🇯🇵 Japan · A realistic 2026 budget for newcomers — rent, food, transport, and what a month actually costs.
Wondering how far your salary goes in Fukuoka? Here’s what everyday life costs, in local prices — the numbers that matter when you’re deciding to move or negotiating a package.
What things cost
One-bed flat, central (Tenjin, Yakuin, Ōhori)JPY 65,000–95,000 / month
One-bed flat, outer wards or along the Nishitetsu lineJPY 45,000–70,000 / month
Utilities and internet, one personJPY 12,000–19,000 / month
Groceries, one personJPY 32,000–45,000 / month
Commuter pass, subway or NishitetsuJPY 7,000–13,000 / month, usually reimbursed by employers
Good to know
Population
≈1.65 million in the city — Japan's fastest-growing major city, and the youngest by average age
Languages
Japanese, in the Hakata dialect. English support is better than the city's size suggests, particularly around the startup ecosystem
Currency
Japanese yen (JPY)
Time zone
JST (GMT+9) — Japan does not observe daylight saving
Power plug
Type A and B, 100 V, 60 Hz in western Japan against 50 Hz in the east
Climate
Humid subtropical — hot humid summers, mild winters, a June rainy season, typhoons in late summer and yellow dust from the mainland in spring
Driving side
Left
Airport
Two subway stops from Hakata Station — the shortest airport-to-centre trip of any major Japanese city
Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.
A note on budgeting
Rent is usually the swing factor — location and whether bills are included move the number most. Build your estimate from the rent band above, add a monthly living figure, and keep a buffer for one-off setup costs (deposits, a residence permit, a local SIM, first-month transport). Globe Quest turns this into a personalized Fukuoka checklist so nothing setup-related catches you off guard.
Plan your move to Fukuoka
A free, AI-personalized plan — the language, culture, and setup steps timed to your move date.