NARA INSTITUTE of SCIENCE and TECHNOLOGY

Living Costs & Housing

Initial Costs

The initial costs of living in Japan vary depending on your housing choice and the amount of furniture and appliances you need.

  • Private apartments: Renting an apartment and purchasing furniture/appliances can cost approximately JPY 200,000-400,000.
  • Student dormitory: Full-time NAIST master's and doctoral international students are given priority to enter the student dormitory. Rent for a single room is JPY 13,000. However, you will still need to purchase items such as bedding, kitchen utensils, and small appliances.

For more detailed information, please refer to the International Student Handbook.

Living Cost (Per Month)

Living in Japan can be expensive, but living at NAIST and in Nara is relatively affordable. Expenses vary depending on your lifestyle, but the following provides a general idea of typical monthly costs during your stay.

  • Food: ￥20,000-￥30,000 (cooking at home)
    Eating out: ~ ￥1,200 for lunch, ￥1,500-￥2,500 for dinner
    Campus cafeteria offers affordable meals.
  • Water and Utilities: ~￥10,000 (may vary depending on the season)
  • Consumable Goods: ￥2,000-￥4,000
  • Rent (single apartment / room):
    Student Dormitory: ￥13,000
    UR Housing (Public Housing): ￥40,000-60,000
    Private Housing: ￥30,000-60,000
  • Mobile Phone Service: ￥2,000-￥8,000

    • Housing

    Housing in Japan

    Unlike in many other countries, shared housing is uncommon in Japan, and many landlords do not allow multiple tenants in a single apartment. As a result, students who do not live in the university housing typically live at home or in single-room apartments.

    Initial Cost for Private Apartments

    When renting a private apartment, you will generally encounter the following costs:

    • Shikikin (敷金, Security Deposit): Usually 1-3 month's rent. Refundable if the apartment is kept in the same condition as when you move in.
    • Reikin (礼金, Key Money): Usually 1-3 months' rent. Not refundable.
    • Real Estate Agent Fee: Usually 1 month's rent.
    • Contract Renewal Fee: Often required when renewing the lease.

    Some properties may allow negotiation of shikikin and Reikin, and some may not charge them at all. Always confirm the conditions with the real estate agent before signing a contract.

    Types of Housing for NAIST Students and Scholars

    There are three main housing options:

    1. On-campus Housing

    • Student Dormitories: Available to full-time NAIST master's and doctoral students. Reasonable and convenient, but rooms are limited.
    • Guesthouse Sentan: Furnished single and twin rooms for short-term students and international scholars.
    • Staff Housing: Available to full-time NAIST employees. Affordable but sparsely furnished. You will need to provide heating/air conditioning, stove, refrigerator, washing machine/dryer, and other furniture.

    2.UR Public Housing

    • Provided by the Urban Renaissance Agency, UR housing is a public rental option.
    • Benefits for NAIST members: no commission, no deposits, no guarantor required, and automatic contract renewal each year without fees.
    • Limitations: Some units are far from stations, some are older, and some lack elevators.

    3. Private Housing

    • Typically rented through real estate agents and often requires shikikin, reikin and guarantors.
    • Initial costs can be high due to Japan's traditional long-term rental system.
    • Alternatives included furnished apartments (weekly or monthly rentals) and share houses, where you rent a single room in a shared house.
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