The Complete Guide to Moving in Together as a Couple: Choosing a Property, Splitting Costs, and Managing Joint Finances

1. Cost-sharing method for rent and living expenses: Decide on a 50/50 split, income-based splitting, or dividing by category (for example, one person covers rent while the other handles food and utilities).

2. Moving out and relocation rules: If the relationship ends, decide in advance who will move out, how many months' notice is needed, and who will pay any penalty fees. While difficult to discuss, having an agreement beforehand is important.

3. Aligning daily habits: Discuss bedtimes, wake-up times, how you spend weekends, cooking frequency, cleaning frequency, and how often you invite friends over.

4. Lease name and registration: Decide whose name the lease will be under. The person not named as the leaseholder registers as a "co-occupant" on their change-of-address form.

5. Ensuring privacy: Consider whether a 2LDK or larger unit will allow each of you to have your own space. Be aware that a 1LDK will mean more shared time together.

Key Points for Choosing a Property for Two People

Choosing a floor plan:

• •1LDK: Best for couples who spend most of their time together. It's harder to have separate work or study spaces. Rent tends to be more affordable.
• •2K/2DK: Two separate rooms allow each person to have their own private time and space.
• •2LDK: Offers the most space and comfort, but rent is higher (typically ¥150,000–¥200,000+ in Tokyo's 23 wards).

Choosing a location: The ideal location is between both of your workplaces or schools. If one person's workplace is closer, it's fair to factor the difference in commute costs into your shared expenses.

Lease name and approval process: Typically, the lease will be under one person's name. The leaseholder's income and residency status are what the landlord reviews. Some property managers will consider combined income from both applicants, but policies vary. Ask in advance: "Can you approve the lease based on both of our incomes?"

For foreign couples: If both of you are foreign nationals, a guarantor company is often required. Using a guarantor company that specializes in foreign applicants, such as GTN, will make approval easier.

Methods for Dividing Expenses

50/50 Split Method

The simplest approach: divide rent, utilities, food, and other expenses equally. This works well when there's not a large difference in income.

Opening an account (explained below) and having both partners deposit an equal amount each month to cover rent and utilities is the easiest way to manage finances.

Income-Based Splitting Method

For example, if one person earns ¥250,000 per month and the other earns ¥200,000, split expenses in a 5:4 ratio. This method feels fairer when there's a 30% or larger income gap. Since the math can be complex, consider using a shared expense app like Zaim or Moneyforward.

Dividing by Category Method

One person covers rent and utilities while the other handles groceries and daily essentials. It's simple and requires no math, but there's a risk of costs becoming unbalanced. Review expenses regularly to ensure fairness.

How to Set Up Joint Finances

Here's how to set up a bank account for managing shared expenses such as rent, utilities, food, and household goods.

In Japan, you cannot typically open a joint account in both names.

Alternative methods:

1. Open an account with an online bank (such as Rakuten Bank, SBI Sumishin Net Bank, or PayPay Bank) in one person's name and use it as a shared "living expenses account."
2. Both of you transfer a set amount each month, and set the account to automatically pay rent and utility bills.
3. Share account management through an app with couple features (such as Zaim or Moneyforward).

Using bill-splitting apps: For splitting the cost of meals out and travel, payment apps like PayPay, LINE Pay, and Kyash have built-in splitting features, or you can use a dedicated app like Splitwise.

Property Matters When Moving Out

If you decide to stop living together, make these decisions in advance:

1. Who will continue living in the property (usually the person not listed on the lease moves out)
2. How to split costs during the notice period (typically 1–2 months before moving out)
3. How to share the cost of moving and disposing of belongings
4. Where the security deposit will be returned (it goes entirely to the person whose name is on the lease)

If a foreign partner is relocating abroad, they will also need to update their residency status and deregister from their local address records.

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