However, many people are probably wondering whether the rent for a shared house is really cheaper compared to living in a regular rental apartment.
Therefore, in this article, we will explain whether shared housing is really cheap, along with the general rent prices in the Tokyo area.
If you're considering starting a new life in a shared house, please refer to this article.
If you are looking for a shared house in Tokyo, please contact us via LINE.
Are shared houses really that cheap?
In the Tokyo area, the rent for a shared house is generally cheaper compared to other rental properties such as apartments and condominiums.
In Tokyo's 23 wards, when comparing the average monthly rent for regular rentals and shared housing, regular rentals cost 82,000 yen per month, while shared housing costs 58,000 yen per month .
Therefore, if you want to rent an apartment in the Tokyo area while keeping rent low, a share house is one option to consider.
Source website: "How much is the rent for a share house? How much cheaper is it than a regular rental?"
https://ieagent.jp/blog/life/sharehouse-rent-344192
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Average rent for shared housing in the Tokyo area
Next, let's look at the average rent for shared housing in the Tokyo area.
It's worth noting that even within the category of "share houses," the average rent varies depending on the type of property.
The table below lists the average rent for different types of shared housing in the Tokyo area.
Comparison Table of Share House Rent Prices by Type
(*This is an average example. Details may vary depending on the management company you contract with.)
Types of shared houses | overview | Monthly rent (Including common area maintenance fees) |
| private room | The bedroom is a private room | 58,000 yen |
| Semi-private | Two people share one room (with a partition). | 51,000 yen |
| Shared room | Two people share one room (no partition). | 47,000 yen |
| compartment | Multiple people sharing one room (with partitions) | 46,000 yen |
| Dormitory type | Multiple people share one room (the room has several bunk beds, and the only private space is on the beds). | 41,000 yen |
Rent for a shared house tends to be higher the more private space it offers.
In other words, the lower the rent, the less private space you'll have, so choose a property while considering the balance between your budget and your preferences.
If you are looking for a shared house in Tokyo, please contact us via LINE.
Four expenses that can be reduced by living in a shared house
Many people living in the Tokyo area, where the cost of living is high, are likely looking for ways to keep expenses down as much as possible.
Besides the fact that you can keep your monthly rent low, shared housing offers other attractive financial benefits.
Here are four expenses that can be reduced by living in a shared house.
Cost ① Utilities (water, electricity, gas) and internet connection fees
Utilities such as water, electricity, and internet access are included in the shared house's common area fees, so you do not need to pay them separately.
Some property management companies have a system where residents split the cost of utilities (water, electricity, gas) among themselves, so be sure to check this when you inquire.
If you were to live alone in a standard rental property, in addition to the property's common area maintenance fees, you would need to pay around 10,000 yen per month for utilities (water, electricity, gas), internet connection fees, and the cost of purchasing daily necessities.
On the other hand, if you live in a shared house, you only need to pay a common area fee of around 15,000 yen per month, which covers not only utilities and internet access, but also the cost of daily necessities and cleaning for the common areas.
In other words, living in a shared house can ultimately lead to lower utility costs and internet connection fees compared to living in a regular rental property.
Expense ②: Cost of purchasing daily necessities
Since the cost of purchasing everyday consumables such as toilet paper, soap, and dish soap for common areas is covered by the common area maintenance fee, living in a share house allows you to keep these purchase costs low.
Please note that you will need to purchase your own personal toiletries, such as shampoo and seasonings.
Expense ③ Cost of purchasing furniture and home appliances
The common areas of a shared house are pre-furnished with appliances such as washing machines, refrigerators, and microwaves, as well as furniture such as tables and chairs.
Therefore, you won't need to buy new furniture or appliances when starting a new life, and you can also expect to keep moving costs down.
Cost ④ Initial costs
When moving into a share house, you don't need to pay the security deposit, key money, or brokerage fees that are required when moving into a regular apartment or condominium, so you can keep initial costs down.
Share houses generally require rent and utilities to be paid in advance, along with an initial fee (treated as key money) of around 30,000 to 50,000 yen.
The total of these initial costs is considerably more reasonable compared to typical rental properties such as apartments and condominiums.
If you are looking for a shared house in Tokyo, please contact us via LINE.
