Tokyo consistently ranks at the top of the list of the most expensive cities in the world to live in. Living right in the heart of the city would be out of the question for most budgets for those used to the size of your typical western home. But, if you're willing to make a few compromises, you can do it. How does about $315 a month sound? Not bad, right? That's well below the price (depending on your locale) of a low-end one-bedroom apartment in middle America.

So what does that get you in Tokyo? In one particular "convenient house," found on Watashi to Tokyo, you get all of these luxuries:

• a futon
• an electrical outlet
• a light
• a towel
• a fire alarm

The only catch is that you have to live in a little box, shown above, left. For about $100 more a month, you can have the "box" in the middle, now with a little cabinet to put your junk in! And, if you're Mr. Big Time, you can live in the classiest box, on the right, for only about $423 a month. This closet home is located right in the heart of Roppongi, where all the action is. For all, bathrooms and living areas are shared with other box dwellers.

You could do this. You've got that kind of money, right? One problem, though: You need to be short. The floor-to-ceiling height measurement is 4.26 feet.