a facility is very hard in the cities and 'still hard' elsewhere if you want it nearby.
One thing I wish would have been mentioned is the tax system since I never got to experience that. Taxes in Germany are generally high and if you're in a rather high income position like me earning more than 50k€ a year, your taxes and social security will come in at a total of roughly 40-45% of your gross income. A lot of this is taken for healthcare (around 15%) and pensions (another ~15%).
I'll try and talk about the taxes when I make the X channel vid. Had a whole section about it. I think overall, like for the median household, taxes take up somewhere around 20-25% of income. Canada and Japan were fairly similar in that regard.
Velym great info fro. Germany. Thanks a lot.
It depends on where you live. In my neighborhood, the tiny fresh vegetables and fruits store is more packed than the supermarket. And the prices are usually 20-30 percent cheaper.
(English Translation below) Danke für deinen Vergleich! Ich bin Lehrerin (verbeamtet) und überlege, als Ortlehrkraft nach Japan zu gehen - als Ortlehrkraft ist mein Gehalt Verhandlungssache, weswegen ich dieses Video anschaue, um berechnen zu können, wie hoch mein Gehalt sein muss. Hier in D verdiene ich >50k und habe als Beamtin eine deutlich geringere Brutto/Netto-Differenz als andere Arbeitnehmer (ca. 20% Unterschied vs. 45%). Allerdings habe ich auch entsprechend hohe Fixkosten, alleine die PKV frisst schon über 400€.
Gleichzeitig möchte ich natürlich, wenn ich in Japan lebe, auch nicht so knapp mit dem Geld sein, dass ich mir das Reisen nicht leisten kann..
// Many thanks for your comparison. I'm a teacher from Germany and am thinking about working at the German school in Japan. Thus if they ask me about my income expectations I want to be sure to tell them a decent number which will provide a comfortable life because obv I want to do trips around Japan whilst I'm there. So it's important for me to calculate how much I'l need for housing, bills, daily expenses and insurance.
Cost of living here in LA is basically you're either dirt poor or you're well off to rich. Middle class is a joke.
Eventually the only people left in L.A will be illegals that are surviving because of all the government subsidies they're getting, and the ultra-rich, for whom the high taxes don't effect that much just because of how much money they're making. And the homeless, don't forget the vast increase in the homeless population.
I've lived in L.A my entire life. I am being forced to leave California now because the cost of living makes it impossible to survive anymore. Just gas alone is almost twice the amount it costs in the rest of the country. Because of that, I had to quit my job. The commute was too long, I was spending too much on gas. The food is also crazy expensive. The roads are so bad I have to constantly repair my car and get new tires. It's like living in Calcutta, only the roads are probably better there.
Stop taking care of illegals there are so many crazy Congress people in California no wonder it’s going down the drain.
That's true.
Sonny live in East LA in the barrio. Work in West LA. Learn Spanish. Homies no longer live in gangs but still live in the barrio where it is cheap.
@@WestSide1207 The illegals are not getting any subsidies citizens can't get. Got kids? WIC, food stamps, health care for them because we as a society have decided it's best that way.
If you own a car you're not poor. When I lived in Orange County the immigrants would get around on bikes or the bus, no whining, they'd just work. Food is not crazy expensive, just cook at home.
I just came back from Japan and your videos helped make my experience x1000 better, please continue with the amazing work.
I live in Seattle, and it's not as high as people think it is, to live here. I live in Southern California for 15 years(under duress), and it was absolutely disgusting how expensive it was. It didn't matter where you looked; Los Angeles County, Orange County, whatever parts of those counties. If you wanted to live in an area that was reasonably safe(which, not really a lot of neighborhoods or areas down there that I would ever refer to as any real level of "safe"), it ate at a good 2/3 or pay monthly income, and in most cases, more than that. Up here, I make more money, there's way more options for safe areas and neighborhoods, and rent or mortgages in those safe areas, is vastly cheaper. Tax is higher up here, but there's a lot that makes up for that. Healthcare is also MUCH better up here, than it ever was in California. Not to mention all the doctors I have to see(I have about 50 filing cabinets worth of medical conditions), are much more attentive, and listen to me when I tell them about something I need, or something going on. Several of my conditions were never handled professionally while in California, and it made my health all the worse down there. I spent more time in hospitals(ER and ICU), than I did at home. Up here, I've barely needed to go, aside from my regular check ups and tests that just come with my conditions. I feel like food up here is not only better, but much cheaper than what I paid in food costs in California, as well. I have just me, and my dog(who is a wolf hybrid service animal), and the overall costs for everything, have come out to me saving several thousand dollars a month, over what my monthly costs were in California. That's my simple breakdown, on what I have to compare it to, for me.
