Moving to Belgium from Japan
What to Expect
Considering a move from Japan to Belgium? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Japan to Belgium, you would find that Belgium is 79.3% more expensive than Japan overall. A ¥12,124,875 salary in Japan would need to be roughly €99,745 in Belgium to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Dutch, French and German. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Brussels averages 57°F vs 69°F in Tokyo, making it significantly cooler.
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A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Japan and Belgium.
What does your salary buy?
¥12,124,875 → €99,745
To maintain the same standard of living in Belgium
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 3.1 times more
Groceries
pay 9.1% more
Transportation
pay 27.0% more
Housing
pay 76.1% more
Childcare
pay 75.7% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 67.7% more
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 Japan to Belgium.
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Belgium compared to Japan.
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 better than Belgium 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 Belgium leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
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 Belgium 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 Belgium 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
Belgium 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 Belgium 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 | Brussels |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 53°/37°F (12°/3°C) | 45°/34°F (7°/1°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 73°/58°F (23°/14°C) | 63°/47°F (17°/8°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 85°/72°F (30°/22°C) | 70°/54°F (21°/13°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 63°/49°F (17°/9°C) | 50°/40°F (10°/4°C) |
View all months
| Month | Tokyo | Brussels |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.2°C) | 42°/33°F (5.6°/0.7°C) |
| Feb | 52°/36°F (10.9°/2.1°C) | 44°/33°F (6.4°/0.6°C) |
| Mar | 58°/41°F (14.2°/5.0°C) | 50°/37°F (9.9°/2.9°C) |
| Apr | 67°/50°F (19.4°/9.8°C) | 56°/41°F (13.1°/4.8°C) |
| May | 74°/58°F (23.6°/14.6°C) | 64°/48°F (17.7°/8.9°C) |
| Jun | 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.5°C) | 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.5°C) |
| Jul | 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C) | 72°/56°F (22.4°/13.6°C) |
| Aug | 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C) | 72°/56°F (22.5°/13.4°C) |
| Sep | 82°/69°F (27.5°/20.3°C) | 66°/51°F (18.7°/10.8°C) |
| Oct | 72°/59°F (22.0°/14.8°C) | 58°/46°F (14.4°/7.6°C) |
| Nov | 62°/48°F (16.7°/8.8°C) | 48°/39°F (9.1°/3.7°C) |
| Dec | 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.8°C) | 44°/35°F (6.5°/1.9°C) |
Data:
Japan Meteorological Agency,
Institut Royal Météorologique
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Japan and Belgium. To live, work, or study long-term in Belgium, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Belgium's immigration authority.
Japan passport holder visiting Belgium
Visa Free
Belgium passport holder visiting Japan
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 Belgium than Japan?
On average Belgium is around 52% pricier than Japan, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to Belgium?
Budget about €24,936 for 3 months in Belgium (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 Belgium?
Connectivity is usually fine (Belgium: 43.5 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Belgium offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Belgium safe for expats?
Japan performs better than Belgium across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Belgium is 1.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.2 in Japan. About 62% of people in Belgium feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in Belgium compared to Japan?
Japan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Belgium leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 63.9 doctors per 10,000 people in Belgium, compared to 26.1 in Japan. Belgium scores 86 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Japan: 83).
What's the weather like in Belgium compared to Japan?
The average high temperature in Brussels is 57°F, compared to 69°F in Tokyo. Brussels receives around 32.3 in of rainfall per year, while Tokyo gets 62.9 in.
What language do they speak in Belgium?
The official languages in Belgium are Dutch, French and German. In Japan, the official language is Japanese.
