While the average rent in Japan varies by region, for example, how much different is the rent for a 1LDK (a type of apartment layout, typically one bedroom, one living room, one dining room, and one kitchen, often suitable for a single person or a couple) in Osaka’s Chuo Ward compared to a 1LDK in Tokyo’s Minato Ward?
Also, between a 1LDK in Nagoya’s Chikusa Ward and one in Kobe’s Higashinada Ward, which one has higher rent?
Although we don’t usually look it up, we will present the interesting rental situation in a ranking format this time.
The areas surveyed are listed below. The rent, area (size), and rent per area (unit rent) for properties are graphed in a bar chart format, with 6 areas shown in different colored bars.
Katsushika Ward, Edogawa Ward, Koto Ward, Minato Ward, Arakawa Ward, Shibuya Ward, Shinjuku Ward, Suginami Ward, Setagaya Ward, Chiyoda Ward, Adachi Ward, Taito Ward, Ota Ward, Chuo Ward, Nakano Ward, Itabashi Ward, Shinagawa Ward, Bunkyo Ward, Toshima Ward, Kita Ward, Sumida Ward, Meguro Ward, Nerima Ward
Naka Ward, Hodogaya Ward, Minami Ward, Totsuka Ward, Asahi Ward, Sakae Ward, Izumi Ward, Kohoku Ward, Konan Ward, Seya Ward, Isogo Ward, Kanagawa Ward, Midori Ward, Nishi Ward, Tsuzuki Ward, Kanazawa Ward, Aoba Ward, Tsurumi Ward
Naka Ward, Nakagawa Ward, Nakamura Ward, Kita Ward, Chikusa Ward, Minami Ward, Meito Ward, Tenpaku Ward, Moriyama Ward, Showa Ward, Higashi Ward, Minato Ward, Atsuta Ward, Mizuho Ward, Midori Ward, Nishi Ward
Nakagyo Ward, Shimogyo Ward, Kamigyo Ward, Sakyo Ward, Ukyo Ward, Higashiyama Ward, Kita Ward, Minami Ward, Nishikyo Ward, Yamashina Ward, Fushimi Ward, Nagaokakyō City, Mukō City, Ōyamazaki Town
Higashiyodogawa Ward, Taisho Ward, Minato Ward, Sumiyoshi Ward, Chuo Ward, Miyakojima Ward, Tsurumi Ward, Joto Ward, Ikuno Ward, Fukushima Ward, Asahi Ward, Abeno Ward, Kita Ward, Naniwa Ward, Higashinari Ward, Higashisumiyoshi Ward, Yodogawa Ward, Nishinari Ward, Nishiyodogawa Ward, Konohana Ward, Suminoe Ward, Hirano Ward, Tennoji Ward, Nishi Ward, Ikeda City, Minoo City, Toyonaka City, Ibaraki City, Takatsuki City
Kita Ward, Nishi Ward, Tarumi Ward, Suma Ward, Nagata Ward, Hyogo Ward, Chuo Ward, Nada Ward, Higashinada Ward, Ashiya City, Nishinomiya City, Amagasaki City
1LDK Rent Ranking
The following is the result of ranking 1LDK rents from highest to lowest.
As somewhat expected, Tokyo dominates the top ranks, with 1st place being Tokyo’s Minato Ward, having an average 1LDK rent of 230,000 yen (approximately $1,550 USD, as of Oct. 2025; please note exchange rates fluctuate). As the area with the highest rent in Japan, a considerably high income seems necessary to live here.
With Osaka’s Hirano Ward at 53,000 yen, there is a four-fold difference compared to Tokyo’s Minato Ward.
The most expensive area outside of the Tokyo contingent was Kobe City’s Nada Ward at 118,000 yen. This was followed by Yokohama City’s Nishi Ward at 110,000 yen, Osaka City’s Kita Ward at 109,000 yen, Osaka City’s Chuo Ward at 103,000 yen, and Kyoto City’s Nakagyo Ward at 103,000 yen. Rents exceeding 100,000 yen continue up to Nagoya City’s Meito Ward in 28th place.
・Kobe City’s Nada Ward and Tokyo’s Itabashi Ward are both at 118,000 yen.
・Osaka’s Chuo Ward, Kyoto City’s Nakagyo Ward, and Tokyo’s Edogawa Ward are all at 103,000 yen.
・Yokohama City’s Naka Ward is 97,000 yen, and Nagoya City’s Chikusa Ward, Osaka City’s Nishi Ward, Kyoto City’s Shimogyo Ward, and Higashiyama Ward are close at 96,000 yen.
・Tokyo’s Katsushika Ward and Kyoto City’s Shimogyo Ward are both at 95,000 yen.
・Ashiya City and Yokohama City’s Kanagawa Ward are both at 91,000 yen.
・Suita City and Yokohama City’s Tsurumi Ward are both at 87,000 yen.
・Yokohama City’s Aoba Ward and Nishinomiya City are both at 83,000 yen.
・Osaka City’s Naniwa Ward, Kyoto City’s Kita Ward, Yokohama City’s Tsuzuki Ward, and Amagasaki City are all at 82,000 yen.
・Nagoya City’s Nakamura Ward and Yokohama City’s Minami Ward are both at 76,000 yen.
・Nagoya City’s Mizuho Ward, Yokohama City’s Sakae Ward, and Takatsuki City are all at 73,000 yen.
Next, we introduce the property area (size) for 1LDK apartments. These are the calculated average sizes of 1LDK properties in each area.
The largest was Nagoya City’s Meito Ward at 47.7m² (square meters). Within the scope of this survey, the area of 1LDK apartments ranged from 36.6m² to 47.7m², a size suitable for one to two people living together.
Next, we introduce the rent per unit area (unit rent). This is calculated by dividing the rent by the property’s area and is an index equivalent to the per-tsubo price (an older Japanese unit of area, approx. 3.3 sq. meters) or land price. A higher value indicates greater popularity of the area and higher land prices.
As you might imagine, the 23 Wards of Tokyo dominate the top ranks in this measure as well.
1st place is Shibuya Ward at 4,900 yen/m², and 2nd place is Minato Ward at 4,730 yen/m².
The highest-priced areas outside of Tokyo are Kobe City’s Nada Ward in 21st place at 2,730 yen/m², and Osaka City’s Minato Ward in 22nd place at 2,640 yen/m². There is approximately a two-fold difference between Tokyo and other areas. This clearly reflects the high demand resulting from population concentration and the soaring land prices due to land scarcity.
This time, we have presented the rankings from 1st to 113th across 6 areas. Taking a closer look and comparing the different areas might lead to new insights.
