[culturestate]

I'm not OP but the biggest cost driver for foreigners in Japan is actually living like a foreigner. If you adapt to the Japanese lifestyle it can be good value; otherwise, you're gonna be paying $15 for a bottle of mustard.

[andrewem]

What kinds of things do you include in "living like a foreigner" besides buying foreign foods that aren't commonly eaten in Japan?

[culturestate]

Food can be a surprisingly large component if you try to eat a western diet, even if you aren't specifically buying foreign foods. Other things off the top of my head:

- A centrally-located western-style apartment can easily run 2-3x what it would cost vs. compromising on one of those axes (live Japanese style or move farther out)

- Taking taxis or Uber instead of trains

- Going out partying / drinking often (especially to more western-style places if you can't speak Japanese)