ScholarshipUnion | Guides
2026 Edition Financial Guide

MEXT Scholarship Amount
Stipend & Budget Reality

How much does MEXT actually pay? Can you survive in Tokyo on ¥143,000 a month? The honest financial breakdown nobody puts on the brochure — including the 15-year stagnation problem.

Monthly Stipend Breakdown

Research students receive ¥143,000/month (~$960). Unchanged for 15+ years despite inflation.

¥143K
Research/month
¥117K
Undergrad/month
¥242K
YLP/month
¥0
Tuition cost

Stipend vs Living Costs

Select a city to see how far the stipend goes.

Tokyo Monthly Budget (¥143,000)

Rent (studio)¥70,000
Food¥35,000
Transport¥10,000
Phone + utilities¥15,000
Remaining¥13,000 (~$87)

Osaka Monthly Budget (¥143,000)

Rent¥55,000
Food¥30,000
Transport + utilities¥20,000
Remaining¥38,000 (~$253)

Sendai Monthly Budget (¥143,000)

Rent¥40,000
Food¥28,000
Transport + utilities¥18,000
Remaining¥57,000 (~$380)

Fukuoka Monthly Budget (¥143,000)

Rent¥38,000
Food¥27,000
Transport + utilities¥17,000
Remaining¥61,000 (~$407)

Also included: full tuition waiver, round-trip airfare, and settling-in allowance. Part-time work requires permission.

Ready to Start Your MEXT Application?

The stipend is enough to live on — especially outside Tokyo. The real challenge is getting selected. Let us walk you through every step of the process.