Moving to Japan from Florida

moving to

What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Florida to Japan — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Florida to Japan, you would find that Japan is 48.2% cheaper than Florida. A $75,000 salary in Florida would need to be roughly ¥6,130,000 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 78°F in Jacksonville, making it significantly cooler.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

Is Japan cheaper than Florida?

Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day

Restaurants

pay 63.6% less

Groceries

pay 20.6% less

Transportation

pay 6.9% less

Housing

pay 68.8% less

Childcare

pay 56.8% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 29.6% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 157.58 JPY (November 2026)

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

What salary do you need in Japan?

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 → ¥6,130,000

To maintain the same standard of living in Japan

Calculate with your salary →

Cost of living by city

Cost of living varies a lot by city. Each figure is a city's overall cost of living as a percentage of New York City (the priciest, = 100%).

On average, cities in Japan cost about 50% less than cities in Florida.

Japan

Tokyo ★ 43%
Chiba 40%
Kobe 38%
Saitama 36%
Hiroshima 30%

Compare cities head-to-head

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Florida to Japan, based on official data.

Moved in 2023
19,684 ↑ 12% vs 2022

people moved from United States to Japan · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to Japan?

Top countries of origin for Japan's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Florida to Japan.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2024

share of adults with obesity

FL
32.6%
JP
5.9%

Japan performs significantly better than Florida across all health & wellbeing metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2024

share of households with internet

FL
90.4%
JP
85.5%

Florida performs better than Japan across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

FL
4.4%
JP
2.5%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

FL
$57,636
JP
$35,951

Florida generally does better on employment & economy, though Japan leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2024

average years of life at birth

FL
77.5 yrs
JP
84.0 yrs

Japan performs significantly better than Florida across all family life metrics.

Weather in Japan vs Florida

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Jacksonville Rain: 51.7 in/yr (1312 mm)
78° / 59°F

Avg. annual high / low

Tokyo Rain: 62.9 in/yr (1598 mm)
69° / 54°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Jacksonville Tokyo
Jan–Mar 68°/47°F (20°/8°C) 53°/37°F (12°/3°C)
Apr–Jun 83°/64°F (28°/18°C) 73°/58°F (23°/14°C)
Jul–Sep 88°/73°F (31°/22°C) 85°/72°F (30°/22°C)
Oct–Dec 73°/54°F (23°/12°C) 63°/49°F (17°/9°C)
View all months
Month Jacksonville Tokyo
Jan 64°/44°F (18.0°/6.6°C) 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.2°C)
Feb 67°/46°F (19.5°/7.9°C) 52°/36°F (10.9°/2.1°C)
Mar 72°/52°F (22.4°/10.9°C) 58°/41°F (14.2°/5.0°C)
Apr 78°/56°F (25.4°/13.6°C) 67°/50°F (19.4°/9.8°C)
May 84°/64°F (28.9°/17.7°C) 74°/58°F (23.6°/14.6°C)
Jun 88°/71°F (31.2°/21.7°C) 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.5°C)
Jul 90°/73°F (32.4°/22.7°C) 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C)
Aug 89°/74°F (31.9°/23.1°C) 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C)
Sep 86°/71°F (30.1°/21.6°C) 82°/69°F (27.5°/20.3°C)
Oct 80°/63°F (26.4°/17.1°C) 72°/59°F (22.0°/14.8°C)
Nov 73°/53°F (22.9°/11.8°C) 62°/48°F (16.7°/8.8°C)
Dec 66°/46°F (19.0°/7.9°C) 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.8°C)

Data: National Weather Service National Weather Service, Japan Meteorological Agency Japan Meteorological Agency

Can you move from Florida to Japan?

Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States 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.

United States passport

United States passport holder visiting Japan

Visa Free
United States passport holders can enter Japan without a visa.
Japan passport

Japan passport holder visiting United States

Electronic Travel Authorisation
Japan passport holders need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter United States.

Data: 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 Florida?

Yes — Japan is on average about 48% cheaper than Florida. City-level variation can be significant.

How much money do I need to move to Japan?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly ¥1,532,500 in Japan on a $75,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Japan?

Usually fine from major cities in Japan. The harder questions are legal — digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

How is healthcare in Japan compared to Florida?

Japan performs significantly better than Florida across all health & wellbeing metrics.

What's the weather like in Japan compared to Florida?

The average high temperature in Tokyo is 69°F, compared to 78°F in Jacksonville. Tokyo receives around 62.9 in of rainfall per year, while Jacksonville gets 51.7 in.

What language do they speak in Japan?

The official language in Japan is Japanese. In Florida, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

JP
Population 23,462,518 123,366,734
Currency United States Dollar ($) Japanese Yen (¥)
Languages English Japanese
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +1 +81
Time zones 11 1
Emergency number 911 110