Seattle Sheikah
Supply and Demand. Good for you!
Let me guess you're on drugs for "anxiety" as well 😂
I live in the United States and here's a run down of cost based on my circumstances:
Housing: 3 bedroom 2 bathroom older home approximately $850-$1000 a month includes taxes and insurance on the home.
Transportation: we have 3 vehicles husband, son and myself 2 are paid for gas is $2.69 a gallon right now to fill all vehicles approximately $140 last about 2 weeks
Water, sewer and trash $65 a month
Car insurance $300 a month
(NO public transportation available)
Health insurance for son and husband $125 a month
Myself $130
Electric average $150 a month
House gas $125 a month average
Food $400 month
Dog food $44 a month
I'm thinking I want to start living in my SUV
Are you urban or rural? I used to live rural and the price difference is insane.
2000 USD for a 3 bedroom townhouse. Orlando FL
That's a LOT. If your monthly earnings are enough to support this currently, isn't it better to relocate to someplace maybe more convenient for all of you? You have it really tough.
Wow so much for 900$? That will get you a two bedroom apartment with one window in the Netherlands!
I live in a town with approximately 11,000 people.
Another great video! As somebody who will be moving from England to Tokyo, this Autumn, I find this very helpful. I think the main extra expenses for me would be health care as I take daily prescription medications. My housing cost will rise because I will be living alone, whereas I currently reside with 2 other people. It is amazing when property searching how the price varies. 40 mins outside the centre of Tokyo can get you a 2DK for the same price as 1K or studio apartment near to the Yamanote Line. I think transportation will be a similar price because I aim to live around 40 minutes commute to Shinjuku. I will be selling my car in England and will save money on petrol and car insurance/tax,etc. Best wishes to your lovely family.
My aunt is able to live in Tokyo paying like $100/month for a three bedroom government apartment in Adachi ward. She was one of the few lucky applicants winning the housing lottery. She had to take care of her kids when her husband had diabetes being unable to work.
I'm a Japanese who living in small city of Japan.
This is because a chronic deflationary spiral and Japanese are forced to overuse the excess service by companies.
Japan is the paradise for wealthy foreigners. However, for foreigners working in small companies in Japan, there is the hell.
Unfortunately, basically Japanese are serious citizens. Even if employment conditions are bad, it is the nature of Japanese to have the spirit to contribute to the enterprise unconsciously. As in Japan, countries with low prices are abundant on earth. However, there are no convenient services, comfortable environments, and safe security like Japan.
Why?
Citizens of whole countries are not hard worker.
The Japanese made the current Japanese society at the expense of their private life.
Thank you for reading.
@kiyonexus Have the mental capacity to fill in the gaps, or are you just not competent enough to comprehend and sort out minor flaws in convention? In that case I believe you need just as much guidance in English literacy (if not more) than the person above.
very insightful!
佐藤珠代
You're right. I've been to Japan few times and I think I have a good idea about Japanese society and Japan's work-culture. It's a beautiful country and your people are amazing; the huge sacrifices they make for their companies are unmatched anywhere else in the whole World.
@@NihonKaikan It really isn't that much better than how it is in the US, UK and many parts of the World!
