Moving to Netherlands from Japan
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Japan to Netherlands — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Japan to Netherlands, you would find that Netherlands is 2.2 times more expensive than Japan overall. A ¥12,124,875 salary in Japan would need to be roughly €114,761 in Netherlands to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Dutch. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Amsterdam averages 56°F vs 69°F in Tokyo, making it significantly cooler.
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What to expect for your wallet after moving from Japan to Netherlands.
What does your salary buy?
¥12,124,875 → €114,761
To maintain the same standard of living in Netherlands
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 3.3 times more
Groceries
pay 17.1% more
Transportation
pay 59.8% more
Housing
pay 2.3 times more
Childcare
pay 3.6 times more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 88.6% 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 Netherlands cost about 72% more than cities in Japan.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from Japan to Netherlands, based on official data.
people moved from Japan to Netherlands · OECD (latest data available)
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Japan to Netherlands.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Japan performs better than Netherlands 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
Netherlands 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 Netherlands 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
Netherlands 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
Netherlands 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 Netherlands 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 | Amsterdam |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 53°/37°F (12°/3°C) | 45°/34°F (7°/1°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 73°/58°F (23°/14°C) | 61°/45°F (16°/7°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 85°/72°F (30°/22°C) | 69°/53°F (21°/12°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 63°/49°F (17°/9°C) | 50°/40°F (10°/4°C) |
View all months
| Month | Tokyo | Amsterdam |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.2°C) | 42°/33°F (5.4°/0.5°C) |
| Feb | 52°/36°F (10.9°/2.1°C) | 43°/32°F (6.0°/0.2°C) |
| Mar | 58°/41°F (14.2°/5.0°C) | 49°/36°F (9.2°/2.4°C) |
| Apr | 67°/50°F (19.4°/9.8°C) | 54°/39°F (12.4°/4.0°C) |
| May | 74°/58°F (23.6°/14.6°C) | 63°/46°F (17.1°/7.8°C) |
| Jun | 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.5°C) | 67°/51°F (19.2°/10.4°C) |
| Jul | 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C) | 71°/54°F (21.4°/12.5°C) |
| Aug | 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C) | 71°/54°F (21.8°/12.3°C) |
| Sep | 82°/69°F (27.5°/20.3°C) | 65°/50°F (18.4°/10.2°C) |
| Oct | 72°/59°F (22.0°/14.8°C) | 57°/45°F (14.1°/7.0°C) |
| Nov | 62°/48°F (16.7°/8.8°C) | 49°/39°F (9.2°/3.9°C) |
| Dec | 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.8°C) | 44°/35°F (6.5°/1.9°C) |
Data:
Japan Meteorological Agency,
Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Japan and Netherlands. To live, work, or study long-term in Netherlands, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Netherlands's immigration authority.
Japan passport holder visiting Netherlands
Visa Free
Netherlands 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 Netherlands than Japan?
No — Netherlands is on average about 75% more expensive than Japan. City-level variation matters.
How much money do I need to move to Netherlands?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly €28,690 in Netherlands on a ¥12,124,875 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from Netherlands?
Internet is rarely the blocker — Netherlands has 44.4 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 Netherlands safe for expats?
Japan performs better than Netherlands across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Netherlands is 0.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.2 in Japan.
How is healthcare in Netherlands compared to Japan?
Netherlands generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Japan leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 39.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Netherlands, compared to 26.1 in Japan. Netherlands scores 85 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Japan: 83).
What's the weather like in Netherlands compared to Japan?
The average high temperature in Amsterdam is 56°F, compared to 69°F in Tokyo. Amsterdam receives around 30.7 in of rainfall per year, while Tokyo gets 62.9 in.
What language do they speak in Netherlands?
The official language in Netherlands is Dutch. In Japan, the official language is Japanese.
