Moving to Brazil from Japan

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Japan to Brazil? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Japan to Brazil, you would find that Brazil is 23.8% cheaper than Japan overall. A ¥11,948,175 salary in Japan would need to be roughly R$265,122 in Brazil to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Portuguese. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Brasilia averages 80°F vs 69°F in Tokyo, making it significantly warmer.

How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Japan and Brazil.

What does your salary buy?

¥11,948,175 R$265,122

To maintain the same standard of living in Brazil

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 1.9% more

Groceries

pay 40.2% less

Transportation

pay 25.9% less

Housing

pay 45.5% less

Childcare

pay 27.2% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 45.0% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 JPY = 0.0317 BRL (June 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.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Japan to Brazil.

Living there in 2020
62,296 ↑ 9% vs 2015

people born in Japan live in Brazil · UN DESA

Who's moving to Brazil?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Brazil compared to Japan.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

JP
0.2
BR
20.6
Feel safe walking at night United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

of residents who feel safe walking alone at night

JP
83%
BR
48%

Japan performs better than Brazil across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

JP
$5,365
BR
$2,070
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

JP
26.1
BR
21.4

Japan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Brazil leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

JP
12.0
BR
23.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

JP
7.8t
BR
2.3t

Japan generally does better on environment, though Brazil leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

JP
37.2
BR
21.0
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

JP
36.0%
BR
1.5%

Japan generally does better on infrastructure, though Brazil leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

JP
2.6%
BR
8.0%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

JP
$46,300
BR
$18,600

Japan generally does better on employment & economy, though Brazil leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

JP
84.8 yrs
BR
75.9 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

JP
1.9
BR
13.3

Japan generally does better on family life, though Brazil 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.

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

Avg. annual high / low

Brasilia Rain: 61.1 in/yr (1552 mm)
80° / 61°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Tokyo Brasilia
Jan–Mar 53°/37°F (12°/3°C) 80°/63°F (27°/17°C)
Apr–Jun 73°/58°F (23°/14°C) 78°/59°F (26°/15°C)
Jul–Sep 85°/72°F (30°/22°C) 80°/58°F (27°/14°C)
Oct–Dec 63°/49°F (17°/9°C) 80°/64°F (27°/17°C)
View all months
Month Tokyo Brasilia
Jan 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.2°C) 80°/63°F (26.9°/17.4°C)
Feb 52°/36°F (10.9°/2.1°C) 80°/63°F (26.7°/17.4°C)
Mar 58°/41°F (14.2°/5.0°C) 81°/64°F (27.1°/17.5°C)
Apr 67°/50°F (19.4°/9.8°C) 80°/62°F (26.6°/16.8°C)
May 74°/58°F (23.6°/14.6°C) 78°/59°F (25.7°/15.0°C)
Jun 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.5°C) 77°/56°F (25.2°/13.3°C)
Jul 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C) 77°/55°F (25.1°/12.9°C)
Aug 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C) 81°/58°F (27.3°/14.6°C)
Sep 82°/69°F (27.5°/20.3°C) 83°/61°F (28.3°/16.0°C)
Oct 72°/59°F (22.0°/14.8°C) 82°/63°F (27.5°/17.4°C)
Nov 62°/48°F (16.7°/8.8°C) 80°/64°F (26.6°/17.5°C)
Dec 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.8°C) 79°/64°F (26.2°/17.5°C)

Data: Japan Meteorological Agency Japan Meteorological Agency, Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Japan and Brazil. To live, work, or study long-term in Brazil, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Brazil's immigration authority.

Japan passport

Japan passport holder visiting Brazil

Visa Free
Japan passport holders can enter Brazil without a visa.
Brazil passport

Brazil passport holder visiting Japan

Visa Free
Brazil passport holders can enter Japan without a visa.

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 Brazil than Japan?

On average Brazil is about 30% less expensive than Japan, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Brazil?

Budget about R$66,280 for 3 months in Brazil (based on a ¥11,948,175 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, rental deposit, visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Brazil?

Connectivity is usually fine (Brazil: 21.0 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Brazil offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Brazil safe for expats?

Japan performs better than Brazil across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Brazil is 20.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.2 in Japan. About 48% of people in Brazil feel safe walking alone at night.

How is healthcare in Brazil compared to Japan?

Japan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Brazil leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 21.4 doctors per 10,000 people in Brazil, compared to 26.1 in Japan. Brazil scores 80 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Japan: 83).

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

The average high temperature in Brasilia is 80°F, compared to 69°F in Tokyo. Brasilia receives around 61.1 in of rainfall per year, while Tokyo gets 62.9 in.

What language do they speak in Brazil?

The official language in Brazil is Portuguese. In Japan, the official language is Japanese.

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At a Glance

JP BR
Population 124,214,766 217,240,060
Currency Japanese Yen (¥) Brazilian Real (R$)
Languages Japanese Portuguese
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +81 +55
Time zones 1 4
Emergency number 110 190