Kamal Ghorui
Cherry blossom season is in full swing and people often create a bucket list of visiting Japan to see the flowers clustered together, lining streets with the most breathtaking view.But what if the price tag hits harder than expected? A recent viral video showing an Indian family’s expense breakdown there has folks buzzing, questioning if the glamour matches the wallet strain.Living abroad often looks fancy on social media videos, featuring nice apartments, global eats, kid-friendly perks.
Photo: @desigirlinjapan/ Instagram
Viral video reveals actual expenses of living in Tokyo
An Indian woman living in Tokyo with her family of three shared a shocking monthly budget of about Rs 2.9 lakh (500,000 yen), igniting online discussion comparing it to Indian cities like Mumbai or Delhi. The video, posted by Sunakshi Sharma, breaks down costs that many say rival luxury Indian lifestyles.
Rent is the most expensive on the monthly bill
Housing bites hardest, where rent plus utilities run 200,000 yen, roughly Rs 1.16 lakh, which is the biggest chunk for their monthly expenses. Tokyo averages match this for central spots, far outpacing Indian metros where family rents hover under Rs 50,000 often.Daycare for their son costs them around 100,000 yen (Rs 58,000), a hefty must for working parents. Groceries, especially Indian staples, make for around 100,000-150,000 yen (Rs 58,000-87,000) monthly since local imports cost extra.
Transport and extra costs
Car costs, including fuel, tolls, upkeep, add 50,000-100,000 yen (Rs 29,000-58,000), despite Tokyo’s stellar trains. Total: around 500,000 yen as she tallies.
Social media is full of mixed reactions
Users on social media had mixed responses, some defending high Tokyo paychecks offsetting bills, others slam choices like central living or cars. “To anyone saying that Tokyo isn’t expensive, haha. It takes a special kind of financial delusion to look at rent the size of a shoebox priced like a luxury villa.The only thing cheap in Tokyo is your inability to accept the fact that it is expensive. To live a happy life in any part of the world, that’s the bare minimum!” blasted a user. Mumbai’s Andheri West rents go as high as Rs 1.2 lakh too, others countered.
