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B1 noun #8,000 most common 8 min read

住居費

Top 8,000

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 住居費 in 30 Seconds

Explanation 住居費 in your Level:

At the A1 level, you don't need to use the word '住居費' (Jūkyohi) often. Instead, you usually learn the word '家' (ie - house) or '部屋' (heya - room). When you want to talk about money for your house, you might say '家のお金' (ie no okane - house money) or '家賃' (yachin - rent). '住居費' is a big word made of three parts: 住 (live), 居 (be), and 費 (cost). It means 'money for living in a house.' If you see this word on a form, it just means 'How much do you pay for your home every month?' It is like the English word 'housing costs.' Even if you don't say it, knowing it helps you understand budget apps or bills in Japan. Remember: 'Yachin' is for rent, and 'Jūkyohi' is the formal word for all house costs.

For A2 learners, '住居費' (Jūkyohi) is a useful word to recognize in textbooks and simple news. At this level, you are learning to talk about your daily life and budget. You might say, '私の住居費は高いです' (Watashi no jūkyohi wa takai desu - My housing costs are high). This word is more formal than '家賃' (yachin). While 'yachin' only means rent, '住居費' can include rent plus other things like the 'kanri-hi' (management fee) for your apartment. When you move to Japan, you will see this word on websites that compare the cost of living in different cities. It's a 'compound noun,' which means it's made by putting kanji together. Learning this word helps you sound more like an adult when you discuss your monthly expenses.

At the B1 level, you should start using '住居費' (Jūkyohi) in appropriate contexts, such as discussing household finances or reading social news. This word is a key part of '家計' (kakei - household budget). At this level, you should understand that '住居費' is a fixed cost (固定費). You might use it in sentences like '住居費を節約するために、もっと安いアパートに引っ越したい' (I want to move to a cheaper apartment to save on housing costs). You will also hear it in discussions about Japanese society, specifically how high housing costs in Tokyo affect people's lives. It's important to distinguish it from '住宅費' (juutakuhi), which is often used for the cost of buying or building a house, whereas '住居費' is the ongoing cost of occupying it. Mastering this word shows you can handle formal vocabulary related to economics and personal responsibility.

B2 learners should be comfortable using '住居費' (Jūkyohi) in professional and academic settings. You should be able to discuss the '住居費負担率' (housing cost burden ratio) and how it impacts disposable income. In Japan, the '30% rule' (income vs. housing cost) is a common topic of debate, and you would use '住居費' to discuss this. You might encounter this term in business reports, real estate contracts, or when discussing government subsidies like '住居確保給付金' (Housing Security Benefit). At this level, you should also be aware of the nuances between '住居費' and related terms like '居住費' (often used in social welfare or nursing contexts). You should be able to explain the components of housing costs, including rent, insurance, and maintenance fees, using this comprehensive term.

At the C1 level, '住居費' (Jūkyohi) is a standard part of your vocabulary for discussing complex socio-economic issues. You can use it to analyze urban development, the impact of monetary policy on the housing market, or the disparity in living standards across different prefectures. You might use it in a phrase like '住居費の騰貴が家計の購買力を削いでいる' (The rise in housing costs is eroding the purchasing power of households). You should understand how '住居費' is weighted in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and be able to argue its significance in the context of Japan's declining birthrate and aging population. Your usage should be precise, distinguishing it from '地代' (land rent) or '賦払金' (installment payments), and you should be able to navigate formal legal or economic texts where this word appears frequently.

For C2 proficiency, '住居費' (Jūkyohi) is used with complete native-like precision in highly technical or literary contexts. You might encounter it in deep econometric analyses of the Japanese real estate bubble or in philosophical discussions about the 'right to reside.' You understand the historical evolution of the term and its place within the broader '衣食住' (clothing, food, and shelter) framework of Japanese culture. You can discuss the nuances of how '住居費' interacts with taxation laws, such as the '住宅ローン控除' (mortgage tax deduction), and how these policies shape the national economy. At this level, you are not just using the word; you are understanding the systemic economic realities it represents. You can fluently switch between this formal term and more specific jargon depending on the audience, whether you are addressing a board of directors or writing a scholarly article.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

住居費 in 30 Seconds

住居費 (Jūkyohi) means 'housing costs' and is a formal term.
It includes rent, management fees, and sometimes taxes or insurance.
It is a key term in household budgeting (家計) and economics.
Use '家賃' (yachin) for casual talk; use '住居費' for formal financial talk.

