Moving to Japan from Netherlands
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Netherlands to Japan — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Netherlands to Japan, you would find that Japan is 35.0% cheaper than Netherlands overall. A €65,700 salary in Netherlands would need to be roughly ¥6,941,410 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 56°F in Amsterdam, 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 Netherlands to Japan.
What does your salary buy?
€65,700 → ¥6,941,410
To maintain the same standard of living in Japan
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 69.1% less
Groceries
pay 9.6% more
Transportation
pay 34.3% less
Housing
pay 51.4% less
Childcare
pay 30.1% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 29.0% 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 42% less than cities in Netherlands.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from Netherlands to Japan, based on official data.
people moved from Netherlands 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
- 58,340
- · · ·
-
36.1,298
Netherlands
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Netherlands to Japan.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Japan performs significantly better than Netherlands across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Netherlands generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Japan leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Netherlands generally does better on environment, though Japan leads in air pollution deaths.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
Netherlands generally does better on infrastructure, though Japan leads in electricity per capita.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
share of people below the poverty line
Netherlands generally does better on employment & economy, though Japan leads in unemployment rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
Japan generally does better on family life, though Netherlands leads in education spending.
Data: Tax and Customs Administration - Belastingdienst, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Amsterdam | Tokyo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 45°/34°F (7°/1°C) | 53°/37°F (12°/3°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 61°/45°F (16°/7°C) | 73°/58°F (23°/14°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 69°/53°F (21°/12°C) | 85°/72°F (30°/22°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 50°/40°F (10°/4°C) | 63°/49°F (17°/9°C) |
View all months
| Month | Amsterdam | Tokyo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 42°/33°F (5.4°/0.5°C) | 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.2°C) |
| Feb | 43°/32°F (6.0°/0.2°C) | 52°/36°F (10.9°/2.1°C) |
| Mar | 49°/36°F (9.2°/2.4°C) | 58°/41°F (14.2°/5.0°C) |
| Apr | 54°/39°F (12.4°/4.0°C) | 67°/50°F (19.4°/9.8°C) |
| May | 63°/46°F (17.1°/7.8°C) | 74°/58°F (23.6°/14.6°C) |
| Jun | 67°/51°F (19.2°/10.4°C) | 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.5°C) |
| Jul | 71°/54°F (21.4°/12.5°C) | 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C) |
| Aug | 71°/54°F (21.8°/12.3°C) | 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C) |
| Sep | 65°/50°F (18.4°/10.2°C) | 82°/69°F (27.5°/20.3°C) |
| Oct | 57°/45°F (14.1°/7.0°C) | 72°/59°F (22.0°/14.8°C) |
| Nov | 49°/39°F (9.2°/3.9°C) | 62°/48°F (16.7°/8.8°C) |
| Dec | 44°/35°F (6.5°/1.9°C) | 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.8°C) |
Data:
Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute,
Japan Meteorological Agency
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Netherlands 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.
Netherlands passport holder visiting Japan
Visa Free
Japan passport holder visiting Netherlands
Visa FreeData: 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 Netherlands?
Yes — Japan is on average about 43% cheaper than Netherlands. 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 ¥1,735,352 in Japan on a €65,700 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from Japan?
Internet is rarely the blocker — Japan has 37.2 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
Is Japan safe for expats?
Japan performs significantly better than Netherlands across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Japan is 0.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.8 in Netherlands.
How is healthcare in Japan compared to Netherlands?
Netherlands generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Japan leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 26.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Japan, compared to 39.1 in Netherlands. Japan scores 83 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Netherlands: 85).
What's the weather like in Japan compared to Netherlands?
The average high temperature in Tokyo is 69°F, compared to 56°F in Amsterdam. Tokyo receives around 62.9 in of rainfall per year, while Amsterdam gets 30.7 in.
What language do they speak in Japan?
The official language in Japan is Japanese. In Netherlands, the official language is Dutch.
