Moving to Japan from Kuwait
What to Expect
A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Kuwait to Japan — from daily expenses to quality of life.
If you moved from Kuwait to Japan, you would find that Japan is 42.4% more expensive than Kuwait overall. A KWD23,156 salary in Kuwait would need to be roughly ¥12,022,953 in Japan to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Japanese. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Tokyo averages 69°F vs 94°F in Kuwait City, 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?
How your spending power changes when you relocate from Kuwait to Japan.
What does your salary buy?
KWD23,156 → ¥12,022,953
To maintain the same standard of living in Japan
Calculate with your salary →The biggest cost differences at a glance
Restaurants
pay 43.0% more
Groceries
pay 2.0 times more
Transportation
pay 71.9% more
Housing
pay 22.5% more
Childcare
pay 69.7% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 8.9% 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.
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
Real numbers on people moving from Kuwait to Japan, and how the trend has changed.
Who's moving to Japan?
Top countries of origin for Japan's foreign-born residents.
- 775,893
- 456,203
- 335,668
- 275,252
- 204,814
- 58,340
Key Indicator Comparison
How Kuwait and Japan stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Kuwait generally does better on safety, though Japan leads in road traffic deaths.
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 Kuwait 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 significantly better than Kuwait 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
Kuwait generally does better on infrastructure, though Japan leads in broadband per 100 people.
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
Kuwait performs better than Japan across all employment & economy metrics.
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 Kuwait leads in education spending.
Data: Ministry of Finance, Kuwait, 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 | Kuwait City | Tokyo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 73°/51°F (23°/11°C) | 53°/37°F (12°/3°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 104°/76°F (40°/25°C) | 73°/58°F (23°/14°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 114°/84°F (46°/29°C) | 85°/72°F (30°/22°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 84°/60°F (29°/15°C) | 63°/49°F (17°/9°C) |
View all months
| Month | Kuwait City | Tokyo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 67°/47°F (19.5°/8.5°C) | 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.2°C) |
| Feb | 71°/50°F (21.8°/10.0°C) | 52°/36°F (10.9°/2.1°C) |
| Mar | 80°/57°F (26.9°/14.0°C) | 58°/41°F (14.2°/5.0°C) |
| Apr | 93°/67°F (33.9°/19.5°C) | 67°/50°F (19.4°/9.8°C) |
| May | 106°/78°F (40.9°/25.4°C) | 74°/58°F (23.6°/14.6°C) |
| Jun | 114°/84°F (45.5°/28.9°C) | 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.5°C) |
| Jul | 116°/87°F (46.7°/30.7°C) | 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C) |
| Aug | 116°/85°F (46.9°/29.5°C) | 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C) |
| Sep | 111°/79°F (43.7°/26.2°C) | 82°/69°F (27.5°/20.3°C) |
| Oct | 98°/71°F (36.6°/21.5°C) | 72°/59°F (22.0°/14.8°C) |
| Nov | 82°/58°F (27.8°/14.5°C) | 62°/48°F (16.7°/8.8°C) |
| Dec | 71°/50°F (21.9°/9.9°C) | 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.8°C) |
Data:
Meteorological Department,
Japan Meteorological Agency
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Kuwait and Japan. To live, work, or study long-term in Japan, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Japan's immigration authority.
Kuwait passport holder visiting Japan
Visa Required
Japan passport holder visiting Kuwait
Visa on ArrivalData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Japan than Kuwait?
Headline costs are within a few percent between Japan and Kuwait; rent and dining are where you'll actually feel differences.
How much money do I need to move to Japan?
A safe rule of thumb is 3 months of local expenses plus relocation costs. On a KWD23,156 comparable salary, that's around ¥3,005,738 in Japan for everyday spending, before flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Japan?
With 37.2 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Japan can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Kuwait and Japan.
Is Japan safe for expats?
Kuwait generally does better on safety, though Japan leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Japan is 0.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.2 in Kuwait.
How is healthcare in Japan compared to Kuwait?
Japan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Kuwait leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 26.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Japan, compared to 22.9 in Kuwait. Japan scores 83 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Kuwait: 78).
What's the weather like in Japan compared to Kuwait?
The average high temperature in Tokyo is 69°F, compared to 94°F in Kuwait City. Tokyo receives around 62.9 in of rainfall per year, while Kuwait City gets 4.6 in.
What language do they speak in Japan?
The official language in Japan is Japanese. In Kuwait, the official language is Arabic.