Right let’s see here
I’m Japanese and I’m living in a small city in japan. (Japan is neither small nor a city). This is because a chronic deflationary spiral.(I have no idea what this means.). And Japanese Workers are pressured to work overtime by companies by threat of being fired( overuse is excessive usage. Overwork is excessive work. Service is something like a product. A product may be a food or object. And a service may be a massage or vaccination. The word you are looking for is work.) Japan is a paradise for wealthy foreigners(The is used for singular concise definitions. A is used for incomplete defentitions) [Foreigners face discrimination and the varying culture makes it very hard to adjust, calling it a paradise is wrong]. However, for foreigners working in small companies in japan, It is hell (“There” is used for pointing at objects. The word you are looking for is “it”) basically the Japanese are serious citizens(this is where “the” needs to be used), Even is employment conditions are bad, it is the nature of the Japanese to have the spirit to contribute to the enterprise subconsciously(you need to use “the” again) [also one of the highest suicide rates in the world is not exactly an indication of an subconscious desire to contribute I can’t speak for you but it seems to me that most Japanese are tired from the constant overwork.] As in Japan. There are a lot of countries with low cost of living( abundance is used for minerals or other objects. ) However, there are no convenient services, comfortable environments, and safe security like Japan. [okay very very wrong a lot of places have those things, and do it better, Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland, and many other countries consistently rank above japan in standards of living.] Why?
Citizens of other countries are not hard workers. (How does whole make sense in this situation)[also very very wrong a lot of places also have hard workers, in fact it can actually be argued that japan’s workaholic culture decreases its efficiency as a nation. If its hardworking nature is so great how many multi billionaires does it have compared to country like the US which is more laid back]
The Japanese made the current Japanese Society At The Expense Of their private life.[every nation on earths society is formed by the contributions of its citizens. Japan isn’t special in this regard.]
Thank you for reading.
Great video, Greg. Keep up with the good work.
I'm brazilian, resident of this beautiful country, but boy, i have never had that so called "american dream". I've always wanted to live in Japan. Your videos keep my dream alive! Thank you so much kep it up.
I do actually hear of some connection between Brazillian and Japanese culture
I did the opposite, I moved my family from Tokyo to Vancouver and yeah I feel that Tokyo life was cheaper. I make quite a bit more money in Vancouver but our lifestyle didn't change all that much aside from having a bigger apartment. Healthcare is good here but in Japan you don't have the long waits and need for referrals. I love living in both cities though. Good video!
I've heard many horror stories about long waits in Canada. While I was there they once told me I had to wait one month just to renew by BC prescription!
theStorykeeper that’s just not true
@@thestorykeeper6818 In the US I can't even get a doctor's appointment for a few months. Pharmacies keep closing...so getting a new prescription each time sucks. The majority of bankruptcies here are from medical bills. At least your tax dollars go towards more than the largest military budget in the world even after combining the next five or so.
I am also from Vancouver, and I have visited Japan 4 times now. I have to say eating at restaurants is also cheaper than in Vancouver. Generally and a "mid range" restaurant, you will end up paying about $8 - $11 dollars CAD per meal(tax included). Tipping does not exist in Japan. In Vancouver, the average meal at a "mid range" restarurant is about $11 - 14 (plus tax and tips).
I actually found a really economical place very close to a busy train station in Tokyo, that offered small portion plates for $1-3 each. It was also healthy things, unlike a fast food place. I had my lunch there almost every day for about $6
Less than $1000 to go for the documentary campaign guys! One more push!
Your comment reminded me to donate! Thanks!
San Francisco it’s now the most expensive place to live in the world average rent $2.500 a month it’s really expensive her in the bay area to buy house it’s very high
Santiago Villanueva check also Boston the rent is insane
Thats cheap compared to HK. For that price, you could only get 300 - 350 sqft tops, if you’re lucky
I always like your videos before even it starts!! And it's always worth it!!
"Most employers will pay your transportation fees." - my boss could never
Vancouver yes, the rest of Canada. I highly doubt it.
Great video Greg! The video answers a previous question I had more deeply! I share your love of data and charts so I know how you feel about topics like this haha
Happy to help!
Greg, you truly have the best, most informative channel in regards to life in Japan. Hands down.
I'm a native Japanese who's been living in America as an immigrant for almost 30 years.
The apartment prices in DFW are actually higher than most parts of Japan.
Food cost is also higher in America, especially for eating out.
Electricity and gas (car) prices are cheaper in US, but most household in Japan has no need for cars.
Tax... well, Tax is cheaper in Texas than in Japan. First of all there's no taxes.
Housing prices are really about the same, but you can afford a much bigger house in Texas.
