Moving to Japan from Nebraska

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Nebraska to Japan, you would find that Japan is 28.4% cheaper than Nebraska. A $75,000 salary in Nebraska would need to be roughly ¥8,890,325 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.

How Far Will Your Money Go?

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

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 ¥8,890,325

To maintain the same standard of living in Japan

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 58.5% less

Groceries

pay 6.7% less

Transportation

pay 21.0% more

Housing

pay 48.5% less

Childcare

pay 56.8% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 28.5% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 161.31 JPY (June 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.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Nebraska 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 Nebraska.

How's the healthcare?

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

share of adults with obesity

NE
37.4%
JP
4.3%

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

Will I have good infrastructure?

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

share of households with internet

NE
89.8%
JP
83.0%

Nebraska 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

NE
3.0%
JP
2.6%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

NE
$73,391
JP
$46,300

Nebraska generally does better on employment & economy, though Japan leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2022

average years of life at birth

NE
77.7 yrs
JP
84.8 yrs

Japan performs significantly better than Nebraska 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.

Lincoln Rain: 28.9 in/yr (735 mm)
63° / 40°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Lincoln Tokyo
Jan–Mar 42°/20°F (6°/-7°C) 53°/37°F (12°/3°C)
Apr–Jun 74°/50°F (23°/10°C) 73°/58°F (23°/14°C)
Jul–Sep 85°/61°F (29°/16°C) 85°/72°F (30°/22°C)
Oct–Dec 51°/28°F (11°/-2°C) 63°/49°F (17°/9°C)
View all months
Month Lincoln Tokyo
Jan 35°/14°F (1.9°/-10.1°C) 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.2°C)
Feb 40°/18°F (4.5°/-7.8°C) 52°/36°F (10.9°/2.1°C)
Mar 52°/28°F (11.3°/-2.3°C) 58°/41°F (14.2°/5.0°C)
Apr 64°/39°F (17.9°/3.8°C) 67°/50°F (19.4°/9.8°C)
May 74°/51°F (23.4°/10.3°C) 74°/58°F (23.6°/14.6°C)
Jun 84°/61°F (29.0°/16.1°C) 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.5°C)
Jul 89°/66°F (31.7°/18.9°C) 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C)
Aug 87°/64°F (30.4°/17.7°C) 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C)
Sep 79°/53°F (25.9°/11.9°C) 82°/69°F (27.5°/20.3°C)
Oct 66°/41°F (18.8°/4.8°C) 72°/59°F (22.0°/14.8°C)
Nov 50°/28°F (10.2°/-2.4°C) 62°/48°F (16.7°/8.8°C)
Dec 37°/16°F (2.9°/-8.7°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 Nebraska?

On average Japan is about 27% less expensive than Nebraska, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Japan?

Budget about ¥2,222,581 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 Nebraska and Japan are what actually decide it long-term.

How is healthcare in Japan compared to Nebraska?

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

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

The average high temperature in Tokyo is 69°F, compared to 63°F in Lincoln. Tokyo receives around 62.9 in of rainfall per year, while Lincoln gets 28.9 in.

What language do they speak in Japan?

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

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At a Glance

JP
Population 1,826,341 124,214,766
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