The Japanese word 住居費 (じゅうきょひ - Jūkyohi) is a formal compound noun that translates primarily to 'housing costs' or 'housing expenses.' In the context of personal finance and economics, it represents the total amount of money one allocates toward maintaining a place to live. While English speakers might simply say 'rent' or 'mortgage,' 住居費 acts as an umbrella term that encompasses not just the base payment for the space, but also associated costs like management fees (管理費), maintenance fees (共益費), and sometimes even insurance or property taxes in a professional or statistical context.

Etymology Breakdown: The word is composed of three kanji: 住 (juu - to dwell/live), 居 (kyo - to reside/be present), and 費 (hi - expense/cost). Together, they literally mean 'expense for dwelling and residing.'

You will most frequently encounter this term when discussing household budgets (家計), reading financial news, or filling out official documentation. For instance, a financial planner might ask about the percentage of your income consumed by 住居費. It is considered a 'fixed cost' (固定費) because it usually doesn't fluctuate much from month to month, unlike 'utility costs' (光熱費) or 'food expenses' (食費).

東京での生活は、住居費が非常に高いのが悩みです。
(Living in Tokyo is a struggle because housing costs are extremely high.)

In a broader societal sense, 住居費 is a key metric used by the Japanese government to measure the cost of living index (消費者物価指数). When the media reports on inflation, they often highlight how rising 住居費 is affecting young families or the elderly. It is a more clinical and comprehensive term than 家賃 (yachin), which specifically refers to rent paid to a landlord. If you own your home, you wouldn't say you have 家賃, but you definitely still have 住居費 in the form of mortgage payments and taxes.

Usage Context: Used in news, academic papers, financial planning, and formal budget discussions. Less common in casual 'chatting with friends' unless discussing the specifics of financial management.

理想的な住居費の割合は、手取りの3割以下だと言われています。
(It is said that the ideal ratio for housing costs is 30% or less of your take-home pay.)

Understanding this word is crucial for intermediate learners (B1 and above) because it bridges the gap between basic survival Japanese and functional, adult-level Japanese. It allows you to participate in conversations about the economy, urban planning, and personal responsibility. In the modern Japanese economy, where 'disposable income' (可処分所得) is a frequent topic, knowing how 住居費 fits into the equation is essential for any resident or student of the language.

Using 住居費 correctly requires understanding its role as a formal noun. It is typically the subject or object of a sentence involving financial actions like 'paying,' 'reducing,' 'calculating,' or 'burdening.' Because it is a multi-kanji compound (kango), it carries a professional weight that simple words like 家賃 (rent) lack.

Common Verb Pairings: 1. 住居費を抑える (Osaeru) - To keep housing costs down.
2. 住居費が家計を圧迫する (Appaku suru) - Housing costs are squeezing/straining the household budget.
3. 住居費を算出する (Sanshutsu suru) - To calculate housing expenses.

When constructing sentences, remember that 住居費 is often modified by adjectives related to scale or burden. For example, 'heavy' (重い) or 'burdensome' (負担になる). Unlike English where we might say 'my housing costs are big,' in Japanese, it is more natural to say they are 'high' (高い) or 'a burden' (負担).

一人暮らしを始めると、住居費以外にも光熱費や食費がかさみます。
(When you start living alone, in addition to housing costs, utilities and food expenses also pile up.)

You can also use it in comparative sentences. For instance, comparing the cost of living between different cities or different stages of life. It is particularly useful when discussing the 'trade-off' between a long commute and lower housing costs, a classic dilemma for workers in major Japanese hubs like Osaka or Tokyo.

会社から住居費の一部が手当として支給されます。
(Part of the housing costs is provided by the company as an allowance.)

Sentence Structure Examples: [Subject] は [Amount] の住居費を払っている。
[Location] は住居費が高い。
住居費を節約するために、郊外に引っ越した。

In professional writing, such as a lease agreement or a financial report, you might see it paired with technical terms like '固定資産税' (fixed asset tax) or '修繕積立金' (repair reserve fund). In these cases, 住居費 acts as the category header for all these specific outflows of cash related to one's residence.

