Scheduled monthly wages for workers aged 20–24 are highest in Tokyo at ¥266,200 and lowest in Gunma at ¥239,900, a difference of ¥26,300. Earlier take-home-pay and rent estimates were removed because their sources were not consistent. Instead, this article focuses on how to compare work opportunities and fixed costs by region.
Scheduled monthly wages for ages 20–24 across the 7 Kanto prefectures (2023, men and women combined)
| Rank | Prefecture | Scheduled monthly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tokyo | ¥266,200 |
| 2 | Kanagawa | ¥258,000 |
| 3 | Saitama | ¥255,900 |
| 4 | Chiba | ¥250,900 |
| 5 | Ibaraki | ¥243,000 |
| 6 | Tochigi | ¥241,300 |
| 7 | Gunma | ¥239,900 |
The earlier article estimated take-home pay at roughly 80% of gross pay after taxes and social insurance. That estimate is not used as a ranking basis here.
The earlier rent notes referred to approximate 2023 market levels for a 1K apartment within a 10-minute walk of a station; those figures are not used for direct comparison here.
The regional wage gap for younger workers is ¥26,300 per month; take-home differences require separate calculation
The order is Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Ibaraki, Tochigi, and Gunma. Tokyo is ¥8,200 above Kanagawa, Saitama is ¥5,000 above Chiba, and the three northern Kanto prefectures are within ¥3,100 of one another.
Scheduled monthly wages exclude bonuses and overtime and are not take-home pay. To compare the amount left after rent, taxes, social insurance, and commuting, those items would need to be aligned under the same housing and employment conditions.
Headquarters jobs in Tokyo, technical jobs in Kanagawa and northern Kanto, and commuting options in suburban prefectures
Tokyo is strong in finance, trading companies, IT, and foreign firms. Kanagawa has R&D employment in Yokohama, Kawasaki, and Atsugi. Tochigi has major manufacturing operations linked to Honda, Nissan, and Canon; Ibaraki has Tsukuba, Hitachi, and Kashima; and Gunma has industries associated with SUBARU. Saitama and Chiba offer combinations of commuting to Tokyo and local manufacturing, logistics, and commercial jobs.
Differences of around ¥20,000 to ¥30,000 in prefectural average wages can be outweighed by job-specific conditions such as housing allowances, company housing, whether a car is necessary, and whether transfers are required.
How to read these figures
Scheduled monthly wages exclude bonuses and overtime pay. The table alone also does not show differences in industry mix, company-size mix, or occupation mix.
The article is organized primarily around published statistical figures. Numerical values directly observable in the statistical tables should be distinguished from interpretations of background factors.
Summary: In your 20s, choose a job location by occupation and fixed costs, not the prefectural average alone
Tokyo ranks first on wages, but actual financial room for workers in their 20s can change once housing support, rent, car costs, and commuting are considered. Rather than recommending a prefecture based on unsupported rent tables, compare the actual terms of specific job offers.
- Tokyo ranks first at ¥266,200
- Kanagawa: ¥258,000
- Tokyo-Gunma gap: ¥26,300
- Prioritize occupation, employer, and housing support over the prefecture name alone
Source: Published statistics listed in the Analysis notes at the end of this article
📊 Analysis notes
This article is based on the following statistical data.
- Statistics used: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Basic Survey on Wage Structure (Table ID: 0003426933, view on e-Stat)
- Area: Kanto region
- Data retrieved: June 6, 2026
- Notes: The article is organized primarily around figures from published statistics. Because industry mix, company-size mix, occupation mix, and other factors outside the article also matter, numerical values directly observable in the statistical tables should be distinguished from interpretation.
Chart and table values have been independently aggregated and visualized from the statistical data above.
Table values have been organized from the statistical data above.