Moving to Japan from Denmark
What to Expect
Considering a move from Denmark to Japan? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Denmark to Japan, you would find that Japan is 33.3% cheaper than Denmark overall. A DKK480,782 salary in Denmark would need to be roughly ¥6,944,917 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 52°F in Copenhagen, making it significantly warmer.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Denmark and Japan.
What does your salary buy?
DKK480,782 → ¥6,944,917
To maintain the same standard of living in Japan
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 70.2% less
Groceries
pay 11.0% less
Transportation
pay 34.0% less
Housing
pay 36.5% less
Childcare
pay 0.8% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 34.9% less
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?
What the data shows about people moving from Denmark to Japan.
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
- · · ·
-
39.712
Denmark
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Japan compared to Denmark.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Denmark generally does better on safety, though Japan leads in homicide rate.
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
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Denmark generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Japan leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Denmark 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
Denmark generally does better on infrastructure, though Japan leads in electricity per capita.
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
Denmark generally does better on employment & economy, though Japan leads in unemployment rate.
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 generally does better on family life, though Denmark leads in education spending.
Data: Danish Central Tax Administration, 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 | Copenhagen | Tokyo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 38°/29°F (3°/-2°C) | 53°/37°F (12°/3°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 58°/44°F (15°/7°C) | 73°/58°F (23°/14°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 66°/53°F (19°/12°C) | 85°/72°F (30°/22°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 46°/37°F (8°/3°C) | 63°/49°F (17°/9°C) |
View all months
| Month | Copenhagen | Tokyo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 36°/28°F (2.0°/-2.0°C) | 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.2°C) |
| Feb | 36°/28°F (2.0°/-2.0°C) | 52°/36°F (10.9°/2.1°C) |
| Mar | 41°/30°F (5.0°/-1.0°C) | 58°/41°F (14.2°/5.0°C) |
| Apr | 50°/36°F (10.0°/2.0°C) | 67°/50°F (19.4°/9.8°C) |
| May | 59°/45°F (15.0°/7.0°C) | 74°/58°F (23.6°/14.6°C) |
| Jun | 66°/52°F (19.0°/11.0°C) | 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.5°C) |
| Jul | 68°/55°F (20.0°/13.0°C) | 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C) |
| Aug | 68°/55°F (20.0°/13.0°C) | 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C) |
| Sep | 63°/50°F (17.0°/10.0°C) | 82°/69°F (27.5°/20.3°C) |
| Oct | 54°/45°F (12.0°/7.0°C) | 72°/59°F (22.0°/14.8°C) |
| Nov | 45°/37°F (7.0°/3.0°C) | 62°/48°F (16.7°/8.8°C) |
| Dec | 39°/30°F (4.0°/-1.0°C) | 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.8°C) |
Data:
Danish Meteorological Institute,
Japan Meteorological Agency
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Denmark 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.
Denmark passport holder visiting Japan
Visa Free
Japan passport holder visiting Denmark
Visa FreeData: 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 Denmark?
On average Japan is about 42% less expensive than Denmark, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Japan?
Budget about ¥1,736,229 for 3 months in Japan (based on a DKK480,782 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, rental deposit, visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Japan?
Connectivity is usually fine (Japan: 37.2 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Japan offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Japan safe for expats?
Denmark generally does better on safety, though Japan leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in Japan is 0.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.0 in Denmark.
How is healthcare in Japan compared to Denmark?
Denmark generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Japan leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 26.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Japan, compared to 43.8 in Denmark. Japan scores 83 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Denmark: 82).
What's the weather like in Japan compared to Denmark?
The average high temperature in Tokyo is 69°F, compared to 52°F in Copenhagen. Tokyo receives around 62.9 in of rainfall per year, while Copenhagen gets 20.7 in.
What language do they speak in Japan?
The official language in Japan is Japanese. In Denmark, the official language is Danish.
