Moving to Japan from Missouri
What to Expect
A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Missouri to Japan — from daily expenses to quality of life.
If you moved from Missouri to Japan, you would find that Japan is 39.6% cheaper than Missouri. A $75,000 salary in Missouri would need to be roughly ¥7,140,000 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 ↓Is Japan cheaper than Missouri?
The biggest cost differences at a glance
Restaurants
pay 59.6% less
Groceries
pay 17.0% less
Transportation
pay 17.0% less
Housing
pay 54.6% less
Childcare
pay 50.0% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 21.7% 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.
What salary do you need in Japan?
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → ¥7,140,000
To maintain the same standard of living in Japan
Calculate with your salary →Get free moving quotes to Japan
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
Real numbers on people moving from Missouri to Japan, and how the trend has changed.
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
How Missouri and Japan stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Japan performs significantly better than Missouri across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Missouri 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
Missouri 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 Missouri across all family life metrics.
Sources: World Bank (2024–2025), US Census Bureau (American Community Survey) (2023), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES) (2022), World Health Organization (2024), Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025), Bureau of Economic Analysis (2024), The World Factbook (2013), OECD Regional Demography (2020). How we calculate this
Weather in Japan vs Missouri
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Kansas City | Tokyo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 47°/28°F (8°/-2°C) | 53°/37°F (12°/3°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 76°/57°F (24°/14°C) | 73°/58°F (23°/14°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 86°/67°F (30°/20°C) | 85°/72°F (30°/22°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 55°/37°F (13°/3°C) | 63°/49°F (17°/9°C) |
View all months
| Month | Kansas City | Tokyo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 40°/22°F (4.2°/-5.3°C) | 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.2°C) |
| Feb | 45°/26°F (7.0°/-3.2°C) | 52°/36°F (10.9°/2.1°C) |
| Mar | 56°/36°F (13.4°/2.1°C) | 58°/41°F (14.2°/5.0°C) |
| Apr | 67°/47°F (19.3°/8.1°C) | 67°/50°F (19.4°/9.8°C) |
| May | 76°/57°F (24.4°/13.9°C) | 74°/58°F (23.6°/14.6°C) |
| Jun | 85°/67°F (29.4°/19.3°C) | 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.5°C) |
| Jul | 90°/72°F (32.3°/22.2°C) | 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C) |
| Aug | 89°/70°F (31.4°/21.2°C) | 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C) |
| Sep | 80°/60°F (26.7°/15.8°C) | 82°/69°F (27.5°/20.3°C) |
| Oct | 68°/49°F (19.9°/9.4°C) | 72°/59°F (22.0°/14.8°C) |
| Nov | 54°/37°F (12.3°/2.6°C) | 62°/48°F (16.7°/8.8°C) |
| Dec | 42°/26°F (5.4°/-3.6°C) | 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.8°C) |
National Weather Service
Japan Meteorological AgencyCan you move from Missouri to Japan?
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 Missouri?
Generally yes: Japan runs about 40% cheaper than Missouri on average, though it depends heavily on the city.
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 $75,000 comparable salary, that's around ¥1,785,000 in Japan for everyday spending, before flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Japan?
Working remotely from Japan's major cities is generally feasible. The legal layer matters more — visa category, employer policy on overseas employees, and tax residency in Missouri and Japan.
How is healthcare in Japan compared to Missouri?
Japan performs significantly better than Missouri across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Japan compared to Missouri?
The average high temperature in Tokyo is 69°F, compared to 66°F in Kansas City. Tokyo receives around 62.9 in of rainfall per year, while Kansas City gets 39.1 in.
What language do they speak in Japan?
The official language in Japan is Japanese. In Missouri, the official language is English.
