Nagoya (名古屋) — capital of Aichi Prefecture and Japan's third-largest city — is less famous than Tokyo or Osaka, but it is arguably the best place in Japan for Vietnamese workers to live, because its income-to-cost ratio is among the country's best.
Why do Vietnamese workers choose Nagoya?
- The Tokai region (Nagoya, Toyota, Hamamatsu) is the centre of the automotive and manufacturing industries — plenty of Tokutei Ginou jobs
- Living costs are around 25–30% lower than Tokyo, while wages are only about 7% lower
- A large Vietnamese community (roughly 15,000 people in Aichi)
- Many Vietnamese supermarkets, restaurants and temples
- Good public transport and easy to get around
Actual cost of living in Nagoya (October 2024)
Rent
- 1K room (studio, about 25m²) near the centre: ¥40,000 – ¥55,000/month
- 1K room further out, or a company dormitory: ¥20,000 – ¥35,000/month
- Share house with other Vietnamese residents: ¥18,000 – ¥28,000/month
Food
- Cooking for yourself (shopping at Japanese supermarkets): ¥15,000 – ¥20,000/month
- Bento or boxed meals from a convenience store (7-Eleven, Lawson): ¥500 – ¥600/meal
- Vietnamese restaurants (usually around Osu or Kanayama): ¥800 – ¥1,200/dish
- Eating out at an average Japanese restaurant: ¥1,000 – ¥1,500/meal
Transport
- Monthly train/bus pass (Manaca): ¥8,000 – ¥12,000/month (depending on distance)
- Many companies reimburse commuting costs in full
- Bicycle: very common; a second-hand bike costs about ¥5,000 – ¥15,000
Electricity, water and internet
- Electricity (with winter heating): ¥5,000 – ¥8,000/month
- Water: ¥2,000 – ¥3,000/month (usually billed every two months)
- Fibre internet: ¥3,500 – ¥5,000/month
- Mobile SIM (IIJmio, Mineo): ¥1,000 – ¥2,500/month
Estimated total monthly costs
For a Vietnamese worker living frugally in Nagoya:
- Housing (dormitory or share house): ¥25,000
- Food: ¥20,000
- Transport: ¥5,000 (if the company pays)
- Electricity/water/internet: ¥10,000
- Other living expenses (toiletries, clothing, leisure): ¥10,000
- Total: approximately ¥70,000/month
On a Tokutei Ginou salary in Aichi of around ¥185,000 gross (about ¥148,000 after tax), you can save ¥78,000 a month — the equivalent of more than 13 million VND a month.
The Vietnamese community in Nagoya
Places where Vietnamese residents tend to gather:
- Southeast Asian supermarkets in Osu and Kanayama — Vietnamese goods, seasonings and instant noodles
- Dai Nam Temple — a community gathering point at Tet and Buddha's Birthday
- The "Vietnamese in Nagoya" Facebook group — over 20,000 members sharing advice, buying and selling, and job listings
- Vietnamese flea markets — held once or twice a month in the larger parks
"Nagoya isn't as glamorous as Tokyo, but you can live well here. The pay is decent, there's plenty of work, there are lots of Vietnamese people, and at weekends there's somewhere to eat food from home. I've been here three years and I don't want to move." — Thang, 27, working at Toyota Boshoku, Aichi.