Breakdown of Living Expenses

Table 1｜Living Expenses

Housing Costs	Rent
Utilities	Electricity, gas, water
Communication expenses	Mobile Phone (Call Charges), Wi-Fi
Food	Groceries, Eating Out
Daily necessities	Detergent, tissues, shampoo, etc.
Beauty products	Cosmetics, perfume, supplements
Entertainment expenses	Drinks, souvenirs
Hobbies, Entertainment, and Personal Items	Fan activities, karaoke, e-cigarettes
Transportation	Train and bus fares
Home appliances	TV, kettle, toaster oven
Furniture	Sofa, cupboard

The breakdown of living expenses consists mainly of the items listed in the table above (Living Expenses). Expenses add up quickly. If you don’t cut costs, it becomes difficult to save money or send money home. Let’s look at three important daily expense categories: food, daily necessities, and beauty products.

Recommended Stores for Saving Money

You can also buy groceries and toiletries cheaply at the drugstores introduced below.

Table 2-1 | Supermarkets, Discount Stores

1	LOPIA	Super Market	150 stores
2	OK	Super Market	177 stores
3	Big-A	Discount Store	346 stores
4	BiG	Discount Store	127 stores
5	Gyomu Super	Discount Store	1,129 stores
6	LAMU	Discount Store	169 stores
7	DIO*1	Discount Store	47 stores
8	TRIAL	Discount Store	380 stores
9	Don Quijote *2	Discount Store	513 stores
10	Sandi HDS	HDS*3	261 stores

< Original Research: Number of Stores in Japan as of February 27, 2026 > *1 Includes DM (DIOMART) *2 Includes MEGA Don Quijote *3 HDS Hard Discount Stores (Box Stores)

Table 2-2 | 100-Yen Shops

1	DAISO	100-yen shop	4,625 stores
2	Seria	100-yen shop	2,072 stores
3	Can☆Do	100-yen shop	1,405 stores
4	Watts	100-yen shop	1,913 stores
5	3COINS	100-yen shop	382 stores
6	THREEPPY	100-yen shop	560 stores

< Original Research: Number of Stores in Japan as of February 27, 2026 >

Table 2-3 | Drugstores

1	Sundrug	DrugStore	1,223 stores
2	Drugstore Cosmos	DrugStore	1,662 stores
3	GENKY	DrugStore	505 stores
4	Cawachi Drugstore	DrugStore	348 stores
5	Daikoku Drug	DrugStore	160 stores
6	Drug Store Mori	DrugStore	427 stores
7	Kusurino Fukutaro	DrugStore	247 stores
8	Sugi Pharmacy	DrugStore	2,317 stores
9	Tsuruha Drug	DrugStore	2,690 stores
10	WELCIA YAKKYOKU	DrugStore	2,217 stores
11	Kirindo	DrugStore	424 stores
12	KUSURI NO AOKI	DrugStore	1,036 stores
13	Matsumoto Kiyoshi	DrugStore	1,682 stores
14	Cocokarafine	DrugStore	1,316 stores
15	V・drug	DrugStore	514 stores

< Original Research: Number of Stores in Japan as of February 27, 2026 >

CROSSY GLOBAL.jobs｜Living Abroad

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Living in Japan (Abroad) and Basic Living Costs

Living expenses are the costs you need for everyday life in Japan (or the country where you work*1). You need money for food, tissues, detergent, shampoo, beauty and health items, hobbies, and fun activities. This page gives useful information to help you live comfortably in Japan.

※1 As of June 2026, Accepting company (Workplace) is Japan only, but we plan to gradually expand the accepting countries.

Recommended Stores (Coming Soon)

Breakdown of Living Expenses

Table 1｜Living Expenses

Housing Costs	Rent
Utilities	Electricity, gas, water
Communication expenses	Mobile Phone (Call Charges), Wi-Fi
Food	Groceries, Eating Out
Daily necessities	Detergent, tissues, shampoo, etc.
Beauty products	Cosmetics, perfume, supplements
Entertainment expenses	Drinks, souvenirs
Hobbies, Entertainment, and Personal Items	Fan activities, karaoke, e-cigarettes
Transportation	Train and bus fares
Home appliances	TV, kettle, toaster oven
Furniture	Sofa, cupboard

Living Expenses | Breakdown | Food

Food Expenses | Food, Beverages, etc. — Food & Beverages

Food includes rice, bread, seasonings, meat, vegetables, and prepared foods. This category often becomes one of the biggest monthly expenses. In Japan, most people think of shopping at regular supermarkets, local grocery stores, or convenience stores. However, there are also discount supermarkets and even drugstores that sell low-priced groceries. You may be surprised, but drugstores often sell basic food items at very good prices.

Go to Store List

Living Expenses | Breakdown | Daily Necessities

Daily Necessities | Everyday Items — Toiletries, Everyday Items

Tissue paper, body wash, soap, bath salts, toilet paper, laundry detergent, fabric softener, dish soap, air fresheners, toothpaste, etc. Like food, these are also essential living expenses used frequently in daily life. For toiletries and daily supplies, 100-yen shops are highly recommended.Most items cost only 100 yen (plus tax). Recently, stores offering 300-yen items have also become popular.

Go to Store List

Living Expenses | Breakdown | Beauty Products

Skincare and makeup items can become expensive. While you can buy beauty products at discount stores, drugstores, and 100-yen shops, the 100-yen shops are a good choice for saving money. Their selection is limited compared to specialty stores, but the quality is often surprisingly good.

Go to Store List

Recommended Stores for Saving Money

You can also buy groceries and toiletries cheaply at the drugstores introduced below.

Table 2-1 | Supermarkets, Discount Stores

1	LOPIA	Super Market	150 stores
2	OK	Super Market	177 stores
3	Big-A	Discount Store	346 stores
4	BiG	Discount Store	127 stores
5	Gyomu Super	Discount Store	1,129 stores
6	LAMU	Discount Store	169 stores
7	DIO*1	Discount Store	47 stores
8	TRIAL	Discount Store	380 stores
9	Don Quijote *2	Discount Store	513 stores
10	Sandi HDS	HDS*3	261 stores

< Original Research: Number of Stores in Japan as of February 27, 2026 > *1 Includes DM (DIOMART) *2 Includes MEGA Don Quijote *3 HDS Hard Discount Stores (Box Stores)