Moving to Japan from Ireland
What to Expect
A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Ireland to Japan — from daily expenses to quality of life.
If you moved from Ireland to Japan, you would find that Japan is 27.5% cheaper than Ireland overall. A €65,700 salary in Ireland would need to be roughly ¥7,008,178 in Japan to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Japanese. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Tokyo averages 69°F vs 56°F in Dublin, making it significantly warmer.
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 Ireland to Japan.
What does your salary buy?
€65,700 → ¥7,008,178
To maintain the same standard of living in Japan
Calculate with your salary →The biggest cost differences at a glance
Restaurants
pay 59.2% less
Groceries
pay 8.9% more
Transportation
pay 31.5% less
Housing
pay 51.4% less
Childcare
pay 7.9% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 36.6% 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 40% less than cities in Ireland.
Compare cities head-to-head
Get free moving quotes to Japan
We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.
- ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
- ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
- ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you
Who Else Is Making This Move?
Real numbers on people moving from Ireland 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
- · · ·
-
34.1,415
Ireland
Key Indicator Comparison
How Ireland and Japan stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
of residents who feel safe walking alone at night
per 100,000 people per year
Japan performs significantly better than Ireland 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
Ireland 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
Ireland 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
Ireland generally does better on infrastructure, though Japan leads in broadband per 100 people.
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
Ireland 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 performs significantly better than Ireland across all family life metrics.
Data: The Office of the Revenue Commissioners, 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 | Dublin | Tokyo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 49°/37°F (10°/3°C) | 53°/37°F (12°/3°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 59°/44°F (15°/7°C) | 73°/58°F (23°/14°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 66°/52°F (19°/11°C) | 85°/72°F (30°/22°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 51°/41°F (11°/5°C) | 63°/49°F (17°/9°C) |
View all months
| Month | Dublin | Tokyo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 47°/36°F (8.1°/2.4°C) | 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.2°C) |
| Feb | 47°/36°F (8.3°/2.3°C) | 52°/36°F (10.9°/2.1°C) |
| Mar | 54°/38°F (12.1°/3.4°C) | 58°/41°F (14.2°/5.0°C) |
| Apr | 54°/40°F (12.1°/4.6°C) | 67°/50°F (19.4°/9.8°C) |
| May | 59°/44°F (14.8°/6.9°C) | 74°/58°F (23.6°/14.6°C) |
| Jun | 64°/49°F (17.6°/9.6°C) | 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.5°C) |
| Jul | 67°/53°F (19.5°/11.7°C) | 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C) |
| Aug | 67°/53°F (19.2°/11.5°C) | 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C) |
| Sep | 63°/50°F (17.0°/9.8°C) | 82°/69°F (27.5°/20.3°C) |
| Oct | 56°/45°F (13.6°/7.3°C) | 72°/59°F (22.0°/14.8°C) |
| Nov | 51°/40°F (10.3°/4.5°C) | 62°/48°F (16.7°/8.8°C) |
| Dec | 47°/37°F (8.3°/2.8°C) | 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.8°C) |
Data:
Met Éireann, The Irish Meteorological Service,
Japan Meteorological Agency
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Ireland 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.
Ireland passport holder visiting Japan
Visa Free
Japan passport holder visiting Ireland
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 Ireland?
Generally yes: Japan runs about 42% cheaper than Ireland on average, though it depends heavily on the city.
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 €65,700 comparable salary, that's around ¥1,752,044 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 Ireland and Japan.
Is Japan safe for expats?
Japan performs significantly better than Ireland across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Japan is 0.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.9 in Ireland. About 83% of people in Japan feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in Japan compared to Ireland?
Ireland 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 40.6 in Ireland. Japan scores 83 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Ireland: 83).
What's the weather like in Japan compared to Ireland?
The average high temperature in Tokyo is 69°F, compared to 56°F in Dublin. Tokyo receives around 62.9 in of rainfall per year, while Dublin gets 29.8 in.
What language do they speak in Japan?
The official language in Japan is Japanese. In Ireland, the official languages are English and Irish.