While 住居費 might not be the word you use to tell your friend you're short on rent, it is ubiquitous in the 'adult world' of Japan. One of the most common places to hear it is on news programs during segments about the 'cost of living' (物価). News anchors often use it when discussing the economic pressure on the younger generation.

「最近の物価高で、若者の住居費負担が増加しています」
(With the recent rise in prices, the burden of housing costs on young people is increasing.)

Another frequent setting is at the city office (市役所) or ward office (区役所). If you are applying for social services, subsidies, or housing assistance, the staff will use 住居費 to refer to your total accommodation expenses. They might ask for receipts or contracts to verify your 住居費 to determine your eligibility for certain benefits.

In the workplace, particularly in Human Resources (人事), the term comes up during discussions about 'housing allowances' (住宅手当). When a company is considering how much to subsidize an employee's move to a new city, they will analyze the average 住居費 of that area to set a fair allowance rate. You might see this in your employment contract or on your pay stub (給与明細).

福利厚生の一環として、住居費の補助制度があります。
(As part of the employee benefits, there is a housing cost subsidy system.)

Media and Literature: You will see this word in headlines of business magazines like 'Nikkei Business' or in self-help books about saving money (節約術). It is the standard term used in statistical charts comparing global cities.

Finally, if you are a student of sociology or urban studies in Japan, 住居費 is a fundamental term. It appears in research regarding gentrification, urban density, and the 'poverty line' (貧困線). It is a word that carries the weight of a basic human right—the right to shelter—and the economic reality of securing it.

The most frequent mistake learners make with 住居費 is using it in contexts that are too casual. If you are at a bar with friends and say, 'My 住居費 is so high this month,' it sounds like you are reading from a government report. In casual speech, the word 家賃 (yachin - rent) is almost always preferred.

Mistake 1: Over-formality: Incorrect (Casual): 「住居費を払わなきゃ。」 (I have to pay my housing costs.)
Correct (Casual): 「家賃を払わなきゃ。」 (I have to pay my rent.)

Another mistake is confusing 住居費 with 住宅費 (juutakuhi). While they are very similar, 住宅費 often refers more specifically to the cost of the building itself or the initial purchase price, whereas 住居費 is the ongoing expense of living there. However, even native speakers sometimes use them interchangeably, but 住居費 is more common for 'monthly living expenses.'

❌ 住居代 (Juukyodai) - This is incorrect.
✅ 住居費 (Jūkyohi) - Expenses use 'hi' (費), not 'dai' (代) in this compound.

Wait! Why not 住居代? In Japanese, the suffix 代 (dai) is often used for fees (like ガス代 - gas bill), but for abstract or comprehensive categories in accounting, 費 (hi) is the standard. Using the wrong suffix is a common pitfall for B1 learners who are just starting to master kango compounds.

Lastly, learners sometimes forget that 住居費 includes things like 'management fees' (管理費). If you are calculating your budget and only include your rent, you are technically under-calculating your 住居費. In a Japanese apartment (mansion), the management fee can be an additional 10,000 to 20,000 yen, so for accurate financial planning, you must include everything in this term.

Confusion with 居住費 (Kyojūhi): 居住費 is almost identical but is often used in the context of nursing homes or specific facility fees. For a standard apartment or house, stick with 住居費.

To truly master 住居費, you need to know how it stacks up against its synonyms. Depending on the level of detail and the specific situation, you might choose a different word to describe where your money is going.

家賃 (Yachin): Meaning: Rent. This is the most common word for the monthly payment made to a landlord. It is specific and informal to neutral. It does not include utilities or mortgage payments.
住宅ローン (Juutaku Rōn): Meaning: Housing loan/Mortgage. If you own your home, this is the primary component of your 住居費. You wouldn't use 家賃 in this case.
固定費 (Koteihi): Meaning: Fixed costs. This is a broader category that includes 住居費, insurance, and subscription services. It refers to any cost that remains constant regardless of usage.

Word Comparison:
1. 家賃 = Just the rent money.
2. 住居費 = Rent + Management fees + Insurance.
3. 生活費 = Housing + Food + Utilities + Fun.

If you are filling out a survey about your lifestyle, you might see 居住費 (kyojūhi). As mentioned before, this is a very close synonym. In many government statistics, 住居 (jūkyo) is the category, and 費 (hi) is the suffix. Another related term is 維持費 (ijiki), which means 'maintenance costs.' For homeowners, 維持費 is a major part of their overall 住居費.

