(Quick summary: $1,080 to $2,430 may be needed for the apartment)
In Japan, getting an apartment entails additional fees and cost such as, Key Money, Guarantors fee, Security deposit, Brokerage fee, Key exchange fee, and insurance fee, all upfront.
I am on the search for a simple apartment with one extra room that is either close to the train station or in a 20 minute walking range from my job.
As an added roadblock, a lot of apartment listings are actually not for foreigners because these landlords want someone who will stay forever, they don't trust foreigners, or they don't want to do the additional paperwork required to accept a foreigner. So my list of apartments is slightly limited. I am not worried.
Current apartment estimation for Yokohama (The city I will be working in) for a 2+bedroom Kitchen and living room:
Rent: $500 to $780
Key Money: $0 to $650*
Security Deposit: $80 to $350*
Brokerage fee: $100
Guarantor fee: 50% of rent *
Insurance: $50
Key Exchange fee: $100 to $200
Highest estimated total: $2,430 ;
Lowest estimated total: $1,080
Praying for lower. Some fees can be avoided if my realtor's skills sweet talk landlord's out of charging them. Those fees are: Key Money, Security deposit, and or Guarantor's fees.