Moving to Kyrgyzstan from Japan

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Japan to Kyrgyzstan, you would find that Kyrgyzstan is 39.0% cheaper than Japan overall. A ¥11,948,175 salary in Japan would need to be roughly KGS4,868,691 in Kyrgyzstan to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Kyrgyz and Russian. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Bishkek averages 90°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 Kyrgyzstan.

What does your salary buy?

¥11,948,175 KGS4,868,691

To maintain the same standard of living in Kyrgyzstan

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 16.9% less

Groceries

pay 54.9% less

Transportation

pay 40.8% less

Housing

pay 51.0% less

Childcare

pay 57.9% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 48.3% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 JPY = 0.5489 KGS (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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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Kyrgyzstan compared to Japan.

Is it safe?

Feel safe walking at night United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

of residents who feel safe walking alone at night

JP
83%
KG
68%
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

JP
2.7
KG
13.3

Japan performs better than Kyrgyzstan across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

JP
$5,365
KG
$349
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

JP
26.1
KG
21.5

Japan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Kyrgyzstan 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
KG
88.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

JP
7.8t
KG
1.5t

Japan generally does better on environment, though Kyrgyzstan 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
KG
5.9
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

JP
36.0%
KG
50.0%

Japan performs better than Kyrgyzstan across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

JP
2.6%
KG
4.0%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

JP
$46,300
KG
$6,400

Japan performs better than Kyrgyzstan across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

JP
84.8 yrs
KG
72.3 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

JP
1.9
KG
25.7

Japan generally does better on family life, though Kyrgyzstan leads in education spending.

Data: 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

Bishkek Rain: 17.8 in/yr (451 mm)
90° / 14°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Tokyo Bishkek
Jan–Mar 53°/37°F (12°/3°C) 73°/-9°F (23°/-22°C)
Apr–Jun 73°/58°F (23°/14°C) 98°/28°F (36°/-2°C)
Jul–Sep 85°/72°F (30°/22°C) 105°/40°F (40°/5°C)
Oct–Dec 63°/49°F (17°/9°C) 83°/-5°F (28°/-21°C)
View all months
Month Tokyo Bishkek
Jan 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.2°C) 67°/-13°F (19.2°/-25.0°C)
Feb 52°/36°F (10.9°/2.1°C) 68°/-10°F (20.2°/-23.2°C)
Mar 58°/41°F (14.2°/5.0°C) 85°/-3°F (29.4°/-19.2°C)
Apr 67°/50°F (19.4°/9.8°C) 91°/18°F (33.0°/-7.5°C)
May 74°/58°F (23.6°/14.6°C) 96°/25°F (35.6°/-4.0°C)
Jun 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.5°C) 106°/40°F (40.9°/4.2°C)
Jul 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C) 109°/50°F (42.8°/9.9°C)
Aug 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C) 105°/39°F (40.5°/3.8°C)
Sep 82°/69°F (27.5°/20.3°C) 100°/32°F (37.9°/0.1°C)
Oct 72°/59°F (22.0°/14.8°C) 94°/12°F (34.2°/-11.2°C)
Nov 62°/48°F (16.7°/8.8°C) 82°/-10°F (27.9°/-23.3°C)
Dec 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.8°C) 72°/-17°F (22.1°/-27.1°C)

Data: Japan Meteorological Agency Japan Meteorological Agency, Kyrgyzhydromet Kyrgyzhydromet

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Japan passport

Japan passport holder visiting Kyrgyzstan

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

Kyrgyzstan passport holder visiting Japan

Visa Required
Kyrgyzstan passport holders need a visa to enter Japan.

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 Kyrgyzstan than Japan?

On average Kyrgyzstan is about 26% less expensive than Japan, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Kyrgyzstan?

Budget about KGS1,217,173 for 3 months in Kyrgyzstan (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 Kyrgyzstan?

Connectivity is usually fine (Kyrgyzstan: 5.9 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Kyrgyzstan offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Kyrgyzstan safe for expats?

Japan performs better than Kyrgyzstan across all safety metrics. About 68% of people in Kyrgyzstan feel safe walking alone at night.

How is healthcare in Kyrgyzstan compared to Japan?

Japan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Kyrgyzstan leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 21.5 doctors per 10,000 people in Kyrgyzstan, compared to 26.1 in Japan. Kyrgyzstan scores 69 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Japan: 83).

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

The average high temperature in Bishkek is 90°F, compared to 69°F in Tokyo. Bishkek receives around 17.8 in of rainfall per year, while Tokyo gets 62.9 in.

What language do they speak in Kyrgyzstan?

The official languages in Kyrgyzstan are Kyrgyz and Russian. In Japan, the official language is Japanese.

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At a Glance

JP KG
Population 124,214,766 6,071,750
Currency Japanese Yen (¥) Kyrgystani Som (KGS)
Languages Japanese Kyrgyz, Russian
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +81 +996
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 110