In summary, choose 住居費 when you want to be precise about the financial category of housing. Choose 家賃 when you are just talking about the monthly bill you pay your landlord. Choose 住宅費 if you are focusing on the physical house as an asset or a construction project.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The kanji '費' originally depicted a shell (貝), which was used as currency in ancient China, combined with a symbol for 'spreading' or 'distributing.'

Pronunciation Guide

UK /dʒuː.kjɒ.hi/

US /dʒu.kjoʊ.hi/

Japanese is a pitch-accent language. 'Jūkyohi' typically has a flat (Heiban) or slightly falling accent after the first mora.

Rhymes With

光熱費 (Kōnetsuhi) 交際費 (Kōsaihi) 交通費 (Kōtsūhi) 教育費 (Kyōikuhi) 医療費 (Iryōhi) 事務費 (Jimuhi) 管理費 (Kanrihi) 会費 (Kaihi)

Common Errors

Shortening the 'ū' in 'jū', making it 'jukyohi'.
Mispronouncing 'kyo' as 'ki-yo'.
Using 'dai' instead of 'hi' (Jūkyodai is wrong).
Stressing the 'hi' too much.
Dropping the 'h' sound in 'hi'.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 3/5

Kanji are N3/N2 level, but common in daily life.

Writing 4/5

Requires remembering the 'hi' (費) kanji correctly.

Speaking 3/5

Long vowel 'jū' must be pronounced correctly.

Listening 2/5

Easily recognized in financial contexts.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

家 (ie) 住む (sumu) お金 (okane) 費用 (hiyou) 家賃 (yachin)

Learn Next

固定費 (koteihi) 光熱費 (kōnetsuhi) 家計簿 (kakeibo) 可処分所得 (kashobun shotoku) 住宅手当 (juutaku teate)

Advanced

消費者物価指数 (CPI) 住宅ローン控除 (Mortgage deduction) 不動産 (fudousan) 管理組合 (kanri kumiai)

Grammar to Know

Compound Nouns (Kango)

住居 + 費 = 住居費. Many formal terms are created this way.

Particle 'o' for Objects

住居費を払う (Pay housing costs).

Particle 'ga' for Subjects in State sentences

住居費が高い (Housing costs are high).

Adverbial 'ni' with Verbs

住居費を安く抑える (Keep housing costs low).

Nominalization with 'no'

住居費を払うのは大変だ (Paying housing costs is hard).

Examples by Level

住居費はいくらですか？

How much are the housing costs?

Simple question using 'wa' and 'ikura'.

私の住居費は安いです。

My housing costs are cheap.

Using 'no' for possession and 'yasui' as an adjective.

住居費を払います。

I will pay the housing costs.

Direct object with 'o' and the verb 'haraimasu'.

東京の住居費は高いです。

Housing costs in Tokyo are high.

Topic marker 'no' connecting location and noun.

毎月の住居費を教えなさい。

Tell me the monthly housing costs.

Imperative form (formal/strict).

住居費は五万円です。

The housing cost is 50,000 yen.

Stating a price with 'desu'.

住居費をチェックします。

I will check the housing costs.

Katakana verb 'chekku shimasu'.

これは住居費ですか？

Is this a housing cost?

Question with 'kore' and 'ka'.

一人暮らしは住居費がかかります。

Living alone costs money for housing.

Using 'kakaru' for costs/time.

住居費の中に水道代は入っていますか？

Is the water bill included in the housing costs?

Using 'no naka ni' for inclusion.

住居費を安くしたいです。

I want to make the housing costs cheaper.

Adjective 'yasui' + 'shitai' (want to do).

毎月、住居費を銀行で払います。

Every month, I pay housing costs at the bank.

Adverb 'maitsuki' and location 'de'.

住居費が高いので、貯金ができません。

Because housing costs are high, I can't save money.

Using 'node' for reason/cause.

新しい家の住居費を計算しました。

I calculated the housing costs for the new house.

Past tense 'keisan shimashita'.

住居費は給料の三分の一です。

Housing costs are one-third of my salary.

Fraction 'san-bun no ichi'.

住居費のことで相談したいです。

I want to consult about housing costs.

Using 'no koto de' to mean 'about'.

