Moving to Saudi Arabia from Japan
What to Expect
Considering a move from Japan to Saudi Arabia? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Japan to Saudi Arabia, you would find that Saudi Arabia is 1.7% more expensive than Japan overall. A ¥11,948,175 salary in Japan would need to be roughly SAR290,475 in Saudi Arabia to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Arabic. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Riyadh averages 92°F vs 69°F in Tokyo, making it significantly warmer.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Japan and Saudi Arabia.
What does your salary buy?
¥11,948,175 → SAR290,475
To maintain the same standard of living in Saudi Arabia
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 11.7% less
Groceries
pay 28.0% less
Transportation
pay 25.2% less
Housing
pay 20.6% more
Childcare
pay 16.2% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 39.4% 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.
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Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Saudi Arabia compared to Japan.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Japan performs better than Saudi Arabia 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
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Saudi Arabia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Japan leads in health coverage index.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Japan performs better than Saudi Arabia 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
Japan generally does better on infrastructure, though Saudi Arabia 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
Saudi Arabia 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 Saudi Arabia 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 | Riyadh |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 53°/37°F (12°/3°C) | 75°/50°F (24°/10°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 73°/58°F (23°/14°C) | 101°/72°F (38°/22°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 85°/72°F (30°/22°C) | 109°/77°F (43°/25°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 63°/49°F (17°/9°C) | 84°/56°F (29°/13°C) |
View all months
| Month | Tokyo | Riyadh |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.2°C) | 68°/44°F (20.1°/6.9°C) |
| Feb | 52°/36°F (10.9°/2.1°C) | 74°/49°F (23.3°/9.3°C) |
| Mar | 58°/41°F (14.2°/5.0°C) | 82°/56°F (27.7°/13.2°C) |
| Apr | 67°/50°F (19.4°/9.8°C) | 92°/65°F (33.3°/18.4°C) |
| May | 74°/58°F (23.6°/14.6°C) | 103°/74°F (39.4°/23.4°C) |
| Jun | 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.5°C) | 109°/78°F (42.6°/25.3°C) |
| Jul | 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C) | 111°/80°F (43.7°/26.4°C) |
| Aug | 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C) | 111°/79°F (43.7°/26.3°C) |
| Sep | 82°/69°F (27.5°/20.3°C) | 105°/73°F (40.6°/22.9°C) |
| Oct | 72°/59°F (22.0°/14.8°C) | 96°/65°F (35.5°/18.2°C) |
| Nov | 62°/48°F (16.7°/8.8°C) | 83°/56°F (28.1°/13.3°C) |
| Dec | 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.8°C) | 72°/47°F (22.1°/8.4°C) |
Data:
Japan Meteorological Agency,
National Center for Meteorology
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Japan and Saudi Arabia. To live, work, or study long-term in Saudi Arabia, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Saudi Arabia's immigration authority.
Japan passport holder visiting Saudi Arabia
Visa on Arrival
Saudi Arabia passport holder visiting Japan
Visa Online (e-Visa)Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Saudi Arabia than Japan?
On average Saudi Arabia is around 3% pricier than Japan, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to Saudi Arabia?
Budget about SAR72,619 for 3 months in Saudi Arabia (based on a ¥11,948,175 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, rental deposit, visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Saudi Arabia?
Connectivity is usually fine (Saudi Arabia: 37.0 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Saudi Arabia offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Saudi Arabia safe for expats?
Japan performs better than Saudi Arabia across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Saudi Arabia is 0.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.2 in Japan.
How is healthcare in Saudi Arabia compared to Japan?
Saudi Arabia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Japan leads in health coverage index. There are 30.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Saudi Arabia, compared to 26.1 in Japan. Saudi Arabia scores 74 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Japan: 83).
What's the weather like in Saudi Arabia compared to Japan?
The average high temperature in Riyadh is 92°F, compared to 69°F in Tokyo. Riyadh receives around 4.4 in of rainfall per year, while Tokyo gets 62.9 in.
What language do they speak in Saudi Arabia?
The official language in Saudi Arabia is Arabic. In Japan, the official language is Japanese.
