Monthly Apartment Cost in Tokyo: 2026 Prices Explained

A furnished monthly apartment in Tokyo costs about ¥125,000 to ¥280,000 (about US$830 to US$1,870) a month for a one-room unit in 2026, with utilities usually included. The low end is outer wards; the high end is Shibuya and Shinjuku. A private room in a share house is cheaper, around ¥50,000 to ¥90,000, and a serviced-apartment studio in central Tokyo starts near ¥390,000.

Ranges are useful, but real numbers are better. Below we show the market ranges we could verify, then our own monthly rents in Ekoda, Nerima and Toda as worked examples, then every one-time fee you should ask about. We also run the numbers against a business hotel and a standard Japanese lease, so you can see where a monthly apartment wins and where it does not.

How much does a monthly apartment in Tokyo cost in 2026?

These are typical asking prices for furnished stays of 30 days or more, from published operator and renter guides checked in October 2026.

The monthly-mansion figures are all-inclusive packages, which usually cover utilities up to a cap of about ¥10,000 to ¥15,000. The serviced-apartment figure is a listed starting price for a Shinagawa studio, with housekeeping twice a week; internet was an extra charge on that listing.

For how these options differ beyond price, see our main monthly apartment Tokyo guide.

What do our monthly homes cost?

Here are our current rents. All include electricity, gas, water and internet. None charge key money, a guarantor fee or an agent fee.

Read against the market table, the pattern is clear. Our studio sits below the outer-ward 1K range because it is a renovated room in an older wooden house rather than a new concrete building. Sengawa House is a one-bedroom with a separate living room for about the price of a mid-tier 1K. The Toda house is the most space per yen because it sits across the river in Saitama, a bus ride from the JR Saikyo Line.

What one-time fees should you expect?

Rent is not the whole bill. Ask every operator about these before you pay:

• Move-out cleaning fee. Commonly ¥15,000 to ¥40,000 (about US$100 to US$270) at monthly-mansion operators, sometimes charged even when the listing says "all-inclusive." Our Sengawa House lists ¥20,000 (about US$130).
• Contract or administration fee. Some operators charge one; ask for the exact amount.
• Utility overage. If utilities are capped, find out the rate above the cap. Winter heating and summer air conditioning push usage up.
• Lost key. Replacement is often ¥10,000 to ¥20,000. Keypad entry, which our homes use, avoids this.
• Platform service fee. If you book through a vacation-rental platform, a service fee is added on top. Booking direct avoids it.
• Early departure. Most contracts charge the full 30-day minimum even if you leave early.

How this compares with a standard lease

A normal unfurnished two-year lease adds a different set of costs: shikikin (deposit, often one to two months' rent), reikin (key money, non-refundable, often one to two months), an agency fee legally capped at one month plus tax, a guarantor company fee of 50 to 100 percent of one month, a lock change of about ¥10,000 to ¥25,000, fire insurance, and the first month's rent. Together that typically comes to four to six months of rent before you move in, plus furniture. We explain each term and how to avoid them in our guide to how to rent an apartment in Tokyo without a guarantor.

What makes a monthly apartment more or less expensive?

Ward and station

The biggest factor. The same 1K can cost twice as much in Shibuya as in an outer ward. Rents drop again once you cross into Saitama or Chiba. Wards often named as more affordable include Nerima, Itabashi, Kita and Adachi. A station 15 to 20 minutes from Ikebukuro or Shinjuku is usually the best value.

Walking time to the station

A 3-minute walk costs more than a 12-minute walk. If you do not commute daily, the longer walk is an easy saving.

Size and layout

A 1LDK costs about 50 to 80 percent more than a 1K in the same area. For two people, a two-bedroom or a whole house often costs less per person than two separate studios.

Season

March and April are Japan's moving season, when students and new employees start. Availability is tightest then. Booking for May through January usually gives you more choice.

What is included

Compare totals, not headline rents. A cheaper unit with utilities, Wi-Fi and cleaning billed separately can end up costing more than an all-inclusive one.

Is a monthly apartment cheaper than a hotel?