住居費を抑えるために、ルームシェアをしています。

I am room-sharing to keep housing costs down.

Using 'tame ni' for purpose.

最近、都市部の住居費が上がっています。

Recently, housing costs in urban areas have been rising.

Continuous state 'agatte imasu'.

家計簿をつけて、住居費を管理しています。

I keep a household account book and manage housing costs.

Te-form for sequence of actions.

住居費が家計を圧迫しているのが現状です。

The current situation is that housing costs are squeezing the budget.

Nominalizing with 'no' + 'desu'.

奨学金で住居費をまかなっています。

I am covering my housing costs with a scholarship.

Using 'makanau' (to cover/pay for).

住居費には火災保険料も含まれます。

Housing costs also include fire insurance premiums.

Passive form 'fukumaremasu'.

共働きの理由は、高い住居費を払うためです。

The reason for both spouses working is to pay for high housing costs.

Structure: [Reason] wa [Purpose] tame desu.

住居費の割合を減らす工夫をしています。

I am trying ways to reduce the percentage of housing costs.

Using 'kufuu' (device/way/effort).

住居費負担が重く、若者の消費が伸び悩んでいます。

The burden of housing costs is heavy, and youth consumption is stagnating.

Using 'nobinayami' (stagnation/sluggishness).

政府は住居費の補助金を増やすべきだ。

The government should increase housing cost subsidies.

Using 'beki da' (should).

住居費を考慮した上で、移住先を決めました。

I decided on a place to move after considering housing costs.

Using 'ue de' (after/based on).

リモートワークの普及により、住居費の安い郊外が人気です。

Due to the spread of remote work, suburbs with low housing costs are popular.

Using 'ni yori' (due to/because of).

住居費の滞納は、契約解除の原因になります。

Non-payment of housing costs is a cause for contract termination.

Formal term 'tainou' (delinquency/arrears).

固定資産税も住居費の一部として計上します。

Fixed asset tax is also recorded as part of housing costs.

Using 'keijou suru' (to record/account for).

住居費の適正な水準について議論が行われました。

A discussion was held regarding the appropriate level of housing costs.

Using 'tekisei' (appropriate/proper).

住居費を差し引いた後の金額が、生活費となります。

The amount after deducting housing costs becomes the living expenses.

Using 'sashihiku' (to deduct).

住居費の高騰が、都市部における貧困問題に拍車をかけている。

The soaring housing costs are accelerating the poverty problem in urban areas.

Idiom 'hakusha o kakeru' (to spur/accelerate).

可処分所得に占める住居費の割合を分析する。

Analyze the ratio of housing costs to disposable income.

Using 'shimeru' (to occupy/account for).

住居費の格差は、教育環境の格差にも直結している。

The disparity in housing costs is directly linked to the disparity in educational environments.

Using 'chokketsu' (direct link).

少子化対策として、若年層への住居費支援が急務である。

As a measure against the declining birthrate, housing cost support for the youth is an urgent matter.

Using 'kyuumu' (urgent task).

インフレ局面において、住居費の改定は避けられない。

In an inflationary phase, the revision of housing costs is unavoidable.

Using 'kyokumen' (phase/situation).

住居費を最小限に抑えるためのミニマリズムが流行している。

Minimalism as a way to minimize housing costs is in fashion.

Using 'saishougen' (minimum).

住宅ローン控除は、実質的な住居費の軽減策となっている。

The mortgage tax deduction serves as a practical measure to reduce housing costs.

Using 'keigen-saku' (reduction measure).

住居費の変動は、マクロ経済に多大な影響を及ぼす。

Fluctuations in housing costs have a significant impact on the macroeconomy.

Using 'oyobosu' (to exert/cause).

住居費の構造的要因を解明することが、政策立案の鍵となる。

Elucidating the structural factors of housing costs is the key to policy formulation.

Using 'kaimei' (elucidation).

都市再生における住居費の制御は、社会正義の観点から不可欠だ。

Controlling housing costs in urban regeneration is essential from the perspective of social justice.

Using 'fukatsu' (indispensable).

住居費の重圧が、国民の幸福度を著しく損なっているとの指摘がある。

It has been pointed out that the pressure of housing costs is significantly damaging the happiness level of citizens.

Using 'ichijirushiku' (remarkably/significantly).

