Contract fees
The largest costs are usually deposit, key money, agency fee, guarantor fee, and the first rent payment. Each listing can use different months and rates.
Move-In Cost Calculator
Japan apartment move-in cost estimator
Estimate the cash needed before signing a rental contract in Japan, including deposit, key money, agency fee, guarantor fee, insurance, and upfront rent.
Estimated cash needed¥653,000
Monthly rent plus management¥130,000
Upfront cost as rent months5.4x
Move-in breakdown
Deposit¥120,000
Key money¥120,000
Agency fee with tax¥132,000
Guarantor company fee¥65,000
Upfront rent and management fee¥130,000
Renter insurance¥20,000
Lock change fee¥22,000
Cleaning fee¥44,000
Other fees¥0
Assumptions
- Deposit, key money, and agency fee are entered as rent multiples.
- Agency fee includes estimated 10% consumption tax.
- Guarantor fee is calculated from rent plus management fee.
- Furniture, appliances, moving company, and utility setup costs are not included.
Search strategy
- Compare total upfront cash, not only monthly rent.
- Zero key money can beat a lower-rent listing with high initial fees.
- Ask agents for a full initial-cost quote before applying.
- Keep emergency cash separate from move-in cash.
Planning guide
What Japanese apartment move-in costs include
Small fees add up
Insurance, lock change, cleaning, support services, and document fees can add tens of thousands of yen even when the headline rent looks affordable.
Budget before applying
Use this estimate before contacting agents so you can filter listings by total move-in cash, not only monthly rent.
FAQ
Japan apartment move-in cost questions
How much money do I need before moving into an apartment in Japan?
A common estimate is four to six months of rent once deposit, key money, agency fee, guarantor fee, insurance, and upfront rent are included. Zero-deposit or zero-key-money listings can reduce this.
What is key money?
Key money is a non-refundable payment to the landlord. It is often listed as a number of months of rent and varies by property, city, and market conditions.
Does the agency fee include consumption tax?
This calculator estimates agency fee with 10% consumption tax. Actual invoices can vary, so confirm the quote with the real estate agent before signing.
Related tool
Check whether the rent fits your salary
After estimating move-in cash, use the salary calculator to compare monthly take-home pay against rent and savings targets.