Living is not cheap. Among the very many things that we have to pay for are food, clothes, transport, and, of course, accommodation. Sadly, the place we actually live in usually consumes most of our income.
But while the prices are high and keep rising everywhere, it turns out that the residents of some countries have it better than others. For example, as this viral TikTok video revealed, you can get a very nice studio apartment in Tokyo for no more than $300 a month. When netizens saw this and compared it to what they’re paying for similar places, their jaws dropped. Scroll down to learn all about it!
More info: TikTok
If you know where to look, living in a nice apartment in a big city doesn't always have to be very expensive
Image credits: walksoflife11
"Today, I'm taking you on a tour of a $300 monthly rent apartment in Tokyo"
"The studio spans 250 square feet. At the entrance, there's a doorbell for communication, and in the middle of the main door, there's a small entrance for mails. Upon stepping inside, to the right, there's a narrow door leading to a storage closet. On the left, there's a shoe rack with two tiers."
Image credits: walksoflife11
Image credits: walksoflife11
"Continuing straight ahead, you'll find the bathroom on the left"
"It's my first time seeing an aluminum alloy bathroom door. Taking a look inside, you'll notice waterproof bath lights overhead, a wavy mirror in the middle, and a small sink below. Though the bathtub is a bit compact, it gets the job done. There are towel racks on the wall as well. Moving on, on the right side of the hallway, there's another door with a small window above it. Opening it reveals a separate toilet, which seems a bit dated."
Image credits: walksoflife11
"Further inside is a mini kitchen with a range hood above and a single gas stove below"
"The space beneath the stove is for the fridge. To the left, there's a tiny sink, and above it, a two-tiered cabinet. Turning left, you'll see the living room. Oh, and there's another cabinet here. Quickly turning left again. There's another door that opens up to a closet."
Image credits: walksoflife11
Image credits: walksoflife11
"To the left, there's a loft area"
"Quite spacious, around 80 square feet, providing ample room. There's also another small door here, revealing yet another closet. This apartment was built in 1990. It's about a 10-minute walk from the nearest station. What do you all think of this apartment?"
Image credits: walksoflife11
Image credits: walksoflife11
Check out the full TikTok video:
The person leading this amazing virtual tour is a TikToker going under the name Walksoflife11. Their content contains various videos that mostly feature different aspects of food, traveling, and the cultures of Asia.
Despite being a very new channel, with the first video posted less than a month ago, it has already attained quite an audience, sporting more than 25,000 followers and nearly 820,000 likes throughout its posts.
One of the most popular videos posted on this channel, which received over 1 million views, is the topic of our story. Here, the TikToker showed us what kind of apartment you could get for $300 a month in Tokyo.
Most people in the comment section found themselves quite jealous of Tokyoites, who are able to afford something like this for a relatively low sum. Many were saying how, in many cities, this type of accommodation would cost at least 3 times more, while others were simply appreciating what they saw, adding that they would love to have something like this closer to their current location.
Image credits: Ketut Subiyanto (not the actual photo)
Tokyo might very well be one of the last major world cities that can offer affordable housing options. In fact, according to Michael Smith of The Australian Financial Review, who interviewed a Tokyo real estate agent, Maki Shintaro, this city has quite a unique problem, as it has more places to rent than possible renters.
In recent years, the birth rate in Japan has been declining quite a bit. Yet, the number of properties is on the other side of the scale. This leaves plenty of properties unoccupied, with agents looking for clients and those who do want to move in having a great deal of choices to pick from.
Image credits: Leih Quimson (not the actual photo)
But how come the rent in Japan is so cheap when compared to many other countries in the world? Well, as it turns out, nowadays, the idea that living in Japan is a pricy affair is nothing more than a myth. As Andres Zuleta of Boutique Japan explained, this outdated observation is a piece of information that hasn’t been true since the end of the 20th century.
While, in the 1980s and 1990s, this Asian country really was highly expensive and many surveys and studies still rank Tokyo as one of the priciest destinations in the world, it is actually quite affordable. It may not be as cheap as Thailand, Vietnam, or some other nearby countries, but it also doesn’t quite reach the costs of some European countries like England, Norway, or Switzerland.
In the end, of course, all of this depends on your spending habits and your determination to seek the best option. You might be residing in some of the cheapest countries in the world and still spend a lot of money if you choose to stay in some mesmerizing villa and eat meals made by private chefs.
But if you know where to look, you just might find a really cool apartment in Tokyo and pay no more than $300 a month. Or, perhaps you can manage to find something even better?
What did you think of this virtual tour? What about the rent prices in Tokyo? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
The commenters were jealous of such a low rent price and couldn't help but compare it with what they pay for similar apartments in other cities
