7 7 schools$2,600/mo avg rentMedium expat community
Suburban anchor of Tokyo's international school belt. Seisen and St. Mary's International Schools are very close. Larger apartments with green space.
5/5
Safety
5/5
Family Friendly
4/5
Quality of Life
4/5
Expat Friendly
4/5
Healthcare
Medium
Expat Community
2-33°C
Temp Range
Moderate
English Level
☀️ Climate & Weather
Monthly temperatures, rainfall, and sea conditions
33°C
Hottest (Aug)
2°C
Coolest (Jan)
14
Sunny days/mo avg
1520mm
Annual rainfall
Avg highAvg lowSea tempRainfall
16°
🌊 Jan
16°
🌊 Feb
17°
🌊 Mar
18°
🌊 Apr
20°
🌊 May
23°
🌊 Jun
26°
🌊 Jul
27°
🌊 Aug
25°
🌊 Sep
22°
🌊 Oct
19°
🌊 Nov
17°
🌊 Dec
💰 Cost of Living
Monthly family budget estimates (USD)
At a Glance
$2,600
Avg. rent /mo
$7.00
Budget meal
$50
Mid-range dinner (2 ppl)
Dining & Drinks
Cappuccino$5.50
Domestic beer$5.00
Imported beer$7.50
Water (1.5L)$1.20
Groceries
Loaf of bread$2.50
Milk (1L)$1.80
Dozen eggs$2.80
Chicken (1 kg)$8.00
Transport
Taxi flag-drop$5.50
Taxi per km$3.20
Monthly transit pass$90
Gasoline (per liter)$1.45
Monthly Bills
Internet$35 /mo
Utilities (avg.)$120 /mo
Gym membership$80 /mo
Domestic help$1,800 /mo
Preschool / nursery$1,200 /mo
Comfortable
Modest apartment, public transport, local restaurants
$3,800/mo
Rent$1,800
Groceries$400
Lifestyle & leisure$220
Transport$120
Utilities$110
Dining out$450
Healthcare$100
School fees (per child)$500
Domestic help$100
Established
Spacious house with garden, family life, some international schooling
$7,500/mo
Rent$3,500
Groceries$800
Lifestyle & leisure$340
Transport$200
Utilities$160
Dining out$800
Healthcare$200
School fees (per child)$1,300
Domestic help$200
Premium
Large family house, international school, car ownership
$14,000/mo
Rent$7,000
Groceries$1,200
Lifestyle & leisure$850
Transport$400
Utilities$250
Dining out$1,500
Healthcare$400
School fees (per child)$2,000
Domestic help$400
Setagaya is Tokyo's largest ward and offers far more affordable living than Minato-ku, while maintaining excellent quality of life. Costs vary significantly across sub-neighbourhoods — from exclusive Denenchofu to more modest Sangenjaya.
🌬️ Air Quality
Average monthly AQI (US EPA scale)
38Jan
40Feb
45Mar
42Apr
38May
35Jun
33Jul
32Aug
34Sep
36Oct
40Nov
42Dec
Good (0–50)Moderate (51–100)USG (101–150)Unhealthy (151+)
Yearly average AQI is 38. Best air quality Jan–Dec (best: Aug at 32).
👥 Demographics
5%
Expat Population
Upper Middle
Income Level
920000
Population
Nationalities
Japanese95%
Chinese2%
Korean1%
American1%
Other1%
Languages Spoken
Japanese95%
English3%
🏘️ Community & Culture
Shimokitazawa — Asia's premier live music and indie culture hubGotokuji Temple — legendary birthplace of the maneki-nekoDeep, authentic Japanese community characterDiverse sub-neighbourhoods each with distinct local identity
Tokyo's Largest Ward — A City Within a City
🌳 Parks & Recreation
Kinuta Park — vast lawns, sports complex, and forest trailsTama River — kilometres of walking and cycling along gravel banksShimokitazawa Kitazawa River Walk — linear park on old rail corridorActive community sports clubs in football, tennis, and cycling
Chitose Kinen Park and the Tama River
🚗 Getting Around
Tokyu Den-en-toshi Line — Shibuya in 5–10 min from SangenjayaSetagaya Line tram — iconic and charming local transportTokyo's highest bicycle usage rateOdakyu Line to Shinjuku from western sub-districts
Multiple Train Lines Covering the Ward
🛒 Daily Life
Shimokitazawa — vintage markets, record shops, and live musicSangenjaya Triangle — famous neighbourhood izakaya and bar sceneRich shotengai culture in every sub-districtStrong community festivals and seasonal neighbourhood events
Neighbourhood Life at Its Finest
📝 Living with the Climate
Setagaya's lower density compared to central Tokyo gives it marginally cooler temperatures in summer, particularly in areas near Kinuta Park and the Tama River. The ward has a higher proportion of tree canopy than central wards, which provides meaningful relief from the urban heat island effect. Winter can feel cold due to open streets with less building shelter than Minato-ku. The Tama River area can experience occasional fog in autumn mornings.