Overall cost of living is pretty comparable, but depending on whether you live in apartments and how much you cook yourself, cost of living in DFW can be significantly higher than living in most parts of Japan (Tokyo 23 dist excluded)
@Tatsujiro Kurogane wow shameless hatred against americans. I will say that yes Tokyo might be the most advanced and most affordable city to be in.
@Tatsujiro Kurogane what has an American dome to you Geez. And I'm not an American
F**K you and your DFW! Could've just said Dallas Fort Worth (at least once) so we'd know what you're talking about.LOL
Thanks for the insight.
@Tatsujiro Kurogane LOL
I live in Palm Springs, California USA. The cost of living depends on the season. In the winter the cost is lower due to the electric bill not having to run the A/C. The summer has temp as high as 125°F but being so hot the work in the summer is slow. This is a vacation town so the work picks up in the winter and rents go up. You always want to rent in the summer to start. I’m an over the road truck driver so work is no longer a factor for me. But, I was a taxicab driver and summers had been a struggle.
Just backed your documentary, I can't wait for it :3
Excellent well put together video - high quality and concise! Thanks!!!
I can't believe it's possible to get an apartment in Tokyo for $750 a month. I live in Cork, Ireland and a single bedroom apartment is €1000 a month, even outside the city =/
search how much is income tax rate in JP
@@archmad what's your point? Income tax rates in Japan are kinda similar, but on the whole (considering the brackets) lower than in Ireland. I'm actually surprised at how generous the tax brackets are in Japan.
@@Czadzikable if you did then you get the point.
I'm always so amazed by the quality of your videos!
My favorite part was, "Have two, get the rest free." That made me laugh.
Makes sense Japan is trying to promote a growing population as they dont have immigration. So they are encouraging reproduction.
Wow! Thank you so much for making this video! My husband and I are considering moving to Japan for work within the next couple of years and was concern about health care, housing, etc. This is great information! Thank you! ☺️
**sigh** Every time I see one of the "Life Where I'm From" videos, or the videos from "Not Just Bikes", I'm reminded of just how different my life could have been, and what a great life I likely would have had, if I had never listened to/trusted others, thinking that they knew better for me, and and instead, had left the US cesspool at 18 or 20, instead of getting myself stuck in the quicksand of the system, and totally trapped in American suburbia for life!!!
Still, I love these videos to escape my miserable & empty existence, into fantasy about "what could've been"...............
Grass is always greener.
What a critical way of dissecting cost of living reports. I feel at easy with your reporting because you do not have an ulterior agenda like other news sites. You can totally knock out top channels with this reporting. Impressed.
I wish we could have Japanese style zoning laws here in the US, that ability to grow taller as needed would be a godsend. We'll never get our housing costs to reasonable levels here, but its great to have an example of a country that's handling it better.
This is a concise summary of cost of living in Tokyo. When I was living there, I was surprised to find I spent way less a month in expenses. Great videos - keep up the good work!
As always, great job with the video and all the information.
Sweden, well Sweden is expensive, so for me Japan is cheap, not (lets say) Thailand cheap, but still cheaper than Sweden in most cases.
I have lived in Japan for 3 years and travel there every year so I think I have some small knowledge of this :)
I absolutely love the video quality on this channel, it's a really amazing informational video
Considering the cost of living in Canada, I am scarcely surprised. One of the biggest problems in the Vancouver area is foreign investment which is driving the real estate prices much too high, and all for people who don't even live here.
My UA-cam wall is filled with Videos relating to japan. But your videos are which I look forward to. Thank for making such a quality videos 🙏🏼 love ❤️ from Ireland 🍀
I love this channel
Maddy Young i love u too
Thanks for clarifying the differences for employed health care versus for those like yourself. Also the information about the childcare. Great and not stuff people talk about enough! Thank you :) (And my number 1 thanks is to you using sources!)
3:43 you should tell that the amount is according the *july 2018 currency* right so in the future people won't be confuse ( just to be detail for any future comparisons )
That's a good point, especially since there are many things for which I didn't list the value in Yen. I usually do list the Yen, but I don't know I didn't do it for all the amounts in this one.
Just the video I needed the right time. I'm considering moving my family from Australia to Tokyo at the moment as my wife is from there.
Thank you for the informative video.