For 30 nights or more, yes, usually by a wide margin. Some real numbers:

• Major Japanese business-hotel brands averaged ¥14,463 a night in fiscal 2025 (Tokyo Shoko Research). Thirty nights at that rate is about ¥434,000 (about US$2,890).
• Tokyo business hotels averaged ¥21,400 a night in April 2026 (MetroEngines data reported by HotelBank), which is about ¥642,000 (about US$4,280) for 30 nights in a peak month.
• Tokyo also charges an accommodation tax on hotel stays: ¥100 per person per night on rooms from ¥10,000 to under ¥15,000, and ¥200 at ¥15,000 and above. From April 2027, the city plans to switch to 3 percent on stays above ¥13,000 per person per night.

Against that, a one-person studio at ¥90,000 or a one-bedroom at ¥160,000 is a fraction of the cost, with a kitchen and washing machine on top. For a group the gap is bigger still: the Ekoda Monthly House costs ¥350,000 for a month for up to four people, while two business-hotel rooms at the chain average would cost about ¥868,000 (about US$5,790) for 30 nights.

A hotel still wins for stays under about three weeks, and when you want daily cleaning or a front desk.

Monthly budgets by situation

Digital nomad, one person, two to three months

Your main costs are rent and a reliable connection. A studio or a Hasu House room with a desk keeps rent near ¥90,000 to ¥100,000 a month, with internet included. Our guide to a digital nomad apartment in Tokyo covers work setups and visas in more detail.

Relocating professional, one or two people, one to three months

You want a separate bedroom, room for a laptop, and a reasonable commute. A 1LDK or 2DK at ¥160,000 to ¥180,000 fits. If your company pays, ask for an invoice in the company's name. See our temporary apartment Tokyo guide for relocation timelines.

Family or group of four, one month

A whole house wins. ¥150,000 in Toda or ¥350,000 in Ekoda covers everyone, with a kitchen and laundry. Compare that with two hotel rooms for a month.

Student, one semester

A private room or studio at ¥90,000 to ¥110,000 a month, all-inclusive, competes with a share house and avoids the guarantor problem.

How can you lower the cost?

1. Live 15 to 20 minutes out. Northwest Tokyo, along the Seibu Ikebukuro Line, gives you more space for the rent of a central 1K.
2. Share a larger home. Two people in a two-bedroom, or four in a house, beat separate studios on price per person.
3. Avoid March and April if your dates are flexible.
4. Book direct. No platform service fee.
5. Ask about longer stays. Some operators lower the monthly rate for three months or more. Ask before you book.
6. Choose all-inclusive rent so heating in January does not surprise you.

Not sure how long you will stay? Our guide to a short term apartment in Tokyo explains how 1-to-6-month contracts work.

FAQ

What is the cheapest way to live in Tokyo for a month?

A private room in a share house, at about ¥50,000 to ¥90,000 plus fees. For full privacy, a furnished studio in an outer ward; ours near Ekoda is ¥90,000 including utilities.

Are utilities included in monthly apartment rent?

Often, sometimes with a cap. Rent on all our monthly homes includes electricity, gas, water and internet.

Do monthly apartments charge key money?

Most do not. Key money belongs to standard leases. We charge none.

How much should I budget for one-time fees?

Plan for a cleaning fee in the ¥15,000 to ¥40,000 range plus any contract fee. Ask for a written total before you pay.

Is a monthly apartment cheaper than Airbnb?

For a full month, usually, because nightly listings add cleaning and service fees and price for short stays. Compare the total for your exact dates.

See real prices for your dates

Working remotely in Tokyo for a few months? Check Hasu House rooms with a desk, from ¥90,000 a month. Need more space for a family? See the Toda 3DK monthly house at ¥150,000. All homes are on our Tokyo rooms page.

Sources checked October 2026: A-Realty (monthly-mansion prices and fees), share-house operator guides, serviced-apartments-tokyo.com, Tokyo Shoko Research, MetroEngines via HotelBank, and Tokyo accommodation-tax reporting. Prices change; confirm with each operator. Dollar figures use ¥150 = US$1.