Moving to Denmark from Japan
What to Expect
Considering a move from Japan to Denmark? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Japan to Denmark, you would find that Denmark is 75.8% more expensive than Japan overall. A ¥12,000,000 salary in Japan would need to be roughly DKK888,000 in Denmark to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Danish. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Copenhagen averages 52°F vs 69°F in Tokyo, making it significantly cooler.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓Is Denmark cheaper than Japan?
How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 3.0 times more
Groceries
pay 24.7% more
Transportation
pay 81.9% more
Housing
pay 96.4% more
Childcare
pay 11.8% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 68.1% 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.
What salary do you need in Denmark?
What does your salary buy?
¥12,000,000 → DKK888,000
To maintain the same standard of living in Denmark
Calculate with your salary →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 Denmark cost about 78% more than cities in Japan.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from Japan to Denmark.
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Denmark compared to Japan.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Japan generally does better on safety, though Denmark leads in road traffic deaths.
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 Denmark 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 Denmark 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
Denmark generally does better on infrastructure, though Japan leads in electricity per capita.
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
Denmark 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 Denmark leads in education spending.
Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), National Tax Agency Japan (2016), Danish Central Tax Administration (2017), The World Factbook (2013). How we calculate this
Weather in Denmark vs Japan
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Tokyo | Copenhagen |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 53°/37°F (12°/3°C) | 38°/29°F (3°/-2°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 73°/58°F (23°/14°C) | 58°/44°F (15°/7°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 85°/72°F (30°/22°C) | 66°/53°F (19°/12°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 63°/49°F (17°/9°C) | 46°/37°F (8°/3°C) |
View all months
| Month | Tokyo | Copenhagen |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.2°C) | 36°/28°F (2.0°/-2.0°C) |
| Feb | 52°/36°F (10.9°/2.1°C) | 36°/28°F (2.0°/-2.0°C) |
| Mar | 58°/41°F (14.2°/5.0°C) | 41°/30°F (5.0°/-1.0°C) |
| Apr | 67°/50°F (19.4°/9.8°C) | 50°/36°F (10.0°/2.0°C) |
| May | 74°/58°F (23.6°/14.6°C) | 59°/45°F (15.0°/7.0°C) |
| Jun | 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.5°C) | 66°/52°F (19.0°/11.0°C) |
| Jul | 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C) | 68°/55°F (20.0°/13.0°C) |
| Aug | 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C) | 68°/55°F (20.0°/13.0°C) |
| Sep | 82°/69°F (27.5°/20.3°C) | 63°/50°F (17.0°/10.0°C) |
| Oct | 72°/59°F (22.0°/14.8°C) | 54°/45°F (12.0°/7.0°C) |
| Nov | 62°/48°F (16.7°/8.8°C) | 45°/37°F (7.0°/3.0°C) |
| Dec | 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.8°C) | 39°/30°F (4.0°/-1.0°C) |
Data:
Japan Meteorological Agency,
Danish Meteorological Institute
Can you move from Japan to Denmark?
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Japan and Denmark. To live, work, or study long-term in Denmark, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Denmark's immigration authority.
Japan passport holder visiting Denmark
Visa Free
Denmark 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 Denmark than Japan?
On average Denmark is around 76% pricier than Japan, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to Denmark?
Budget about DKK222,000 for 3 months in Denmark (based on a ¥12,000,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Denmark?
Connectivity is usually fine (Denmark: 43.4 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Denmark offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Denmark safe for expats?
Japan generally does better on safety, though Denmark leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Denmark is 0.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.2 in Japan.
How is healthcare in Denmark compared to Japan?
Japan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Denmark leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 45.0 doctors per 10,000 people in Denmark, compared to 26.5 in Japan. Denmark scores 82 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Japan: 83).
What's the weather like in Denmark compared to Japan?
The average high temperature in Copenhagen is 52°F, compared to 69°F in Tokyo. Copenhagen receives around 20.7 in of rainfall per year, while Tokyo gets 62.9 in.
What language do they speak in Denmark?
The official language in Denmark is Danish. In Japan, the official language is Japanese.
