Ibaraki
茨城県
At a Glance
Higher cost area, driven by manufacturing & agriculture, growing expat presence.
Estimated Monthly Cost of Living
¥397,621
≈ $2,651 USD / month
Budget
¥278,335
Minimal spending, shared housing, cooking at home
Moderate
¥397,621
Average lifestyle, own apartment, occasional dining
Comfortable
¥556,670
Spacious flat, dining out often, leisure activities
Monthly Spending Breakdown
Price Details
Individual item prices in Ibaraki, sourced from e-Stat government data. Prices are in JPY.
Other(4 items)
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Total Consumption Expenditure | ¥354,416 |
| Other Consumption Expenditure | ¥64,233 |
| Furniture & Household Utensils | ¥10,876 |
| Retail Price Index(index) | ¥5,216 |
Food & Groceries(4 items)
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Food | ¥103,375 |
| Rice (Koshihikari) | ¥4,868 |
| Food (average) | ¥3,478 |
| Bread (white) | ¥554 |
Transportation(1 items)
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Transportation & Communication | ¥44,153 |
Entertainment(1 items)
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Culture & Recreation | ¥40,895 |
Housing & Rent(1 items)
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Housing | ¥24,291 |
Utilities(1 items)
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Fuel, Light & Water Charges | ¥24,208 |
Healthcare(1 items)
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Medical Care | ¥16,586 |
Education(1 items)
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Education | ¥14,973 |
Clothing(1 items)
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Clothing & Footwear | ¥10,826 |
Foreign Community in Ibaraki
Top Nationalities
Source: Immigration Services Agency (出入国在留管理庁) end-of-2023 statistics. A larger foreign community often means more multilingual services, international shops, and established support networks for newcomers.
Lifestyle Profile
Top Industries
Local Specialties
Lifestyle
Events & Festivals
Hitachi Seaside Park Nemophila
4.5 million blue nemophila flowers covering the hillside
Mito Kairakuen Plum Festival
3,000 plum trees bloom at one of Japan's three great gardens
Digital Nomad Score
Based on coworking availability, internet speed, and cafe culture.
Entrepreneur Score
Based on startup ecosystem, business support, and market access.
Outdoor & Activities
Climate
Mild Pacific climate. Moderate winters, warm summers. Less snow than inland areas.
Foreign Community
Future Events & Business Opportunities
Investment Highlight
Tsukuba's concentration of national research institutes and growing startup ecosystem offer unique opportunities in deep tech and life sciences.
Tsukuba Science City Expansion
BusinessMedium ImpactTsukuba Science City continues to expand with new research facilities and startup incubators. JAXA and other national labs attract international researchers, creating demand for multilingual services.
Business Opportunity
Opportunities in research support services, international housing, and bilingual education. Proximity to Tokyo makes Tsukuba attractive for tech startups seeking lower costs.
Infrastructure Projects
- Tsukuba Science City expansion
- Tsukuba Express capacity improvements
Special Economic Zones & Hubs
- Tsukuba Science City research cluster
Economic & Investment Profile
Tsukuba Science City drives R&D; TX line keeps Tsukuba connected to Tokyo; large Brazilian community.
Economic Overview
GDP
¥13.8T
+1.0% YoY
GDP per Capita
¥4.8M
Avg. Income
340万円
≈ ¥3,400,000/yr
Unemployment
2.5%
Below national avg
Startup Rate
4.0%
Moderate
Real Estate Market
Avg. Rent (1K)
¥38,000
/month
Avg. Rent (2LDK)
¥58,000
/month
Land Price Trend
+0.5%
YoY change
Vacant House Rate
13.0%
Below national avg (13.6%)
Demographics
Population Trend
↓ Declining
-0.5% YoY
Foreign Residents
78,000
+10.5% growth
Top Nationalities
Key Metrics at a Glance
| GDP | ¥13.8T |
| GDP Growth | +1.0% |
| Average Income | 340\u4E07\u5186 |
| Land Price Change | +0.5% |
| Vacant Houses | 13.0% |
| Foreign Residents | 78,000 |
| Startup Rate | 4.0% |
Sources: Cabinet Office (GDP), Ministry of Internal Affairs (population), Immigration Services Agency (foreign residents), MLIT (land prices, housing survey), National Tax Agency (income). Data from 2022-2024 publications.
Find an Apartment in Ibaraki
Search English-friendly property sites with listings in Ibaraki.
Real Estate Japan
Comprehensive English-language property listings with prefecture-level filtering. Search rentals, share houses, and furnished apartments.
GaijinPot Apartments
Japan's largest foreigner-friendly apartment search. All listed properties welcome foreign tenants, with bilingual agent support.
Akiya Japan (Vacant Houses)
Browse affordable akiya (vacant/abandoned houses) across Japan. Prices start from under 1 million yen in rural areas.
External links — these sites are operated independently. JapanCost is not responsible for their content or listings.
Cities & Municipalities (0)
No city data available for this prefecture yet. Data coming soon.
Also Explore
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to live in Ibaraki?
The estimated monthly cost of living in Ibaraki for a single person is approximately ¥397,621 (≈ $2,651 USD). This includes rent, food, utilities, transportation, and other daily expenses based on government survey data.
What are specific item prices in Ibaraki?
The Price Details section below shows individual item prices in Ibaraki, grouped by category (food, housing, utilities, etc.). You can see exactly how much everyday items like rice, eggs, milk, and transit passes cost, sourced directly from Japan's e-Stat government data.
Is Ibaraki expensive compared to other prefectures?
Ibaraki is approximately 3% more expensive than the national average.