Moving to Massachusetts from Japan
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Japan to Massachusetts — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Japan to Massachusetts, you would find that Massachusetts is 2.3 times more expensive than Japan overall. A ¥12,183,450 salary in Japan would need to be roughly $130,275 in Massachusetts to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Boston averages 59°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?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from Japan to Massachusetts.
What does your salary buy?
¥12,183,450 → $130,275
To maintain the same standard of living in Massachusetts
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 2.7 times more
Groceries
pay 39.2% more
Transportation
pay 1.4% more
Housing
pay 3.2 times more
Childcare
pay 4.7 times more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 92.6% 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 Massachusetts cost about 101% more than cities in Japan.
Compare cities head-to-head
Get free moving quotes to Massachusetts
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?
How many people actually move from Japan to Massachusetts, based on official data.
people moved from Japan to United States · OECD (latest data available)
Who's moving to United States?
Top countries of origin for United States's foreign-born residents.
- 10,853,105
- 2,723,764
- 2,184,110
- 2,061,178
- 1,829,251
- 1,410,659
- · · ·
-
29.319,968
Japan
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Japan to Massachusetts.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Japan performs better than Massachusetts across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Massachusetts performs significantly better than Japan across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
share of people below the poverty line
Massachusetts generally does better on employment & economy, though Japan leads in unemployment rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Japan performs better than Massachusetts across all family life metrics.
Data: The World Factbook
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Tokyo | Boston |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 53°/37°F (12°/3°C) | 40°/26°F (4°/-3°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 73°/58°F (23°/14°C) | 66°/50°F (19°/10°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 85°/72°F (30°/22°C) | 78°/62°F (25°/17°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 63°/49°F (17°/9°C) | 51°/38°F (11°/3°C) |
View all months
| Month | Tokyo | Boston |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.2°C) | 36°/22°F (2.1°/-5.4°C) |
| Feb | 52°/36°F (10.9°/2.1°C) | 39°/25°F (3.7°/-4.1°C) |
| Mar | 58°/41°F (14.2°/5.0°C) | 45°/31°F (7.4°/-0.5°C) |
| Apr | 67°/50°F (19.4°/9.8°C) | 56°/41°F (13.1°/4.8°C) |
| May | 74°/58°F (23.6°/14.6°C) | 66°/50°F (18.9°/9.9°C) |
| Jun | 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.5°C) | 76°/60°F (24.4°/15.3°C) |
| Jul | 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C) | 81°/65°F (27.4°/18.6°C) |
| Aug | 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C) | 80°/65°F (26.4°/18.1°C) |
| Sep | 82°/69°F (27.5°/20.3°C) | 72°/57°F (22.4°/14.1°C) |
| Oct | 72°/59°F (22.0°/14.8°C) | 61°/47°F (16.3°/8.1°C) |
| Nov | 62°/48°F (16.7°/8.8°C) | 51°/38°F (10.8°/3.3°C) |
| Dec | 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.8°C) | 41°/28°F (5.1°/-2.1°C) |
Japan Meteorological Agency
National Weather ServiceVisitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Japan and United States. To live, work, or study long-term in United States, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check United States's immigration authority.
Japan passport holder visiting United States
Electronic Travel Authorisation
United States 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 Massachusetts than Japan?
No — Massachusetts is on average about 74% more expensive than Japan. City-level variation matters.
How much money do I need to move to Massachusetts?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly $32,569 in Massachusetts on a ¥12,183,450 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from Massachusetts?
Usually fine from major cities in Massachusetts. The harder questions are legal — digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
How is healthcare in Massachusetts compared to Japan?
Japan performs better than Massachusetts across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Massachusetts compared to Japan?
The average high temperature in Boston is 59°F, compared to 69°F in Tokyo. Boston receives around 43.8 in of rainfall per year, while Tokyo gets 62.9 in.
What language do they speak in Massachusetts?
The official language in Massachusetts is English. In Japan, the official language is Japanese.