After living in Paris, I feel Tokyo is very expensive. Fruits and many veggies cost minimum 100yen/piece (mango cost 400yen VS 1.5 euros, one apple is 150 yen VS 2 euros per kilo, etc). Shinkansen tickets are about 10,000 yen one way VS 10-20 euros in France to travel similar distance, and let’s not forget that even public high schools in Japan cost as they’re not considered as mandatory 😔
Just came across your channel. I moved to Kuala Lumpur after spending several years in LA and Ho Chi Minh city. Kuala Lumpur or KL for short is dirt cheap by comparison. My well furnished NY styled apartment in KL cost me just US 1500 per month, fully furnished with washing machine/dryer, refrigerator, full kitchen, stove and oven with hot water shower in two bathrooms, complete with rain shower. Oh did I mention my apartment has 3 rooms fully furnished? Great view facing the city skyline which is gorgeous. Its near the brilliant subway system and there are free air conditioned wheel chair friendly buses too. Now I dont want to leave this city at all. There are loads of US, UK, Japanese and Australian International schools with their respective courses. Not to mention US, UK and Australian Universities here. Great place to stay and work and the pace of life is not hectic. Also the food is super delicious here. Its a street food haven, this place. I can understand why people want to live in Asia. It just makes Dollar and Cents sense!
I live in Tokyo and this is so true.
You can be really poor but you can live right next to Tokyo SkytreeX) But you can’t get a big room though...
Also the medical bills aren’t expensive at all.
i love when u talk about zoning laws.. mmm that urban planning goodness!
ive noticed that in canada and america the zoning laws are very strict, and the reason behind this is to get everyone to buy a car.
the way japan does this is so much better because instead of a car, you have a bike or because you walk or transit. much more efficient.
All my life and still wishing to live and move to Japan but don’t know how 😭
Get a bachelor's degree, find a job and you will be fine. Or find a husband ._.
Mitsukidoll learn basic japanese, get a visa (think about the industry you’ll work in before hand as they have separate work visas), travel to japan, find a home (if you enrolled in the JET programme and not put in Tokyo you’ll be helped at this step), get a job, and your done
Edit - bring a lot of money with you as until you get your first paycheque you’ll have to buy food, pay for transport, all upfront costs for your home, some must have furniture (bed, microwave oven, dishes and utensils, rice cooker, hangers and washing machines unless you know how to wash in your sink) and maybe rent if you have to pay before your salary
Well, like I already wrote, get a bachelor's degree, because it's required for the visa. And then it's quite easy,
Candy Gobbler I already can speak some Japanese
Mitsukidoll learn about Japanese culture and Language it will be more easier to blend in and make friends with locals!
It’s been a while since I’ve watched one of your videos (which is a shame), and I have to say I really notice how amazing the quality has become! (Not to say it wasn’t always great!)
A ghetto in japan is equivalent to a middle class neighborhood in the USA, if you find an apartment for $700 a mo. 30 min away from LA you’ll be in or around a section 8 housing project surrounded by criminals. Just for reference😀
DarkstarDarth same London but more expendive atound 1200 dolar i studio
LOL true
@@NihonKaikan Oh really , ghettos and projects in Japan...? Never heard of
Best contents so far!!! Looking forward for more to learn from you! THANKS
ive always had a big love for japan and all things japanese, ive went there for vacation twice and each time i loved being there and truly felt whole. i plan on learning japanese, however my language skills are pretty bad and studying the different kana is pretty rough for me, since my memory is terrible.
ive done quite a bit of research on visas and such, which worries me as im still relatively young and i dont know what i want to do in life, so im a bit worried regarding things like bills and allowed entry into the country and such. still, none of that deters my love for japan and i hope that one day ill be able to call japan my home.
This was wonderful to watch. Very informative.
As a Brit looking at teaching English in Japan in a few years (Gotta get through Uni first) I was always worried about the cost of living in Japan alone, and what it's like actually living in Japan. But thanks to the videos you've made it seems to be no different, if not easier/better in Japan in terms of costs etc. even if the healthcare system isn't what I've gotten used to here. Anyhow, thanks for all the videos, they've been a real insight into living abroad and how similar everything is, even on the other side of the world, and have helped reduce the fears I have.
Keep up the great work, and I look forward to the upcoming mini-doc.