バブル崩壊後の住居費の推移を、歴史的背景と共に考察する。

Consider the transition of housing costs after the bubble burst, along with the historical background.

Using 'kousatsu' (consideration/study).

住居費の弾力性が、労働移動の障壁となっている可能性がある。

The elasticity of housing costs may be acting as a barrier to labor mobility.

Using 'danryokusei' (elasticity).

住居費の増大は、中産階級の没落を象徴する現象の一つである。

The increase in housing costs is one phenomenon symbolizing the downfall of the middle class.

Using 'motsuraku' (downfall/ruin).

家賃統制政策が住居費の市場均衡に与える影響を論じる。

Discuss the impact of rent control policies on the market equilibrium of housing costs.

Using 'shijou kinkou' (market equilibrium).

住居費の概念を、単なる支出から社会的投資へと転換すべきだ。

The concept of housing costs should be shifted from mere expenditure to social investment.

Using 'tenkan' (conversion/shift).

Common Collocations

住居費を抑える

住居費が上がる

住居費の負担

住居費を算出する

住居費を滞納する

住居費の割合

住居費を賄う

住居費を削る

住居費の補助

手頃な住居費

Common Phrases

住居費貧乏

— Being poor because your housing costs are too high despite having a decent income.

都心に住んで住居費貧乏になっている。

住居費の目安

— A standard or guideline for how much one should spend on housing.

住居費の目安は手取りの30％だ。

住居費を浮かす

— To save or 'free up' money from the housing budget.

実家に住んで住居費を浮かす。

住居費の捻出

— Finding or squeezing out the money needed for housing.

毎月の住居費の捻出に苦労する。

住居費込み

— Including housing costs (e.g., in a package deal).

この奨学金は住居費込みです。

住居費別

— Excluding housing costs.

生活費10万円（住居費別）で暮らす。

住居費の推移

— The trend or change in housing costs over time.

過去10年の住居費の推移を調べる。

住居費の節約

— Saving money on housing expenses.

住居費の節約が一番の効果がある。

住居費の格差

— Disparity in housing costs between regions or groups.

地方と都会の住居費の格差は大きい。

住居費の圧迫

— Housing costs putting pressure on other parts of life.

住居費の圧迫で娯楽費がなくなる。

Often Confused With

住居費 vs 家賃

Rent only. Does not include other housing-related bills.

住居費 vs 住宅費

Often refers to the cost of the physical house or building project.

住居費 vs 光熱費

Utility costs (gas, water, electricity). These are separate from housing costs.

Idioms & Expressions

"衣食住"

— Clothing, food, and shelter; the basics of life. 住居費 is the cost of '住'.

衣食住を整えることが大切だ。

Common

"身の丈に合った"

— Suited to one's means/stature. Often used regarding housing costs.

身の丈に合った住居費の家に住む。

Common

"背に腹は代えられない"

— You can't make an omelet without breaking eggs; sometimes you must pay high housing costs to be near work.

高い住居費だが、背に腹は代えられない。

Common

"清水の舞台から飛び降りる"

— To take a leap of faith. Used when buying an expensive house with high costs.

清水の舞台から飛び降りる気持ちで、この家の住居費を払う決意をした。

Idiomatic

"火の車"

— Being in desperate financial straits, often due to high housing costs.

住居費が高すぎて、家計は火の車だ。

Common

"爪に火をともす"

— To live very frugally to afford something like housing costs.

爪に火をともすようにして、住居費を貯めた。

Old-fashioned

"右から左へ"

— Money coming in and immediately going out (to pay housing costs).

給料が住居費として右から左へ消えていく。

Common

"一国一城の主"

— Master of one's own castle. Relates to the pride of paying for one's own 住居費.

一国一城の主になれば、住居費も自己責任だ。

Common

"喉元過ぎれば熱さを忘れる"

— Forgetting the struggle of paying high housing costs once the situation improves.

住居費の苦労も、喉元過ぎれば熱さを忘れる。

Common

"捕らぬ狸の皮算用"

— Counting chickens before they hatch; planning a lifestyle based on housing costs you can't afford yet.

昇給をあてにして高い住居費の部屋を借りるのは、捕らぬ狸の皮算用だ。

Common

Easily Confused

住居費 vs 居住費

Sounds almost identical.

