[My Experience] How Much Cheaper Is a Share House Compared to Renting an Apartment?

When I first moved to the city for work, I was faced with a big decision: should I rent a private apartment or move into a share house?

Like many people, I assumed renting an apartment would give me more privacy and freedom—but I was quickly overwhelmed by the initial costs. Here’s a breakdown of what I discovered (and experienced first-hand).

💰 The Reality of Initial Costs

🏢 Private Apartment

When I visited real estate agencies, they handed me a long list of fees:

• Deposit: 2 months’ rent
• Key money: 1 month’s rent (yes, a gift to the landlord!)
• Agency fee: 1 month’s rent
• First month’s rent: of course
• Fire insurance and other misc. fees

Total: Easily 5–6 months’ worth of rent upfront.

If rent was ¥70,000/month, that’s over ¥350,000 just to move in!

🏠 Share House

Then I found a share house. To my surprise:

• Deposit: around ¥30,000 (refundable)
• No key money, no agency fee
• Rent & utilities combined: about ¥50,000/month

Total: Around ¥80,000–¥100,000 upfront.

That’s it. I was honestly shocked at the difference.

👀 The Hidden Perks

Beyond the cost, I also realized:

• The rooms were furnished (no need to buy a fridge, bed, or washing machine!)
• Internet was included
• I instantly met people and made friends in the city

Sure, privacy is more limited, but as someone starting fresh, the trade-off was worth it.

📝 Final Thoughts

If you’re looking to move without breaking the bank, a share house is a solid option—especially in big cities like Tokyo or Osaka where apartment fees can be overwhelming. For me, it was a financial lifesaver and a great social experience rolled into one.

Would I do it again? Absolutely.