Moving to Nigeria from Japan
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Japan to Nigeria — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Japan to Nigeria, you would find that Nigeria is 44.2% cheaper than Japan overall. A ¥12,000,000 salary in Japan would need to be roughly NGN56,200,000 in Nigeria 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 — Abuja averages 91°F vs 69°F in Tokyo, making it significantly warmer.
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 Nigeria.
What does your salary buy?
¥12,000,000 → NGN56,200,000
To maintain the same standard of living in Nigeria
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 50.9% less
Groceries
pay 44.0% less
Transportation
pay 46.8% less
Housing
pay 32.0% less
Childcare
pay 56.4% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 60.6% 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.
Get free moving quotes to Nigeria
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
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Japan to Nigeria.
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 Nigeria 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
Japan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Nigeria 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 Nigeria 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 Nigeria 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
the highest marginal rate on personal income
share of people below the poverty line
Japan generally does better on employment & economy, though Nigeria leads in top income tax 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 performs better than Nigeria across all family life metrics.
Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), National Tax Agency Japan (2016), Federal Inland Revenue Service, Nigeria (2016), The World Factbook (2013). How we calculate this
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Tokyo | Abuja |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 53°/37°F (12°/3°C) | 97°/74°F (36°/23°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 73°/58°F (23°/14°C) | 91°/69°F (33°/21°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 85°/72°F (30°/22°C) | 85°/66°F (29°/19°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 63°/49°F (17°/9°C) | 93°/64°F (34°/18°C) |
View all months
| Month | Tokyo | Abuja |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.2°C) | 94°/69°F (34.7°/20.4°C) |
| Feb | 52°/36°F (10.9°/2.1°C) | 98°/78°F (36.8°/25.5°C) |
| Mar | 58°/41°F (14.2°/5.0°C) | 98°/76°F (36.9°/24.3°C) |
| Apr | 67°/50°F (19.4°/9.8°C) | 96°/76°F (35.6°/24.7°C) |
| May | 74°/58°F (23.6°/14.6°C) | 91°/67°F (32.7°/19.5°C) |
| Jun | 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.5°C) | 87°/65°F (30.6°/18.3°C) |
| Jul | 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C) | 84°/71°F (29.1°/21.9°C) |
| Aug | 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C) | 84°/64°F (28.9°/17.7°C) |
| Sep | 82°/69°F (27.5°/20.3°C) | 86°/64°F (30.0°/17.5°C) |
| Oct | 72°/59°F (22.0°/14.8°C) | 90°/71°F (32.0°/21.4°C) |
| Nov | 62°/48°F (16.7°/8.8°C) | 94°/60°F (34.4°/15.7°C) |
| Dec | 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.8°C) | 94°/60°F (34.6°/15.5°C) |
Data:
Japan Meteorological Agency,
Nigerian Meteorological Agency
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Japan and Nigeria. To live, work, or study long-term in Nigeria, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Nigeria's immigration authority.
Japan passport holder visiting Nigeria
Visa Online (e-Visa)
Nigeria 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 Nigeria than Japan?
Yes — Nigeria is on average about 44% cheaper than Japan. City-level variation can be significant.
How much money do I need to move to Nigeria?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly NGN14,050,000 in Nigeria on a ¥12,000,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from Nigeria?
Internet is rarely the blocker — Nigeria has 0.1 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 Nigeria safe for expats?
Japan performs better than Nigeria across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Nigeria is 15.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.2 in Japan. About 79% of people in Nigeria feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in Nigeria compared to Japan?
Japan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Nigeria leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 3.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Nigeria, compared to 26.5 in Japan. Nigeria scores 38 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Japan: 83).
What's the weather like in Nigeria compared to Japan?
The average high temperature in Abuja is 91°F, compared to 69°F in Tokyo. Abuja receives around 48.1 in of rainfall per year, while Tokyo gets 62.9 in.
What language do they speak in Nigeria?
The official language in Nigeria is English. In Japan, the official language is Japanese.
