Cost of living in Japan for English teachers depends on your salary, location, housing arrangement, deductions, and spending habits. A JET Programme participant and a dispatch-company ALT may have very different budgets—even if both teach English in Japanese schools.
This guide compares JET and ALT pay, explains common living costs and payroll deductions, and includes two interactive tools: a currency converter for checking salary amounts in your home currency and a budget calculator for estimating take-home pay and savings.
If you are still exploring entry routes, start with our related guide: Teaching English in Japan: Requirements, Jobs, Salary and JET Programme (2026). That article covers the main qualifications and pathways; this one focuses on whether the salary may cover your expenses and financial goals.
JET vs. ALT Salary in Japan
JET Programme remuneration follows a published annual schedule for eligible participants. Dispatch-company ALT salaries are set by each employer and contract, so compare the full annual package rather than assuming all ALT positions pay the same amount.
| Position or year | Published annual remuneration / example | Monthly equivalent | Important note |
|---|---|---|---|
| JET Programme, first year | ¥4,020,000 | ¥335,000 | Gross remuneration before applicable deductions. |
| JET Programme, second year | ¥4,140,000 | ¥345,000 | Subject to JET Programme rules and eligibility. |
| JET Programme, third year | ¥4,260,000 | ¥355,000 | Gross figure, not take-home pay. |
| JET Programme, fourth/fifth year | ¥4,320,000 | ¥360,000 | For eligible participants at these appointment years. |
| Dispatch ALT example | Some advertised roles start around ¥200,000/month | ¥200,000 starting example | Actual pay, paid months, hours, and benefits depend on the specific contract. |
JET figures should be checked against the current official JET Programme materials. The dispatch ALT amount is an example from an employer's published job information, not a market-wide salary guarantee.
What Is the JET Programme Salary?
The JET Programme publishes annual remuneration levels for participants. Dividing the annual amount by 12 gives the monthly equivalent shown above, but your payslip will reflect the deductions that apply to your circumstances.
Read the official JET Programme website and its official downloadable information and handbook resources for the applicable recruitment year and appointment conditions.
How Much Do Dispatch ALT Jobs Pay?
Dispatch ALTs are employed under the terms of a particular company and contract. Salary can vary with the employer, location, schedule, experience, and whether the job is full-time, part-time, or limited to the school year.
For example, Borderlink's published ALT job descriptions have listed full-time monthly pay starting from around ¥200,000, depending on the position. Read the employer's current listing carefully rather than treating this figure as a universal ALT salary.
What Does It Cost to Live in Japan as an English Teacher?
Your budget can look very different depending on whether you live in central Tokyo, another large city, a regional city, or a rural community. Rent and commuting arrangements are often major factors. The figures below are illustrative planning inputs for the calculator, not official averages or a promise that a particular lifestyle will cost this amount.
| Expense | Illustrative monthly budget | What to consider |
|---|---|---|
| Rent and housing | ¥60,000 | Location, apartment size, employer housing, deposits, key money, and utilities included or excluded. |
| Food and groceries | ¥40,000 | Cooking at home versus eating out, local prices, and dietary needs. |
| Utilities and internet | ¥15,000 | Seasonal heating or cooling and the internet/mobile plan you choose. |
| Transport | ¥10,000 | Commuting reimbursement, distance, train or bus use, and car costs if relevant. |
| Medical and health costs paid out of pocket | ¥5,000 | Co-payments and costs not covered by insurance; actual spending varies. |
| Phone, leisure, and personal expenses | ¥20,000 | Mobile service, clothing, hobbies, and social activities. |
| Remittances and family support | ¥20,000 | Adjust this to your actual family commitments and transfer fees. |
These examples are provided to help you test a budget. For context on regional differences, the official Study in Japan cost-of-living information discusses student living costs. Student data is not the same as the budget of a full-time employed teacher, so use it as background—not as a direct estimate of a teacher's expenses.
Japan Salary Currency Converter and Budget Calculator
Use the converter to translate a salary into a currency you understand, then use the budget calculator to estimate how much may remain after deductions and expenses. The exchange-rate tool uses reference rates and does not guarantee the amount your bank or remittance service will deliver.
Japan Salary Currency Converter
Convert Japanese yen into Philippine pesos or another supported currency using the latest available reference rates.
Rates are for estimation only. Your bank, card issuer, or remittance provider may use a different exchange rate and charge fees.
Monthly Budget and Savings Calculator
Enter your expected salary, paid months, deductions, living expenses, remittances, and one-time relocation costs. The estimates are for planning and are not a tax calculation.
Monthly living expenses
Estimated results
The calculator uses your entries and the loaded reference exchange rates. It does not account for every tax rule, bonus, reimbursement, or contract-specific condition. Confirm your actual payroll and employment terms.
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