Moving to Nepal from Japan
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Japan to Nepal — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Japan to Nepal, you would find that Nepal is 56.4% cheaper than Japan overall. A ¥12,183,450 salary in Japan would need to be roughly NPR5,968,197 in Nepal to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Nepali.
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 Nepal.
What does your salary buy?
¥12,183,450 → NPR5,968,197
To maintain the same standard of living in Nepal
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 47.6% less
Groceries
pay 61.8% less
Transportation
pay 27.7% less
Housing
pay 82.7% less
Childcare
pay 82.0% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 50.4% less
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
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Japan to Nepal.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Japan performs better than Nepal 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
Nepal generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Japan 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 Nepal 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
Japan generally does better on infrastructure, though Nepal leads in water stress level.
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
Japan performs better than Nepal across all employment & economy metrics.
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 Nepal 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.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Tokyo | Kathmandu |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 53°/37°F (12°/3°C) | 69°/40°F (21°/4°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 73°/58°F (23°/14°C) | 82°/59°F (28°/15°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 85°/72°F (30°/22°C) | 82°/67°F (28°/19°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 63°/49°F (17°/9°C) | 73°/46°F (23°/8°C) |
View all months
| Month | Tokyo | Kathmandu |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.2°C) | 64°/36°F (18.0°/2.1°C) |
| Feb | 52°/36°F (10.9°/2.1°C) | 68°/39°F (20.2°/3.8°C) |
| Mar | 58°/41°F (14.2°/5.0°C) | 76°/46°F (24.3°/7.5°C) |
| Apr | 67°/50°F (19.4°/9.8°C) | 81°/52°F (27.4°/11.3°C) |
| May | 74°/58°F (23.6°/14.6°C) | 83°/60°F (28.2°/15.5°C) |
| Jun | 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.5°C) | 83°/66°F (28.3°/19.0°C) |
| Jul | 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C) | 82°/68°F (27.7°/20.0°C) |
| Aug | 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C) | 82°/67°F (28.0°/19.7°C) |
| Sep | 82°/69°F (27.5°/20.3°C) | 81°/65°F (27.2°/18.2°C) |
| Oct | 72°/59°F (22.0°/14.8°C) | 78°/55°F (25.8°/13.0°C) |
| Nov | 62°/48°F (16.7°/8.8°C) | 73°/45°F (22.7°/7.4°C) |
| Dec | 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.8°C) | 67°/37°F (19.4°/3.0°C) |
Data:
Japan Meteorological Agency,
Department of Hydrology and meteorology
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Japan and Nepal. To live, work, or study long-term in Nepal, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Nepal's immigration authority.
Japan passport holder visiting Nepal
Visa on Arrival
Nepal passport holder visiting Japan
Visa RequiredData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Nepal than Japan?
Yes — Nepal is on average about 48% cheaper than Japan. City-level variation can be significant.
How much money do I need to move to Nepal?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly NPR1,492,049 in Nepal 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 Nepal?
Internet is rarely the blocker — Nepal has 4.7 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
Is Nepal safe for expats?
Japan performs better than Nepal across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Nepal is 2.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.2 in Japan.
How is healthcare in Nepal compared to Japan?
Nepal generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Japan leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 8.7 doctors per 10,000 people in Nepal, compared to 26.1 in Japan. Nepal scores 54 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Japan: 83).
What's the weather like in Nepal compared to Japan?
The average high temperature in Kathmandu is 77°F, compared to 69°F in Tokyo. Kathmandu receives around 56.1 in of rainfall per year, while Tokyo gets 62.9 in.
What language do they speak in Nepal?
The official language in Nepal is Nepali. In Japan, the official language is Japanese.
