Moving to Japan from Louisiana

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Louisiana to Japan — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Louisiana to Japan, you would find that Japan is 19.8% cheaper than Louisiana. A $75,000 salary in Louisiana would need to be roughly ¥9,214,100 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 79°F in Baton Rouge, making it significantly cooler.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

What to expect for your wallet after moving from Louisiana to Japan.

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 ¥9,214,100

To maintain the same standard of living in Japan

Calculate with your salary →

Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day

Restaurants

pay 55.6% less

Groceries

pay 7.6% less

Transportation

pay 35.2% more

Housing

pay 45.4% less

Childcare

pay 29.8% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 21.1% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 162.45 JPY (July 2026)

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 Louisiana to Japan, based on official data.

Moved in 2023
19,684 ↑ 12% vs 2022

people moved from United States to Japan · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to Japan?

Top countries of origin for Japan's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Louisiana to Japan.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2022

share of adults with obesity

LA
40.6%
JP
4.3%

Japan performs significantly better than Louisiana across all health & wellbeing metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

share of households with internet

LA
84.9%
JP
83.0%

Louisiana performs better than Japan across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

LA
3.9%
JP
2.6%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

LA
$55,662
JP
$46,300

Japan generally does better on employment & economy, though Louisiana leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2022

average years of life at birth

LA
73.1 yrs
JP
84.8 yrs

Japan performs significantly better than Louisiana across all family life metrics.

Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Baton Rouge Rain: 60.6 in/yr (1540 mm)
79° / 58°F

Avg. annual high / low

Tokyo Rain: 62.9 in/yr (1598 mm)
69° / 54°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Baton Rouge Tokyo
Jan–Mar 67°/45°F (19°/7°C) 53°/37°F (12°/3°C)
Apr–Jun 85°/64°F (30°/18°C) 73°/58°F (23°/14°C)
Jul–Sep 91°/72°F (33°/22°C) 85°/72°F (30°/22°C)
Oct–Dec 72°/50°F (22°/10°C) 63°/49°F (17°/9°C)
View all months
Month Baton Rouge Tokyo
Jan 62°/41°F (16.8°/5.1°C) 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.2°C)
Feb 66°/44°F (18.7°/6.9°C) 52°/36°F (10.9°/2.1°C)
Mar 73°/50°F (22.6°/10.2°C) 58°/41°F (14.2°/5.0°C)
Apr 79°/57°F (26.3°/13.8°C) 67°/50°F (19.4°/9.8°C)
May 86°/65°F (30.1°/18.4°C) 74°/58°F (23.6°/14.6°C)
Jun 91°/71°F (32.7°/21.9°C) 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.5°C)
Jul 92°/74°F (33.4°/23.2°C) 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C)
Aug 92°/73°F (33.6°/23.0°C) 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C)
Sep 89°/69°F (31.5°/20.3°C) 82°/69°F (27.5°/20.3°C)
Oct 81°/58°F (27.1°/14.4°C) 72°/59°F (22.0°/14.8°C)
Nov 72°/49°F (22.2°/9.4°C) 62°/48°F (16.7°/8.8°C)
Dec 64°/43°F (17.8°/5.9°C) 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.8°C)

Data: National Weather Service National Weather Service, Japan Meteorological Agency Japan Meteorological Agency

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States 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.

United States passport

United States passport holder visiting Japan

Visa Free
United States passport holders can enter Japan without a visa.
Japan passport

Japan passport holder visiting United States

Electronic Travel Authorisation
Japan passport holders need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter United States.

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 Japan than Louisiana?

Yes — Japan is on average about 24% cheaper than Louisiana. City-level variation can be significant.

How much money do I need to move to Japan?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly ¥2,303,525 in Japan on a $75,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Japan?

Usually fine from major cities in Japan. 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 Japan compared to Louisiana?

Japan performs significantly better than Louisiana across all health & wellbeing metrics.

What's the weather like in Japan compared to Louisiana?

The average high temperature in Tokyo is 69°F, compared to 79°F in Baton Rouge. Tokyo receives around 62.9 in of rainfall per year, while Baton Rouge gets 60.6 in.

What language do they speak in Japan?

The official language in Japan is Japanese. In Louisiana, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

JP
Population 4,533,372 124,214,766
Currency United States Dollar ($) Japanese Yen (¥)
Languages English Japanese
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +1 +81
Time zones 11 1
Emergency number 911 110