Kyojūhi is typically used in nursing homes or specialized institutions. Jūkyohi is for general houses/apartments.

介護施設の居住費を確認する。

住居費 vs 生活費

Both involve living costs.

Seikatsuhi is the total living cost (food + rent + clothes). Jūkyohi is a sub-category of Seikatsuhi.

生活費の内訳を調べる。

住居費 vs 宿泊費

Both involve staying somewhere.

Shukubakuhi is for hotels/travel. Jūkyohi is for your permanent home.

旅行の宿泊費を予約サイトで比べる。

住居費 vs 事務費

Ends in 'hi'.

Jimuhi is office/administrative expenses. Jūkyohi is for housing.

オフィスの事務費を削減する。

住居費 vs 維持費

Related to property.

Ijiki is just for maintenance/repairs. Jūkyohi includes the base cost (rent/mortgage) as well.

車の維持費は意外と高い。

Sentence Patterns

住居費は [Amount] です。

住居費は六万円です。

[Location] の住居費は高いです。

ロンドンの住居費は高いです。

住居費を抑えるために [Action]。

住居費を抑えるために自炊をします。

住居費が [Noun] を圧迫する。

住居費が生活を圧迫する。

住居費を [Amount] 以内に収める。

住居費を月収の三割以内に収める。

住居費の高騰に伴い [Result]。

住居費の高騰に伴い、郊外への移住が進んでいる。

住居費の構造的課題を [Verb]。

住居費の構造的課題を浮き彫りにする。

住居費が [Abstract Noun] に及ぼす影響。

住居費が少子化に及ぼす影響は無視できない。

Word Family

Nouns

住居 (Residence)

費用 (Expense)

居住者 (Resident)

住宅 (Housing/House)

住まい (Dwelling)

Verbs

住む (To live)

居住する (To reside - formal)

住まう (To dwell - literary)

Adjectives

住みやすい (Easy to live in)

住み心地が良い (Comfortable to live in)

家賃 (Rent)

敷金 (Security deposit)

礼金 (Key money)

管理費 (Management fee)

共益費 (Common area fee)

How to Use It

frequency

Common in news, finance, and adult conversations; rare in children's talk.

Common Mistakes

Using 'Jūkyodai' instead of 'Jūkyohi'. → 住居費 (Jūkyohi)
Compounds ending in 'dai' are usually for specific bills (gas, phone), while 'hi' is for broader categories.
Using 'Jūkyohi' when talking to a friend about rent. → 家賃 (Yachin)
Jūkyohi is too formal for casual conversation. It sounds like a textbook.
Pronouncing it 'Jukyohi' (short u). → Jūkyohi (long u)
The 'ū' is a long vowel. Mispronouncing it makes the word hard to recognize.
Thinking 住居費 includes food. → 住居費 is only for housing; food is 食費 (shokuhi).
Some learners confuse 'living expenses' (生活費) with 'housing costs' (住居費).
Writing '費' with the wrong bottom radical. → 費 (with 貝 at the bottom).
The bottom is 'shell' (money), not 'eye' (目).

Tips

Use in Budgets

When using a budgeting app in Japanese, look for the category '住居' or '住居費' to log your rent and management fees.

Long Vowel

Make sure to emphasize the 'jū' (じゅう). If you say 'ju', it sounds like the number 10, which can be confusing.

The 'Hi' Kanji

The kanji 費 is used for many types of costs. If you learn it once, you can understand 10+ other words like 食費 and 交通費.

Housing Allowance

If you are job hunting in Japan, check if the company offers '住宅手当' (housing allowance) to help with your 住居費.

Apartment Hunting

Real estate sites like SUUMO might use this term in their 'Cost of Living' guides for different neighborhoods.

Fixed Cost

Remember that 住居費 is a '固定費' (fixed cost). This is a great phrase to use when discussing financial stability.

Vs. Yachin

If you own a house, never use '家賃'. Always use '住居費' or 'ローン' (loan).

Related Terms

Learn '管理費' (management fee) alongside 住居費, as they are often paired together.

Discussing Society

Use this word when talking about how expensive it is to live in Japan compared to your home country.

Suffix Choice

Never say '住居代' (Jūkyodai). The correct suffix for this formal category is always '費' (hi).

