WIA, like Flyjin I pay around $1k/month for a small place that is centrally located. The cool thing about Tokyo is you can live pretty much anywhere you want, if you are cool with a small place that is! Forget about trying that in London or NYC. Also cost me $5k to move in - the initial costs are the main cockblock in Tokyo if you want a "real" apartment.
Those cheaper places for foreigners are OK for a few months but they get old very quickly. I'm not a fan of dorm-style living anymore where you have to share a bathroom and kitchen. Plus, they are mostly in old buildings that will be precarious indeed when the Big Kanto Earthquake hits. Sometimes it is worth paying a bit more for peace of mind.
Those cheaper places for foreigners are OK for a few months but they get old very quickly. I'm not a fan of dorm-style living anymore where you have to share a bathroom and kitchen. Plus, they are mostly in old buildings that will be precarious indeed when the Big Kanto Earthquake hits. Sometimes it is worth paying a bit more for peace of mind.
PM me for accommodation options in Bangkok.