Awww you shot Shinozaki in Edogawa. Brings back so many memories of my time there.. So nice that it gets featured on a popular YT channel. such a nice little suburb.
I live and work in Tokyo. Please, mentioning the cost of BASIC FOOD is a must. You need to spend 40,000 JPY a month per person minimum, then multiply by the number of people at home. This in Britain and America is 100% cheaper (in reasonable cities of course). Three people at home 120,000 JPY/monthly of food minimum (1,000 USD/month). How about the counts now?
I agree with your reasoning in housing and transportation. Be aware that Tokyo train is absolutely packed like sardine can in morning rush hour.
Childcare is absolutely true, be prepare to spend one if you get approved or five times more if you have no luck with public childcare.
Excellent and informational video with fantastic footage! Thank you sir for your research on the cost of living and differences from Canada and the US!
Thank you! I've been saying this for years now and most of my fellow Americans seem to be convinced that Tokyo must be more expensive than New York city. They only believe me because I spent a lot of time in Tokyo and even then they only half believe me. It would seem that the lack of NIMBY's are the main reason for the low cost of housing. Not in my back yard jerks are the main advocates of strict and unbearable zoning laws that cause housing to reach astronomical proportions. NIMBYS are some of the worst culprits in the cause of Seattle's housing crisis. Also Japanese healthcare is far better than the broken American system which I only tolerate because I have to until I make the move to Japan. I like how Japan has a copay though because it helps prevent abuse and creates additional revenue for the system. Can't wait to return to Tokyo, but this time for much longer!
Great video. I always love watching your stuff, it's such high quality and very cinematic feel. Maybe because I'm watching it on my 4k monitor helps in that matter. I just feel that your videos are more than good enough for TV. You have a great way to telling the story and keeping me engaged, keep up the great work.
"I love charts, I just messing with you"
1 year later, everyone reads charts
Hello from Tokyo !!
Thank you for complete and intructive video !! Such a good job !!
Very informational video! But I was wondering what it would be like living as a foreigner who has come to study, like college. What would the expense be then?
If you search on UA-cam, I'm quite sure you'll find your answer 😀
I bet you can find the answer on UA-cam if you try looking for it, but basically, it's no different than what is explained in this great video. Well, you don't have to care about the cost of childcare as a student :D I'm a student in Tokyo and I've been here, as a student, for over three years now. I live about 25-30 minutes by train from central Tokyo. My monthly income (from scholarship) is about 1300 USD (using the current exchange rate). I pay $500 a month for rent, about $100 for electricity, water, gas, and internet, and my monthly insurance premium where I live is only $10 because I'm in the lowest income category as I don't have a taxable income, only the scholarship. For transportation, I have to pay about $70 a month for transportation from home to school. Employers usually cover employees' transportation costs but school, of course, doesn't.
Great job. Love your videos that give lots of data, it's the best way to really get an idea of what things are like somewhere.
You forgot to mention that this affect salaries. The cheaper things are, the lower your salary will be.
Wages are lower in Japan than in Canada. I was going to add a whole income section to this, but it's something I'll talk about when I make the X channel vid.
I have to say your videos are as pleasant to watch as to listen to!
That's crazy expensive for housing 😲 I live in Ireland an for a 3 bedroom house with front an back garden plus two toilets it's only £550 dunno what that is in dollars tho 🤔 we don't pay for water and my electricity is normally about £5-£10 a week (I've a tumble dryer) school starts at 3yrs old and it's free plus our health care is free too 😁 unless you want to go private then your Gunna pay out your butt oh an dental an prescriptions are free too. And that's Ireland folks 🇮🇪
Joannabobanna 3 yrs old is too young for school.
meli sol it's more of a nursery daycare type thing they go for a few hrs a day an learn through play. 3yrs old is the perfect age to get them ready for school and our government agrees
That sounds great life to me..
Greetings from a fellow Vancouverite!! Cost of living here is skyrocketing and the housing market is just insane. I envy you for being able to live such a comfortable life in Tokyo 💖
why does tokyo seem way nicer in every way then every other country
0:40 was beautifully arranged/positioned.
I'm not surprised at all, Vancouver is getting crazier and crazier with the housing prices! I read that the mayor can't even afford to live there, I don't know if it's true.
