Moving to Japan from Iowa
What to Expect
Considering a move from Iowa to Japan? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Iowa to Japan, you would find that Japan is 23.6% cheaper than Iowa. A $75,000 salary in Iowa would need to be roughly ¥9,712,348 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.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Iowa and Japan.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → ¥9,712,348
To maintain the same standard of living in Japan
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 56.2% less
Groceries
pay 2.5% more
Transportation
pay 36.3% more
Housing
pay 41.7% less
Childcare
pay 52.3% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 31.0% 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.
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 27% less than cities in Iowa.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from Iowa to Japan.
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.
- 775,893
- 456,203
- 335,668
- 275,252
- 204,814
-
6.58,340
United States
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Japan compared to Iowa.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Japan performs significantly better than Iowa across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Iowa performs better than Japan across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
share of people below the poverty line
Iowa generally does better on employment & economy, though Japan leads in unemployment rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Japan performs significantly better than Iowa across all family life metrics.
Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Des Moines | Tokyo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 39°/21°F (4°/-6°C) | 53°/37°F (12°/3°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 72°/52°F (22°/11°C) | 73°/58°F (23°/14°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 82°/62°F (28°/17°C) | 85°/72°F (30°/22°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 48°/31°F (9°/-1°C) | 63°/49°F (17°/9°C) |
View all months
| Month | Des Moines | Tokyo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31°/14°F (-0.6°/-9.8°C) | 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.2°C) |
| Feb | 36°/19°F (2.3°/-7.3°C) | 52°/36°F (10.9°/2.1°C) |
| Mar | 49°/30°F (9.4°/-1.3°C) | 58°/41°F (14.2°/5.0°C) |
| Apr | 62°/41°F (16.8°/5.1°C) | 67°/50°F (19.4°/9.8°C) |
| May | 72°/52°F (22.4°/11.2°C) | 74°/58°F (23.6°/14.6°C) |
| Jun | 82°/62°F (27.6°/16.7°C) | 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.5°C) |
| Jul | 86°/67°F (29.8°/19.3°C) | 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C) |
| Aug | 84°/65°F (28.8°/18.2°C) | 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C) |
| Sep | 76°/55°F (24.5°/12.9°C) | 82°/69°F (27.5°/20.3°C) |
| Oct | 63°/43°F (17.3°/6.1°C) | 72°/59°F (22.0°/14.8°C) |
| Nov | 48°/31°F (8.8°/-0.8°C) | 62°/48°F (16.7°/8.8°C) |
| Dec | 34°/18°F (1.1°/-7.8°C) | 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.8°C) |
National Weather Service
Japan Meteorological AgencyVisitor Visa Requirements
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 holder visiting Japan
Visa Free
Japan passport holder visiting United States
Electronic Travel AuthorisationData: 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 Iowa?
On average Japan is about 20% less expensive than Iowa, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Japan?
Budget about ¥2,428,087 for 3 months in Japan (based on a $75,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Japan?
From major Japan cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in Iowa and Japan are what actually decide it long-term.
How is healthcare in Japan compared to Iowa?
Japan performs significantly better than Iowa across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Japan compared to Iowa?
The average high temperature in Tokyo is 69°F, compared to 60°F in Des Moines. Tokyo receives around 62.9 in of rainfall per year, while Des Moines gets 36.0 in.
What language do they speak in Japan?
The official language in Japan is Japanese. In Iowa, the official language is English.
