An Indian woman living in Tokyo has grabbed attention online after opening up about the cost of living in the Japanese capital. The interaction was shared by Sunakshi Sharma, who conducted a casual vox pop interview with another Indian woman residing in the city.
(Also read: Indian woman’s Tokyo video shows restaurant staff cleaning vomit by hand: 'This mindset keeps Japan clean’)
In the video, Sharma asks, "How much do you spend as a family of 3 in Tokyo?"
Responding candidly, the woman said, "As a family, we spend around five lakh yen monthly. 2,00,000 yen for rent and utilities, then 1,00,000 yen for our son's daycare and other expenses. Around 50,000 to 1,00,000 yen for car costs, tolls, and fuel. Indian groceries are very expensive here, so it's about 1,00,000 to 1,50,000 yen for food. So, altogether, the expense is around 5,00,000 yen."
When converted, the total monthly expense comes to roughly ₹2,90,000, offering a striking comparison for Indian viewers.
{{/usCountry}}When converted, the total monthly expense comes to roughly ₹2,90,000, offering a striking comparison for Indian viewers.
{{/usCountry}}Watch the clip here:
Cost breakdown draws attention
The detailed breakdown highlighted how housing and childcare form a significant chunk of expenses in Tokyo. Rent and utilities alone account for 2,00,000 yen, while daycare costs add another 1,00,000 yen. The cost of maintaining a car, including tolls and fuel, further increases the monthly burden.
Food expenses, especially for Indian groceries, also stood out. The woman pointed out that familiar ingredients are considerably expensive in Japan, pushing monthly food costs up to 1,50,000 yen in some cases.
The video was captioned, "Is it expensive considered to Indian metro cities?", prompting viewers to compare Tokyo’s cost of living with cities like Mumbai, Delhi, and Bengaluru.
(Also read: Indian woman in Tokyo recounts terrifying experience during Japan earthquake: 'Jaan hi nikal gayi thi')
Social media reactions
The clip quickly gained traction online, drawing mixed reactions from viewers who weighed in on whether the expenses were justified.
One user wrote, “ ₹2.9 lakh sounds huge, but Tokyo salaries are also very different.” Another commented, “Honestly, this is expected for a global city like Tokyo.” A third user said, “Indian groceries costing that much is surprising.” Another added, "Living abroad always looks glamorous until you see the real expenses."
(Disclaimer: This report is based on user-generated content from social media. HT.com has not independently verified the claims and does not endorse them.)