Coccinelle yep its nuts. I moved away from Vancouver and now live in Osaka.
The current mayor of Vancouver is an idiot who doesn't get that no locals want to buy the overpriced and depressing looking housing he wants built. People are simply gravitating towards the suburbs. In time Vancouver will be hollowed out, the suburbs will come onto their own and become more important than the city limits.
Love your videos. Practical and informative! Just what I've been looking for regarding Japanese daily life. Japan is on my list of places to visit, and so many videos just put a negative or dramatic spin on everything. Yours are right to the heart of information. ❤ I'm not so intimidated to go now!
I honestly think its Where you life in each Country I am in Nebraska USA and my cost seems cheaper then yours. My house is less then $1000 a month free standing, big yard, twice as big as typical Japanese home, walking distance to just about everything I would ever need. Work pays a big hunk of my insurance, don't pay for prescriptions , no copay... etc... I am sure where I live is probably cheaper then NY , parts of California etc.. but there are places even cheaper then mine ,,,
Yep, location really does change a lot!
What makes living in downtown Tokyo great, is that you'll use the outbound trains for your morning commute and the inbound trains in the evening... basically going the opposite way of the poor folks who are jammed tightly in the train. Plus, your selection is much greater. Whereas in the suburban areas there is only a single station with a single line within 15-20 walking distance. Downtown, you'll easily have 5-8 stations with more than a dozen lines to choose from.
動画の主旨と関係ないけど、江戸川区に住んでるんですかね？
江戸川区は新宿線沿線は昔ながらの農家や川沿いの緑もあって東京っぽくない所があって住みやすそうですよね～
4:12 I live on this train line (Keikyu) in Yokohama, living in a public apartment (UR) with the Missus. 60,000 yen ($600) a month. Really love it. Graduated from Sussex university, in Brighton, and never ever considered moving up to nearby London, to work. Glad I made the choice I did.
Southern CA is not that expensive if you bought your house decades ago.
Raleigh is fairly cheap if you live "Outside the beltline" (US interstate 440, Raleigh's ring road). Part of this is helped due to the fact that the further outside of the city you go, the more undeveloped/sparsely developed land you can find, So instead of paying $1200USD for a one bedroom apt. inside of Raleigh, you can go 20-30 mins outside of the city and pay $1200USD to rent a 3-bedroom house with a yard and sometimes a garage.
I want to live in Japan😍😍
Ermhs Parasoidis ahh !! That's a good news 👍 but I think I'm too young to do it... because I'm only 18 yrs old.
the longest I’d live there is maybe a year. I feel like I’d go insane if I were to live in a small apartment
kai where do u from ?? 😂😂 I think most of the Asian countries have small apartment because of huge population.. so... we can adjust with living in small apartments...😊😊 it has become our habit.
It is not open at all. They have barely changed their inmigration law. The government is getting ready for a controlled descent of the population. If they open the borders like Sweden or Germany did at some point, Japan will no longer be Japan. They only should allow to enter highly skilled workers from certain countries(EU, North-America, other east-asian countries).
@@aquilan I used to think exactly the same but now I'm thinking on giving a try
5:28 Ai-chan looks so grown up!
I find that live in London is a good deal cheaper than in Vancouver (born @ Burnaby General, grew up in North Delta) and much of what you spoke on re: child care and health care is similar between London and Tokyo. NHS (health care) in England is free for landed immigrants/permanent residents and nationals (immigrants who are on visas must pay a pre determined amount when they apply for their visa)... if one has an ailment from a list of qualifying ailments (diabetes or thyroid issues are two), then medicines are free in England while others must pay for prescriptions (~£8.80/CAD $15.50/USD $11.60 per item). Dental is subsidised to a point and is charged on a 3 band system, depending on the work to be performed; optometry care is way cheaper here than in Vancouver.. I can often get an eye exam for free, if I look online to see if anyone is offering free eye exams - generally, I've not paid more than about £20.