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Comparing the costs required for a shared house versus a regular rental property.
Next, we will compare the cost differences between shared housing and regular rental properties using a specific cost simulation in the Tokyo area.
Please see below for a simulation of typical initial costs and living expenses for both shared housing and rental properties in the Tokyo area.
Comparison table of initial move-in costs [Tokyo area]
(*This is an average example. Details may vary depending on the management company you contract with.)
| breakdown | In the case of a shared house | In the case of an apartment |
| Rent (including common area maintenance fees) | 58,000 yen | 82,000 yen |
| Security deposit / Key money | 30,000 yen (*Mostly involves a key money payment) | 164,000 yen |
| Brokerage fee | none | 82,000 yen |
| Advance rent (including utilities) | Daily rate applies. | 82,000 yen |
| Guarantee company fee (initial guarantee fee) | none (*Some share house companies may charge around 15,000 yen.) | 25,000 yen |
| Fire insurance premium | none | 15,000 yen |
| key replacement fee | none | 15,000 yen |
| total | 88,000 yen | 465,000 yen |
Comparison table of monthly living expenses [Tokyo area]
(*This is an average example. Details may vary depending on the management company you contract with.)
breakdown | In the case of a shared house | In the case of an apartment |
| Rent (including common area maintenance fees) | 58,000 yen | 82,000 yen |
| Water and utility costs | none (*Included in common area maintenance fee) | 10,000 yen |
| Daily necessities | 2,000 yen (*Shared consumables are provided.) | 5,000 yen |
| Communication costs | 7,000 yen (*Since there is Wi-Fi in the shared house, only personal mobile phone charges apply.) | 12,000 yen |
| Other expenses (food, medical expenses, entertainment expenses, etc.) | 80,000 yen | 80,000 yen |
| total | 147,000 yen | 189,000 yen |
As the simulation shows, there is a significant difference in cost between shared housing and regular rental housing.
When starting a new life in the Tokyo area, there is a difference of approximately 300,000 yen in initial costs and approximately 40,000 yen in monthly living expenses between the two options.
If you were to live there for a year, the difference between the two options would exceed 500,000 yen, so if you're looking to save on expenses, you might want to consider living in a shared house.
If you are looking for a shared house in Tokyo, please contact us via LINE.
Points to keep in mind when living in a shared house
Share houses are attractive because they offer many advantages, including lower costs, but there are also points to be aware of when considering moving in.
If any of the following points apply to you, we recommend that you carefully consider living in a shared house.
Cases where shared housing is not suitable
- I want to avoid sharing toilets and bathrooms.
- I don't want to interact with other people.
- I don't want to disrupt my own pace.
- I get bothered by small details.
In a shared house, living together with other people is the norm.
If you prefer to live at your own pace without worrying about others, you should also consider regular apartments and condominiums, while taking into account the balance with the cost.
However, some share houses offer completely private rooms with locks, where only the bathroom and kitchen facilities are shared with other residents (a type known as a "shared apartment").
If you want your own space but find regular rental apartments too expensive, this shared house type is a great option.
If you are interested, please check out the "Shared Apartment" introduction page.
For teleworking, try a shared apartment.
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How to find a cost-effective shared house
Choosing the right property is crucial for starting a fulfilling new life.
For tips on finding a cost-effective share house, please refer to the following.
Tips for choosing a cost-effective shared house
- Emphasis is placed on the facilities and cleanliness of the common areas.
- Check the concept of the shared house.
- The key point is whether the owner and the management company seem trustworthy.
- Try to get a feel for the actual atmosphere when you view the property.
The first step in finding a shared house is a web search.
Once you've found a few properties that interest you, contact the management company and, keeping the points mentioned above in mind, make your decision.
For those starting a new life in the Tokyo area, a shared house is a recommended option as it helps keep costs down.
What did you think?
This time, we answered the question, "Are shared houses really that cheap?"
In the Tokyo area, there is a difference in initial move-in costs and monthly living expenses between shared housing and regular rental properties such as apartments and condominiums.
Therefore, for those considering starting a new life in Tokyo, where the cost of living tends to be particularly high, a shared house is a good option.
Cross House offers a wide selection of affordable shared housing properties, primarily in the Tokyo area.
If you are interested in any of our properties, please feel free to contact us.
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