I’ve been living in Japan for about 3 years now, working as an engineer in Tokyo, and I’m honestly curious how others are managing to save.
My monthly breakdown looks like this:
- Take-home pay: ~300,000 yen
- Rent: ¥100,000
- Utilities (gas/water): ¥10,000
- Wifi + phone: ¥10,000
- Food: ¥80,000
- Student loan: ¥20,000
- Entertainment: ¥30,000
At the end of the month, I usually only save around 20,000–30,000 yen. My total savings are under 300,000 yen right now, and I’m 26.
But whenever I see posts online, people seem to be saving way more, which makes me wonder what I’m doing wrong (or if I’m just in a normal situation?).
Also, my current job is pretty chill — not much workload and no overtime. I’ve been thinking about earning extra money, but I’m not sure if I’m allowed to work part-time on an engineer visa.
How are you guys managing your finances in Tokyo?
- Are my numbers normal?
- Are there better ways to save?
- Is side income possible/legal in this situation?
Would really appreciate hearing your experiences or advice.
by Dyn9m1te