Moving to Japan from Mississippi

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Mississippi to Japan? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Mississippi to Japan, you would find that Japan is 15.3% cheaper than Mississippi. A $75,000 salary in Mississippi would need to be roughly ¥9,976,509 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.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Mississippi and Japan.

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 ¥9,976,509

To maintain the same standard of living in Japan

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 50.2% less

Groceries

pay 2.4% more

Transportation

pay 33.0% more

Housing

pay 42.1% less

Childcare

pay 31.2% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 4.0% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 161.66 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.

Get free moving quotes to Japan

We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.

  • ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
  • ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
  • ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you

Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Mississippi to Japan.

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

The numbers behind daily life in Japan compared to Mississippi.

How's the healthcare?

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

share of adults with obesity

MS
41.9%
JP
4.3%

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

Will I have good infrastructure?

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

share of households with internet

MS
82.0%
JP
83.0%

Japan performs significantly better than Mississippi across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

MS
3.1%
JP
2.6%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

MS
$41,778
JP
$46,300

Japan performs significantly better than Mississippi across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2022

average years of life at birth

MS
71.9 yrs
JP
84.8 yrs

Japan performs significantly better than Mississippi 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.

Jackson Rain: 54.3 in/yr (1380 mm)
76° / 55°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Jackson Tokyo
Jan–Mar 62°/41°F (17°/5°C) 53°/37°F (12°/3°C)
Apr–Jun 83°/62°F (28°/17°C) 73°/58°F (23°/14°C)
Jul–Sep 90°/70°F (32°/21°C) 85°/72°F (30°/22°C)
Oct–Dec 67°/46°F (20°/8°C) 63°/49°F (17°/9°C)
View all months
Month Jackson Tokyo
Jan 56°/37°F (13.6°/2.7°C) 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.2°C)
Feb 61°/40°F (16.1°/4.6°C) 52°/36°F (10.9°/2.1°C)
Mar 68°/47°F (20.2°/8.2°C) 58°/41°F (14.2°/5.0°C)
Apr 76°/54°F (24.4°/12.1°C) 67°/50°F (19.4°/9.8°C)
May 83°/63°F (28.3°/17.1°C) 74°/58°F (23.6°/14.6°C)
Jun 89°/69°F (31.8°/20.8°C) 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.5°C)
Jul 92°/72°F (33.1°/22.4°C) 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C)
Aug 92°/72°F (33.1°/22.2°C) 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C)
Sep 87°/66°F (30.3°/18.9°C) 82°/69°F (27.5°/20.3°C)
Oct 77°/55°F (25.1°/12.8°C) 72°/59°F (22.0°/14.8°C)
Nov 67°/45°F (19.7°/7.3°C) 62°/48°F (16.7°/8.8°C)
Dec 58°/39°F (14.7°/3.9°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 Mississippi?

On average Japan is about 18% less expensive than Mississippi, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Japan?

Budget about ¥2,494,127 for 3 months in Japan (based on a $75,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Japan?

From major Japan cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in Mississippi and Japan are what actually decide it long-term.

How is healthcare in Japan compared to Mississippi?

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

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

The average high temperature in Tokyo is 69°F, compared to 76°F in Jackson. Tokyo receives around 62.9 in of rainfall per year, while Jackson gets 54.3 in.

What language do they speak in Japan?

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

Share this

At a Glance

JP
Population 2,967,297 124,214,766
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