Moving to Belarus from Japan
What to Expect
Considering a move from Japan to Belarus? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Japan to Belarus, you would find that Belarus is 35.1% cheaper than Japan overall. A ¥12,124,875 salary in Japan would need to be roughly BYN136,704 in Belarus to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Belarusian and Russian. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Minsk averages 50°F vs 69°F in Tokyo, making it significantly cooler.
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A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Japan and Belarus.
What does your salary buy?
¥12,124,875 → BYN136,704
To maintain the same standard of living in Belarus
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 17.8% less
Groceries
pay 56.9% less
Transportation
pay 54.6% less
Housing
pay 56.3% less
Childcare
pay 22.6% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 58.6% 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.
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Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Belarus compared to Japan.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Japan performs better than Belarus 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
Japan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Belarus 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
Japan generally does better on environment, though Belarus leads in co₂ emissions per capita.
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 Belarus 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
Japan generally does better on employment & economy, though Belarus leads in top income tax 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 Belarus leads in education spending.
Data: National Tax Agency Japan, 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 | Tokyo | Minsk |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 53°/37°F (12°/3°C) | 29°/18°F (-1°/-8°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 73°/58°F (23°/14°C) | 62°/44°F (17°/7°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 85°/72°F (30°/22°C) | 68°/51°F (20°/11°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 63°/49°F (17°/9°C) | 39°/30°F (4°/-1°C) |
View all months
| Month | Tokyo | Minsk |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.2°C) | 24°/14°F (-4.2°/-9.8°C) |
| Feb | 52°/36°F (10.9°/2.1°C) | 28°/16°F (-2.5°/-8.9°C) |
| Mar | 58°/41°F (14.2°/5.0°C) | 36°/23°F (2.4°/-4.8°C) |
| Apr | 67°/50°F (19.4°/9.8°C) | 52°/35°F (10.9°/1.8°C) |
| May | 74°/58°F (23.6°/14.6°C) | 65°/46°F (18.4°/7.6°C) |
| Jun | 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.5°C) | 70°/52°F (21.3°/11.1°C) |
| Jul | 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C) | 72°/55°F (22.3°/12.6°C) |
| Aug | 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C) | 71°/53°F (21.7°/11.7°C) |
| Sep | 82°/69°F (27.5°/20.3°C) | 62°/46°F (16.5°/7.8°C) |
| Oct | 72°/59°F (22.0°/14.8°C) | 50°/38°F (9.9°/3.3°C) |
| Nov | 62°/48°F (16.7°/8.8°C) | 38°/30°F (3.1°/-1.3°C) |
| Dec | 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.8°C) | 29°/21°F (-1.5°/-6.2°C) |
Data:
Japan Meteorological Agency,
Republican center for hydrometeorology, control of radioactive contamination and enviromental monitoring
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Japan and Belarus. To live, work, or study long-term in Belarus, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Belarus's immigration authority.
Japan passport holder visiting Belarus
Visa Free
Belarus passport holder visiting Japan
Visa RequiredData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Belarus than Japan?
On average Belarus is about 36% less expensive than Japan, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Belarus?
Budget about BYN34,176 for 3 months in Belarus (based on a ¥12,124,875 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Belarus?
Connectivity is usually fine (Belarus: 32.8 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Belarus offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Belarus safe for expats?
Japan performs better than Belarus across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Belarus is 2.3 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.2 in Japan.
How is healthcare in Belarus compared to Japan?
Japan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Belarus leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 44.7 doctors per 10,000 people in Belarus, compared to 26.1 in Japan. Belarus scores 79 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Japan: 83).
What's the weather like in Belarus compared to Japan?
The average high temperature in Minsk is 50°F, compared to 69°F in Tokyo. Minsk receives around 26.7 in of rainfall per year, while Tokyo gets 62.9 in.
What language do they speak in Belarus?
The official languages in Belarus are Belarusian and Russian. In Japan, the official language is Japanese.
