Moving to Finland from Japan
What to Expect
Considering a move from Japan to Finland? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Japan to Finland, you would find that Finland is 52.1% more expensive than Japan overall. A ¥11,948,175 salary in Japan would need to be roughly €88,124 in Finland to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Finnish and Swedish. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Helsinki averages 48°F vs 69°F in Tokyo, making it significantly cooler.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Japan and Finland.
What does your salary buy?
¥11,948,175 → €88,124
To maintain the same standard of living in Finland
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 2.5 times more
Groceries
pay 0.5% more
Transportation
pay 33.7% more
Housing
pay 24.0% more
Childcare
pay 1.8% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 97.0% 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 Finland.
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Finland 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 generally does better on safety, though Finland leads in feel safe walking at night.
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
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Japan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Finland 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
Finland performs significantly better than Japan across all environment metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
Finland 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
Finland 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 Finland 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 | Helsinki |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 53°/37°F (12°/3°C) | 29°/18°F (-1°/-8°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 73°/58°F (23°/14°C) | 58°/40°F (14°/4°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 85°/72°F (30°/22°C) | 65°/49°F (19°/10°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 63°/49°F (17°/9°C) | 38°/28°F (3°/-2°C) |
View all months
| Month | Tokyo | Helsinki |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.2°C) | 27°/17°F (-2.6°/-8.5°C) |
| Feb | 52°/36°F (10.9°/2.1°C) | 27°/15°F (-2.9°/-9.3°C) |
| Mar | 58°/41°F (14.2°/5.0°C) | 34°/22°F (1.1°/-5.6°C) |
| Apr | 67°/50°F (19.4°/9.8°C) | 46°/31°F (7.5°/-0.7°C) |
| May | 74°/58°F (23.6°/14.6°C) | 60°/40°F (15.5°/4.4°C) |
| Jun | 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.5°C) | 68°/49°F (19.8°/9.3°C) |
| Jul | 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C) | 71°/53°F (21.8°/11.8°C) |
| Aug | 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C) | 68°/51°F (19.9°/10.7°C) |
| Sep | 82°/69°F (27.5°/20.3°C) | 57°/43°F (14.0°/6.1°C) |
| Oct | 72°/59°F (22.0°/14.8°C) | 47°/36°F (8.1°/2.2°C) |
| Nov | 62°/48°F (16.7°/8.8°C) | 36°/28°F (2.5°/-2.4°C) |
| Dec | 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.8°C) | 31°/20°F (-0.8°/-6.6°C) |
Data:
Japan Meteorological Agency,
Finnish Meteorological Institute
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Japan and Finland. To live, work, or study long-term in Finland, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Finland's immigration authority.
Japan passport holder visiting Finland
Visa Free
Finland 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 Finland than Japan?
On average Finland is around 37% pricier than Japan, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to Finland?
Budget about €22,031 for 3 months in Finland (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 Finland?
Connectivity is usually fine (Finland: 34.5 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Finland offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Finland safe for expats?
Japan generally does better on safety, though Finland leads in feel safe walking at night. The homicide rate in Finland is 1.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.2 in Japan. About 86% of people in Finland feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in Finland compared to Japan?
Japan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Finland leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 43.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Finland, compared to 26.1 in Japan. Finland scores 86 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Japan: 83).
What's the weather like in Finland compared to Japan?
The average high temperature in Helsinki is 48°F, compared to 69°F in Tokyo. Helsinki receives around 25.6 in of rainfall per year, while Tokyo gets 62.9 in.
What language do they speak in Finland?
The official languages in Finland are Finnish and Swedish. In Japan, the official language is Japanese.
