Translation guide
In Japanese, 'living expenses' is most commonly expressed as 生活費 (seikatsuhi). This is the standard, neutral term. Other expressions exist for specific contexts, such as daily costs or household budgets.
The overall cost of maintaining one's lifestyle, including food, housing, utilities, etc.
The standard, all-purpose term for 'living expenses'. Used in both spoken and written Japanese.
毎月の生活費はいくらですか？
How much are your monthly living expenses?
生活費を節約する方法を教えてください。
Please tell me how to save on living expenses.
A more formal or statistical term for 'cost of living' or 'livelihood expenses'. Often used in economic reports.
この地域の生計費は全国平均より高い。
The cost of living in this area is higher than the national average.
Expenses incurred on a day-to-day basis, such as food, transportation, and small purchases.
Literally 'daily living expenses'. Emphasizes the recurring, everyday nature of the costs.
日々の生活費を記録しています。
I keep track of my daily living expenses.
Specifically 'food expenses'. Often discussed as a major component of living expenses.
生活費の中で食費が一番かかります。
Food expenses account for the largest part of my living expenses.
The overall financial plan for a household, covering all necessary expenditures.
Refers to 'household finances' or 'family budget'. Commonly used when discussing managing money at home.
家計を助けるためにパートを始めた。
I started a part-time job to help with the household expenses.
家計簿をつけるのは大変だ。
Keeping a household account book is tough.
Means 'making ends meet' or 'managing the household budget'. Implies careful financial planning.
母は家計のやりくりが上手だ。
My mother is good at managing the household budget.
The amount of money needed to sustain a certain standard of living, often used in comparisons between places or times.
A direct loan from English, 'living cost'. Common in business or casual conversation about expenses.
東京は生活コストが高い。
Tokyo has a high cost of living.
Means 'prices' or 'cost of goods'. Often used in the phrase 物価が高い (prices are high) to imply high living expenses.
この町は物価が安いので生活しやすい。
This town has a low cost of living, so it's easy to live here.
生活費 refers to the actual expenses themselves, while 家計 refers to the household budget or financial situation as a whole. You can say 生活費がかかる (living expenses are high), but 家計が苦しい (the household budget is tight).