Is 6.5M yen really tight for a family? Getting mixed signals

Hey everyone,

Job Location : Tokyo

I’m a bit confused and looking for honest opinions.

The offer says 560k yen/month on paper, which comes to around 430k yen after tax. It’s mentioned as a 17-month salary, but I’m still trying to understand how that actually plays out.

What’s throwing me off is the mixed feedback I see everywhere. Some people say 6.5M yen a year is doable for a family, while others say it’s struggling money if you have a kid.

We’re 2 adults and a 2-year-old.

For context, I’m currently earning roughly 500k yen/month in India (post tax), and I don’t pay rent since we own a house. Moving to Japan means rent becomes a big new expense, so I’m trying to be realistic.

Not chasing luxury ,just want a comfortable life without constant money stress and save some money for future.

Is 430k take-home actually okay for a small family, or are the concerns valid?

I also wanted to understand this 17 months salary structure ! Very weird because we don’t get 5 months bonus in India.

What I see in the offer letter is 6.5 million + 2 times bonus ( 2.5 months * 2 )

I want to come and enjoy the tech world in Japan.

My only worry is that I don’t want to unnecessarily risk my wife and kid if that 6.5 M is not sufficient for the needs and we would be struggling.

Would appreciate real experiences.

by Temporary_Note_6245