Moving to Wisconsin from Japan
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Japan to Wisconsin — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Japan to Wisconsin, you would find that Wisconsin is 92.0% more expensive than Japan overall. A ¥12,124,875 salary in Japan would need to be roughly $102,515 in Wisconsin 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 — Madison averages 56°F vs 69°F in Tokyo, making it significantly cooler.
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 Wisconsin.
What does your salary buy?
¥12,124,875 → $102,515
To maintain the same standard of living in Wisconsin
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 2.4 times more
Groceries
pay 22.2% more
Transportation
pay 8.1% less
Housing
pay 2.0 times more
Childcare
pay 4.0 times more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 57.1% 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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Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from Japan to Wisconsin, based on official data.
people moved from Japan to United States · OECD (latest data available)
Who's moving to United States?
Top countries of origin for United States's foreign-born residents.
- 10,853,105
- 2,723,764
- 2,184,110
- 2,061,178
- 1,829,251
- 1,410,659
- · · ·
-
29.319,968
Japan
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Japan to Wisconsin.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Japan performs better than Wisconsin across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Wisconsin performs significantly better than Japan across all infrastructure metrics.
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
Wisconsin generally does better on employment & economy, though Japan leads in unemployment rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Japan performs better than Wisconsin across all family life metrics.
Data: The World Factbook
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Tokyo | Madison |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 53°/37°F (12°/3°C) | 33°/17°F (1°/-8°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 73°/58°F (23°/14°C) | 68°/46°F (20°/8°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 85°/72°F (30°/22°C) | 78°/57°F (25°/14°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 63°/49°F (17°/9°C) | 44°/28°F (7°/-2°C) |
View all months
| Month | Tokyo | Madison |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.2°C) | 26°/11°F (-3.1°/-11.6°C) |
| Feb | 52°/36°F (10.9°/2.1°C) | 31°/15°F (-0.5°/-9.4°C) |
| Mar | 58°/41°F (14.2°/5.0°C) | 43°/25°F (6.2°/-4.0°C) |
| Apr | 67°/50°F (19.4°/9.8°C) | 57°/36°F (14.1°/2.1°C) |
| May | 74°/58°F (23.6°/14.6°C) | 68°/46°F (20.2°/7.8°C) |
| Jun | 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.5°C) | 78°/56°F (25.5°/13.4°C) |
| Jul | 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C) | 82°/61°F (27.6°/16.1°C) |
| Aug | 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C) | 79°/59°F (26.3°/15.0°C) |
| Sep | 82°/69°F (27.5°/20.3°C) | 72°/50°F (22.1°/10.1°C) |
| Oct | 72°/59°F (22.0°/14.8°C) | 59°/39°F (14.9°/3.8°C) |
| Nov | 62°/48°F (16.7°/8.8°C) | 44°/28°F (6.7°/-2.1°C) |
| Dec | 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.8°C) | 30°/16°F (-1.0°/-8.9°C) |
Japan Meteorological Agency
National Weather ServiceVisitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Japan and United States. To live, work, or study long-term in United States, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check United States's immigration authority.
Japan passport holder visiting United States
Electronic Travel Authorisation
United States 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 Wisconsin than Japan?
No — Wisconsin is on average about 37% more expensive than Japan. City-level variation matters.
How much money do I need to move to Wisconsin?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly $25,629 in Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin?
Usually fine from major cities in Wisconsin. The harder questions are legal — digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
How is healthcare in Wisconsin compared to Japan?
Japan performs better than Wisconsin across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Wisconsin compared to Japan?
The average high temperature in Madison is 56°F, compared to 69°F in Tokyo. Madison receives around 34.5 in of rainfall per year, while Tokyo gets 62.9 in.
What language do they speak in Wisconsin?
The official language in Wisconsin is English. In Japan, the official language is Japanese.
