Moving to Germany from Japan
What to Expect
Considering a move from Japan to Germany? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Japan to Germany, you would find that Germany is 69.1% more expensive than Japan overall. A ¥12,124,875 salary in Japan would need to be roughly €95,384 in Germany to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in German. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Berlin averages 56°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 ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Japan and Germany.
What does your salary buy?
¥12,124,875 → €95,384
To maintain the same standard of living in Germany
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 2.9 times more
Groceries
pay 10.6% more
Transportation
pay 32.0% more
Housing
pay 79.6% more
Childcare
pay 46.6% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 51.6% 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.
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 Germany cost about 47% more than cities in Japan.
Compare cities head-to-head
Get free moving quotes to Germany
We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.
- ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
- ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
- ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you
Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from Japan to Germany.
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Germany 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 Germany 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
Germany generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Japan 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 Germany 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
Germany 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
Germany 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 Germany 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 | Berlin |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 53°/37°F (12°/3°C) | 41°/31°F (5°/-1°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 73°/58°F (23°/14°C) | 64°/47°F (18°/8°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 85°/72°F (30°/22°C) | 72°/55°F (22°/13°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 63°/49°F (17°/9°C) | 47°/37°F (8°/3°C) |
View all months
| Month | Tokyo | Berlin |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.2°C) | 37°/29°F (2.9°/-1.9°C) |
| Feb | 52°/36°F (10.9°/2.1°C) | 40°/29°F (4.2°/-1.5°C) |
| Mar | 58°/41°F (14.2°/5.0°C) | 47°/34°F (8.5°/1.3°C) |
| Apr | 67°/50°F (19.4°/9.8°C) | 56°/40°F (13.2°/4.2°C) |
| May | 74°/58°F (23.6°/14.6°C) | 66°/48°F (18.9°/9.0°C) |
| Jun | 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.5°C) | 71°/54°F (21.6°/12.3°C) |
| Jul | 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C) | 75°/58°F (23.7°/14.3°C) |
| Aug | 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C) | 74°/57°F (23.6°/14.1°C) |
| Sep | 82°/69°F (27.5°/20.3°C) | 66°/51°F (18.8°/10.6°C) |
| Oct | 72°/59°F (22.0°/14.8°C) | 56°/44°F (13.4°/6.4°C) |
| Nov | 62°/48°F (16.7°/8.8°C) | 45°/36°F (7.1°/2.2°C) |
| Dec | 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.8°C) | 40°/31°F (4.4°/-0.4°C) |
Japan Meteorological Agency
Deutscher WetterdienstVisitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Japan and Germany. To live, work, or study long-term in Germany, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Germany's immigration authority.
Japan passport holder visiting Germany
Visa Free
Germany 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 Germany than Japan?
On average Germany is around 45% pricier than Japan, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to Germany?
Budget about €23,846 for 3 months in Germany (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 Germany?
Connectivity is usually fine (Germany: 45.0 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Germany offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Germany safe for expats?
Japan performs better than Germany across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Germany is 0.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.2 in Japan. About 72% of people in Germany feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in Germany compared to Japan?
Germany generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Japan leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 45.2 doctors per 10,000 people in Germany, compared to 26.1 in Japan. Germany scores 88 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Japan: 83).
What's the weather like in Germany compared to Japan?
The average high temperature in Berlin is 56°F, compared to 69°F in Tokyo. Berlin receives around 22.5 in of rainfall per year, while Tokyo gets 62.9 in.
What language do they speak in Germany?
The official language in Germany is German. In Japan, the official language is Japanese.
