Moving to Japan from Massachusetts
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Massachusetts to Japan — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Massachusetts to Japan, you would find that Japan is 36.5% cheaper than Massachusetts. A $75,000 salary in Massachusetts would need to be roughly ¥6,980,371 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 59°F in Boston, making it significantly warmer.
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 Massachusetts to Japan.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → ¥6,980,371
To maintain the same standard of living in Japan
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 62.7% less
Groceries
pay 17.0% less
Transportation
pay 10.4% more
Housing
pay 57.8% less
Childcare
pay 66.7% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 39.0% 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 Japan cost about 50% less than cities in Massachusetts.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from Massachusetts to Japan, based on official data.
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.
- 775,893
- 456,203
- 335,668
- 275,252
- 204,814
-
6.58,340
United States
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Massachusetts to Japan.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Japan performs significantly better than Massachusetts across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Massachusetts performs 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
Massachusetts 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 significantly better than Massachusetts 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.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Boston | Tokyo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 40°/26°F (4°/-3°C) | 53°/37°F (12°/3°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 66°/50°F (19°/10°C) | 73°/58°F (23°/14°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 78°/62°F (25°/17°C) | 85°/72°F (30°/22°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 51°/38°F (11°/3°C) | 63°/49°F (17°/9°C) |
View all months
| Month | Boston | Tokyo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 36°/22°F (2.1°/-5.4°C) | 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.2°C) |
| Feb | 39°/25°F (3.7°/-4.1°C) | 52°/36°F (10.9°/2.1°C) |
| Mar | 45°/31°F (7.4°/-0.5°C) | 58°/41°F (14.2°/5.0°C) |
| Apr | 56°/41°F (13.1°/4.8°C) | 67°/50°F (19.4°/9.8°C) |
| May | 66°/50°F (18.9°/9.9°C) | 74°/58°F (23.6°/14.6°C) |
| Jun | 76°/60°F (24.4°/15.3°C) | 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.5°C) |
| Jul | 81°/65°F (27.4°/18.6°C) | 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C) |
| Aug | 80°/65°F (26.4°/18.1°C) | 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C) |
| Sep | 72°/57°F (22.4°/14.1°C) | 82°/69°F (27.5°/20.3°C) |
| Oct | 61°/47°F (16.3°/8.1°C) | 72°/59°F (22.0°/14.8°C) |
| Nov | 51°/38°F (10.8°/3.3°C) | 62°/48°F (16.7°/8.8°C) |
| Dec | 41°/28°F (5.1°/-2.1°C) | 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.8°C) |
National Weather Service
Japan Meteorological AgencyVisitor 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 holder visiting Japan
Visa Free
Japan passport holder visiting United States
Electronic Travel AuthorisationData: 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 Massachusetts?
Yes — Japan is on average about 42% cheaper than Massachusetts. 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 ¥1,745,093 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 Massachusetts?
Japan performs significantly better than Massachusetts across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Japan compared to Massachusetts?
The average high temperature in Tokyo is 69°F, compared to 59°F in Boston. Tokyo receives around 62.9 in of rainfall per year, while Boston gets 43.8 in.
What language do they speak in Japan?
The official language in Japan is Japanese. In Massachusetts, the official language is English.
