A newly relocated Indian man found himself facing a mountain of paperwork and an depleted budget after accumulating ten separate living bills within 25 days of arriving in Japan. The cumulative cost of merely setting up a household reached approximately 150,000 yen—roughly ₹90,271—forcing the migrant to recalculate his expectations while waiting for his first local salary to hit his account.
“After adding rent, electricity, gas, water, Wi-Fi, SIM, transportation and all the other basic expenses, my total expenses in Japan so far have come to around 150,000 yen, which is almost ₹1 lakh, in just 25 days,” Dev Vijay Vargiya stated.
The financial picture becomes more stark when accounting for daily sustenance, which Vargiya has yet to factor into that specific sum. He documented massive price differences for basic goods compared to India, citing individual tomatoes at ₹53, three bananas for ₹120, and four eggs for ₹120.
“Bada expense add tak nahi kiya,” Vargiya remarked, noting that food remains his most significant financial drain.
Despite the initial sticker shock of a ₹168 litre of milk or a ₹100 loaf of bread, Vargiya cautions against judging the Japanese economy solely by its high price tags. He argues that the calculation must balance out when looking at the broader lifestyle upgrades provided by the country.
“I’m not just looking at the expenses,” Vargiya said. “I’m also looking at what we’re getting in return for these expenses. A clean, well-maintained surrounding, peace everywhere, greenery, air quality, everything. What more could you ask for?”
