| Is Tokyo Expensive? |
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| We have been asked this question so many times since we came to Japan. The fact is: Tokyo is not cheap, but also not as expensive as we imagined before coming here. And, one can be pretty much sure of the quality of goods and services, which makes it worth it to pay a little bit more. Many foreigners in Tokyo pay outrageous prices for goods sold in the so-called international supermarkets. Although once in a while, a trip to these import shops do cure homesick, many of the products are actually available in local stores at two-third or even half the price. Here are some rules I follow to save a few bucks :- 1. Shop in local supermarkets. 2. Buy what the natives buy. 3. Check supermarkets' flyers for sale and time service. 4. Visit one of those 24-hour wholesale stores (e.g. Hanamasa). Get extra discount by shopping after midnight. (never did that though) 5. Wait for clearance sale in January and August. 6. Take a taxi only if someone else is paying :) 7. Tokyo is biker-friendly. Ride a bike as often as possible. 8. Walk as much as possible. It's healthy too. 9. Check out discount ticket shops. 10. Utilize ward facilities such as gym and swimming pool. 11. Annual body check is covered by national insurance. Utilize that. 12. Apply for point cards of the stores you regularly visit. Below is a list of some of our daily expenses:- |
| Food Banana (bunch of 15) Grapefruit Avocado Chicken thigh meat (300g) Pork chop (300g) Sole Filet (2 pieces) Small eggs (pack of 8) Tofu (400g) Bread (8 pieces) Pasta (1kg) Flour (1kg) Rice (2kg) 1L Tropicana juice 1L Low fat milk 1.5L Volvic water 335ml Coca Cola in can Big Mac Meal Kentucky Fried Chicken (5piece) Household Stuff Attack laundry soap (1.2kg) Detergent (600ml) Aluminium foil (8m) Plastic wrap (15m) Tissue roll (pack of 10) Box tissue (pack of 5) Lion toothpaste Hair mousse Transportation Subway (from office to home) Taxi after 11pm (from office to home, about 7km) Taxi (from airport to Tokyo station, about 73km) Monthly Utilities (for 2) Gas Electricity Water Fixed line telephone Broadband internet access Mobile phone (with 50 minutes air time) Satellite TV (57 channels) |
| JPY 300 100 100 230 380 480 99 88 128 180 99 1,000 178 178 180 58 608 997 278 78 58 98 398 298 298 198 160 3300 21000 10000 4000 1800 4000 4000 3900 5800 |