Cheapest and Priciest Tokyo Neighbourhoods (2026 Rent Data)
A data-backed ranking of the cheapest and most expensive Tokyo wards and stations to rent in 2026, from 528,660 real active listings.
Everyone asks the same question when moving to Tokyo: where can I actually afford to live? Most guides answer with opinions. This one answers with data, from 528,660 real rental listings across Tokyo's 23 wards, updated every quarter.
Quick answer: The cheapest Tokyo wards for a 1K studio are Edogawa (74 000 JPY), Adachi (76 000 JPY) and Katsushika (81 000 JPY), all eastern or outer wards. The most expensive is Minato (140 000 JPY), followed by Chiyoda and Chuo. From one ward to another, the same studio can cost nearly double.
The 10 cheapest wards to live in Tokyo
Ranked by median monthly rent for a 1K studio, from 528,660 active listings:
- Edogawa - 74 000 JPY
- Adachi - 76 000 JPY
- Katsushika - 81 000 JPY
- Nerima - 82 000 JPY
- Suginami - 84 000 JPY
- Setagaya - 87 000 JPY
- Itabashi - 88 000 JPY
- Nakano - 88 000 JPY
- Kita - 90 000 JPY
- Arakawa - 91 000 JPY
These are mostly eastern and outer wards. They sit 20 to 40 minutes from the centre but stay fully on the train network, and your money buys a real apartment instead of a shoebox.
The most expensive wards to live in Tokyo
The other end of the scale, same 1K studio:
- Minato - 140 000 JPY
- Chiyoda - 137 000 JPY
- Chuo - 130 000 JPY
- Shibuya - 127 000 JPY
- Shinjuku - 120 000 JPY
- Taito - 115 000 JPY
- Shinagawa - 112 000 JPY
- Koto - 112 000 JPY
You pay for location, convenience and a certain lifestyle. For many relocating executives and families it is worth it, but go in knowing the premium is real.
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Rent by ward and layout (1K, 1LDK, 2LDK)
The ranking shifts with the layout you need. For a couple on a 1LDK, Katsushika (118 000 JPY) is the single cheapest ward, ahead of Adachi and Edogawa. Median monthly rent by ward, according to the Tokyo Expat rent index:
| Ward | 1K | 1LDK | 2LDK |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edogawa | 74 000 | 125 000 | 162 000 |
| Adachi | 76 000 | 125 000 | 161 000 |
| Katsushika | 81 000 | 118 000 | 162 000 |
| Nerima | 82 000 | 135 000 | 176 000 |
| Suginami | 84 000 | 159 000 | 210 000 |
| Setagaya | 87 000 | 169 000 | 235 000 |
| Itabashi | 88 000 | 143 000 | 195 000 |
| Nakano | 88 000 | 174 000 | 225 000 |
| Kita | 90 000 | 152 000 | 218 000 |
| Arakawa | 91 000 | 150 000 | 219 000 |
All figures are median monthly rent in JPY, from real recorded transactions. For the full 23 wards plus 27 train lines and 50 stations, see the Tokyo Rent Index.
Cheapest stations, if you want to go granular
Ward averages hide a lot. Here are the most affordable of 50 major stations for a 1K, so you can trade a few minutes of commute for real savings:
- Kasai - 76 000 JPY
- Shin-Koiwa - 78 000 JPY
- Ayase - 85 000 JPY
- Ogikubo - 85 000 JPY
- Nerima - 86 000 JPY
- Kita-Senju - 86 000 JPY
- Akabane - 86 000 JPY
- Setagaya - 88 000 JPY
How to actually use this ranking
- Choose your train line and commute first, then the station. Ten extra minutes on the right line can save you 30,000 to 50,000 JPY a month for the same apartment.
- The cheapest wards are not "worse", just further out. They are residential, safe and well connected.
- Budget for the upfront bill, not just the rent: a standard lease can ask for four to six months of rent all at once. See our guide to renting in Tokyo as a foreigner.
- Explore every ward, line and station in our interactive Tokyo Rent Index.
If you would rather have someone who works inside the Tokyo market turn these numbers into an actual apartment, see how our property hunter works or book a free call.
Data: 528,660 active listings, Tokyo 23 wards, 2026. Median 1K rent in JPY. Updated quarterly.
Frequently Asked Questions
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