Moving to Russia from Japan
What to Expect
Considering a move from Japan to Russia? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Japan to Russia, you would find that Russia is 17.7% cheaper than Japan overall. A ¥12,124,875 salary in Japan would need to be roughly RUB5,225,750 in Russia to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Russian. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Moscow averages 48°F vs 69°F in Tokyo, making it significantly cooler.
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A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Japan and Russia.
What does your salary buy?
¥12,124,875 → RUB5,225,750
To maintain the same standard of living in Russia
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 5.3% more
Groceries
pay 41.1% less
Transportation
pay 35.7% less
Housing
pay 35.8% less
Childcare
pay 19.8% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 38.6% 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.
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 Russia cost about 12% more than cities in Japan.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from Japan to Russia.
Who's moving to Russia?
Top countries of origin for Russia's foreign-born residents.
- 3,268,263
- 2,558,907
- 1,146,175
- 766,918
- 763,879
- 591,025
- · · ·
-
45.1,023
Japan
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Russia compared to Japan.
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 generally does better on safety, though Russia leads in feel safe walking at night.
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 Russia 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 performs better than Russia across all environment metrics.
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 Russia 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 Russia 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 generally does better on family life, though Russia 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 | Moscow |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 53°/37°F (12°/3°C) | 27°/15°F (-3°/-10°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 73°/58°F (23°/14°C) | 62°/45°F (17°/7°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 85°/72°F (30°/22°C) | 68°/52°F (20°/11°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 63°/49°F (17°/9°C) | 36°/26°F (2°/-3°C) |
View all months
| Month | Tokyo | Moscow |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.2°C) | 21°/10°F (-6.3°/-12.3°C) |
| Feb | 52°/36°F (10.9°/2.1°C) | 24°/12°F (-4.2°/-11.1°C) |
| Mar | 58°/41°F (14.2°/5.0°C) | 35°/22°F (1.5°/-5.6°C) |
| Apr | 67°/50°F (19.4°/9.8°C) | 51°/35°F (10.4°/1.7°C) |
| May | 74°/58°F (23.6°/14.6°C) | 65°/46°F (18.4°/7.6°C) |
| Jun | 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.5°C) | 71°/53°F (21.7°/11.5°C) |
| Jul | 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C) | 74°/56°F (23.1°/13.5°C) |
| Aug | 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C) | 71°/54°F (21.5°/12.0°C) |
| Sep | 82°/69°F (27.5°/20.3°C) | 60°/45°F (15.4°/7.1°C) |
| Oct | 72°/59°F (22.0°/14.8°C) | 47°/36°F (8.2°/2.1°C) |
| Nov | 62°/48°F (16.7°/8.8°C) | 34°/26°F (1.1°/-3.3°C) |
| Dec | 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.8°C) | 26°/17°F (-3.5°/-8.6°C) |
Data:
Japan Meteorological Agency,
Russian Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Japan and Russia. To live, work, or study long-term in Russia, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Russia's immigration authority.
Japan passport holder visiting Russia
Visa Online (e-Visa)
Russia 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 Russia than Japan?
On average Russia is about 10% less expensive than Japan, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Russia?
Budget about RUB1,306,438 for 3 months in Russia (based on a ¥12,124,875 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Russia?
Connectivity is usually fine (Russia: 24.8 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Russia offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Russia safe for expats?
Japan generally does better on safety, though Russia leads in feel safe walking at night. The homicide rate in Russia is 6.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.2 in Japan. About 90% of people in Russia feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in Russia compared to Japan?
Japan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Russia leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 38.3 doctors per 10,000 people in Russia, compared to 26.1 in Japan. Russia scores 79 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Japan: 83).
What's the weather like in Russia compared to Japan?
The average high temperature in Moscow is 48°F, compared to 69°F in Tokyo. Moscow receives around 27.2 in of rainfall per year, while Tokyo gets 62.9 in.
What language do they speak in Russia?
The official language in Russia is Russian. In Japan, the official language is Japanese.
