Moving to Japan from Cambodia
What to Expect
A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Cambodia to Japan — from daily expenses to quality of life.
If you moved from Cambodia to Japan, you would find that Japan is 83.4% more expensive than Cambodia overall. A KHR300,562,500 salary in Cambodia would need to be roughly ¥12,675,668 in Japan to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Japanese. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Tokyo averages 69°F vs 90°F in Phnom Penh, making it significantly cooler.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
How your spending power changes when you relocate from Cambodia to Japan.
What does your salary buy?
KHR300,562,500 → ¥12,675,668
To maintain the same standard of living in Japan
Calculate with your salary →The biggest cost differences at a glance
Restaurants
pay 31.8% more
Groceries
pay 50.1% more
Transportation
pay 2.6 times more
Housing
pay 64.0% more
Childcare
pay 94.4% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 2.2 times more
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
Real numbers on people moving from Cambodia to Japan, and how the trend has changed.
Who's moving to Japan?
Top countries of origin for Japan's foreign-born residents.
- 775,893
- 456,203
- 335,668
- 275,252
- 204,814
- 58,340
- · · ·
-
23.4,199
Cambodia
Key Indicator Comparison
How Cambodia and Japan stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Japan performs significantly better than Cambodia across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Cambodia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Japan leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Cambodia generally does better on environment, though Japan leads in air pollution deaths.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
Japan generally does better on infrastructure, though Cambodia leads in water stress level.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
share of people below the poverty line
Cambodia generally does better on employment & economy, though Japan leads in gdp per capita.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
Japan performs significantly better than Cambodia across all family life metrics.
Data: General Department of Taxation, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Phnom Penh | Tokyo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 91°/73°F (33°/23°C) | 53°/37°F (12°/3°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 94°/78°F (34°/25°C) | 73°/58°F (23°/14°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 90°/76°F (32°/25°C) | 85°/72°F (30°/22°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 87°/73°F (30°/23°C) | 63°/49°F (17°/9°C) |
View all months
| Month | Phnom Penh | Tokyo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 88°/71°F (31.2°/21.5°C) | 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.2°C) |
| Feb | 91°/72°F (32.7°/22.5°C) | 52°/36°F (10.9°/2.1°C) |
| Mar | 94°/76°F (34.5°/24.2°C) | 58°/41°F (14.2°/5.0°C) |
| Apr | 95°/78°F (34.9°/25.4°C) | 67°/50°F (19.4°/9.8°C) |
| May | 94°/78°F (34.3°/25.4°C) | 74°/58°F (23.6°/14.6°C) |
| Jun | 92°/78°F (33.1°/25.3°C) | 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.5°C) |
| Jul | 90°/76°F (32.4°/24.7°C) | 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C) |
| Aug | 90°/77°F (32.2°/25.0°C) | 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C) |
| Sep | 89°/75°F (31.7°/24.1°C) | 82°/69°F (27.5°/20.3°C) |
| Oct | 87°/75°F (30.8°/23.9°C) | 72°/59°F (22.0°/14.8°C) |
| Nov | 87°/73°F (30.4°/22.8°C) | 62°/48°F (16.7°/8.8°C) |
| Dec | 86°/71°F (30.2°/21.4°C) | 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.8°C) |
Data:
Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology,
Japan Meteorological Agency
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Cambodia and Japan. To live, work, or study long-term in Japan, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Japan's immigration authority.
Cambodia passport holder visiting Japan
Visa Online (e-Visa)
Japan passport holder visiting Cambodia
Visa on ArrivalData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Japan than Cambodia?
Day-to-day costs in Japan run about 5% higher than Cambodia on average; specific cities can swing further.
How much money do I need to move to Japan?
A safe rule of thumb is 3 months of local expenses plus relocation costs. On a KHR300,562,500 comparable salary, that's around ¥3,168,917 in Japan for everyday spending, before flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Japan?
With 37.2 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Japan can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Cambodia and Japan.
Is Japan safe for expats?
Japan performs significantly better than Cambodia across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Japan is 0.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.8 in Cambodia.
How is healthcare in Japan compared to Cambodia?
Cambodia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Japan leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 26.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Japan, compared to 2.1 in Cambodia. Japan scores 83 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Cambodia: 58).
What's the weather like in Japan compared to Cambodia?
The average high temperature in Tokyo is 69°F, compared to 90°F in Phnom Penh. Tokyo receives around 62.9 in of rainfall per year, while Phnom Penh gets 51.8 in.
What language do they speak in Japan?
The official language in Japan is Japanese. In Cambodia, the official language is Khmer.