As far as childcare goes, for toddlers between the ages of 2-4 from low income families, child care is free; for children who are 3-4 years old with 1 working parent, they qualify for 15 hours of nursery per week... if both parents work and are each earning above a predetermined minimum threshold, then the child(ren) qualify for 30 hours per week... if families (such as my own) have only one parent working (I've been a stay at home mom up to now), some nurseries will allow parents to top up the free nursery provision out of pocket, enabling the kids to stay full days during the week... not all facilities allow this top-up and will only accept fully funded children to stay the entire day while those on half provision leave at lunch time and of the places that do accept top up, the top up amount is set by the individual nursery (I'm hoping to find some form of employment this spring/summer so that my soon-to-be 3 year old will be fully sponsored when she starts nursery in September).
Reception Class, which is similar to what Canadians know as junior kindergarten, starts when the child is 4 and is not mandatory, but most kids attend anyway, as it's fully funded by the government... compulsory schooling starts at Year 1 (equivalent to kindergarten in Canada), when the child is 5.
It can be difficult to get into a good state school (even in London and even at the primary level!) and is usually dependent on how close the family lives to the school, amongst other factors (siblings already in attendance/if the child is in foster care or has been adopted/special educational needs etc) that determines the likelihood of one getting in to the school of their choice, if the school receives more applications than they have places (our daughter is an only child and we are hopeful that we live close enough to the school we'd like her to attend that she'll be offered a place for September 2020).
Quite like in Japan, the children here in the UK wear a uniform to school, regardless of whether it's an independent/private school or a state/public school, starting from Reception - a pinafore and blouse and tie [in school colours, and on an elastic, for easy removal] for the girls in the winter and a cotton gingham dress in the summer; and a shirt and tie, long pants and a pull over for the boys in the winter; short pants in the spring/summer ... some Nursery schools have a uniform as well (usually jogging pants and a sweat shirt with the school logo on the chest) but it's up to the school to decide on the policy (those that don't opt for uniform just have the kids attend dressed similarly to how their Canadian counterparts would be dressed). Secondary school students wear a blazer, shirt/blouse and tie with a skirt for the girls and long pants for the boys.
How can living in tokyo possibly be cheape-
"I lived in Vancouver, canada"
Oh... carry on
Hello Thank you for making this. Your videos are always informative about living in Japan.
the health care costs alone make Japan a great country to move to. compared to the United States where the costs are RIDICULOUSLY high for both the insurance and the actual care you get, no wonder so many people are leaving
Belial that is true. I never can figure out why?
The reason immigrants are pouring into the US is because they can get all kinds of welfare. They can basically live a wealthy life for free if they know how. Just look at Dearborn Michigan; it's almost entirely Muslims now and they live in very nice ($200-300 houses) and usually drive Masaratis or Rolls Royces even though they don't have jobs or have very basic jobs and can't even speak English. Our government is sabotaging it's own people. ua-cam.com/video/oEqKCvtBGRA/v-deo.html
Bristecom the government hasn’t been doing a good job controlling the immigration population in general. Everyone is welcome to come to the us, but we tend to focus more on simply getting rid of them then finding ways to help them. Especially those who desperately need to emigrate
Fantastic video. Very interesting. Thank you!
Thank you for this video, the "Tokyo is ultra expensive" myth needs to be debunked. Tokyo has an amazing range for anything, which you don't get in all other big cities of the world.
Another great video, Greg! Thanks for making projects like such - keep up the amazing work. I hope I'll be able to support your future projects soon so that people can get access to beautifully crafted and informative videos like this :D
I think I’m happy living in Australia 😅 I’d love to live in japan for a year teaching English, but Australia will always be cheaper
HailingHayles same
HailingHayles Australia more cheaper? But how about Big Cities in Australia like Sidney? Can you afford a house? They more expensive right?
I've heard that Australia is one of the most expensive places to live!
Lisa Khan i am not from Australia but i can tell you that apartments in Australia are not expensive at all(if you consider what’s the average salary in their cities). Sydney is expensive thats for sure but all other cities are not. You can check apps like “domain” or “realestate” and there you can see that in Melbourne CBD you can find decent 2 bedroom apartments that will cost you around 550k aud or 410k usd. For 410k usd in New York or LA CBD you cant get more than garage :)
Australia sounds almost perfect to be honest. The most complaints I see on the internet are about internet quality & international travel (flights are almost all long haul, this also affects shipping prices & time). Also the wildlife, but you get used to it apparently.