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Jū (Jewel) + Kyo (Tokyo) + Hi (History). Imagine a 'Jewel' in 'Tokyo' that costs a lot of 'History' (money/time) to keep. That's your 住居費.

Visual Association

Picture a house with a giant yen symbol (¥) floating above it, and a monthly calendar showing payments for rent, insurance, and taxes.

Word Web

Rent Mortgage Insurance Taxes Management Fee Maintenance Budget Fixed Cost

Challenge

Try to calculate your own monthly '住居費' in yen and write a sentence about whether it is 'takai' (high) or 'yasui' (cheap).

Word Origin

Borrowed from Chinese kanji roots. '住' (dwell) dates back to Oracle Bone Script. '居' (sit/stay) implied staying in one place. '費' (shell/currency + brush) implies spending money.

Original meaning: The cost associated with maintaining a place of residence.

Sino-Japanese (Kango).

Cultural Context

Be sensitive when asking others about their 住居費; money is a private topic in Japan, though less so than in some Western cultures.

In English, we usually say 'housing costs.' Americans might focus more on mortgage vs. rent, while 'housing costs' is the direct equivalent of 住居費.

Consumer Price Index (CPI) reports in Japan. Financial planning books by authors like Yukiko Kakei. NHK news segments on 'Seikatsu-hi' (Living Expenses).

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Budgeting

住居費を削る
住居費の予算
住居費を管理する
住居費の節約術

Real Estate

住居費の相場
住居費込みの物件
住居費の試算
住居費の支払い方法

Social Issues

住居費の高騰
住居費の格差
住居費の支援策
住居費負担の軽減

Workplace

住居費の補助金
住居費の手当
住居費の立替
住居費の経費精算

Government Statistics

平均住居費
住居費の推移
住居費の国際比較
住居費の指数

Conversation Starters

"東京の住居費についてどう思いますか？ (What do you think about housing costs in Tokyo?)"

"住居費を抑えるために、何か工夫をしていますか？ (Are you doing anything specific to keep housing costs down?)"

"収入の何パーセントを住居費に充てるのが理想的だと思いますか？ (What percentage of income do you think is ideal to spend on housing?)"

"あなたの国と日本で、住居費はどちらが高いですか？ (Which is higher, housing costs in your country or Japan?)"

"最近、住居費が上がったというニュースを見ましたか？ (Have you seen the news about housing costs rising recently?)"

Journal Prompts

今月の住居費とその他の支出を比較して、感じたことを書きなさい。 (Compare this month's housing costs with other expenses and write your thoughts.)

将来、どのような住居費の家に住みたいか、理想を書きなさい。 (Write about your ideal home and what kind of housing costs you'd like to have in the future.)

住居費を節約するための新しいアイデアを3つ提案しなさい。 (Propose three new ideas for saving on housing costs.)

「住居費が高い都会」と「住居費が安い田舎」、どちらに住みたいか理由を書きなさい。 (Write which you'd prefer: 'expensive city housing' or 'cheap rural housing,' and why.)

住居費が家計に与える影響について、自分の経験を交えて書きなさい。 (Write about the impact of housing costs on your household budget, including your own experiences.)

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Generally, no. Electricity, water, and gas are categorized as '光熱費' (kōnetsuhi). However, in some statistical reports, they might be grouped under a 'housing and utilities' umbrella, but strictly speaking, 住居費 focuses on the space itself.

Technically, your 住居費 might be zero if you don't pay anything. However, you could say '実家なので住居費がかかりません' (I don't have housing costs because I live at my parents' house).

No. For hotels or temporary stays during travel, you use '宿泊費' (shukubakuhi).

Not really. Slang usually simplifies things. People would just say '家賃' (yachin) or even just '部屋代' (heyadai) in very casual settings.

You can say '住居費を節約する' (jūkyohi o setsuyaku suru) or '住居費を抑える' (jūkyohi o osaeru).

Both are used, but 住居費 is more common for monthly living expenses. 住宅費 often appears when discussing buying a house or government housing policies.

Yes, it often appears in N2 or N1 reading sections related to social issues or economics.

In a broad sense, yes, it's a housing-related expense. But usually, when people talk about monthly 住居費, they mean the recurring costs.

There isn't a direct antonym, but '収入' (income) is the functional opposite in a budget.

No. For an office, you would use '賃料' (chinryou) or '事務所費' (jimushohi).