Moving to Japan from New York
What to Expect
A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from New York to Japan — from daily expenses to quality of life.
If you moved from New York to Japan, you would find that Japan is 37.7% cheaper than New York. A $75,000 salary in New York would need to be roughly ¥7,392,292 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 58°F in Albany, 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?
How your spending power changes when you relocate from New York to Japan.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → ¥7,392,292
To maintain the same standard of living in Japan
Calculate with your salary →The biggest cost differences at a glance
Restaurants
pay 60.0% less
Groceries
pay 20.4% less
Transportation
pay 3.0% less
Housing
pay 52.9% less
Childcare
pay 65.3% 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 44% less than cities in New York.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
Real numbers on people moving from New York 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 New York and Japan stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Japan performs significantly better than New York across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
New York 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
New York 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 New York 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 | Albany | Tokyo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 37°/19°F (2°/-7°C) | 53°/37°F (12°/3°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 68°/47°F (20°/8°C) | 73°/58°F (23°/14°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 78°/58°F (26°/14°C) | 85°/72°F (30°/22°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 48°/31°F (9°/-1°C) | 63°/49°F (17°/9°C) |
View all months
| Month | Albany | Tokyo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31°/15°F (-0.8°/-9.7°C) | 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.2°C) |
| Feb | 35°/17°F (1.4°/-8.2°C) | 52°/36°F (10.9°/2.1°C) |
| Mar | 44°/26°F (6.9°/-3.5°C) | 58°/41°F (14.2°/5.0°C) |
| Apr | 58°/37°F (14.6°/2.9°C) | 67°/50°F (19.4°/9.8°C) |
| May | 69°/47°F (20.8°/8.4°C) | 74°/58°F (23.6°/14.6°C) |
| Jun | 78°/56°F (25.5°/13.6°C) | 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.5°C) |
| Jul | 82°/61°F (27.9°/16.3°C) | 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C) |
| Aug | 80°/60°F (26.9°/15.5°C) | 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C) |
| Sep | 72°/52°F (22.3°/10.9°C) | 82°/69°F (27.5°/20.3°C) |
| Oct | 60°/40°F (15.4°/4.2°C) | 72°/59°F (22.0°/14.8°C) |
| Nov | 48°/31°F (8.8°/-0.3°C) | 62°/48°F (16.7°/8.8°C) |
| Dec | 36°/21°F (2.1°/-6.0°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 New York?
Generally yes: Japan runs about 39% cheaper than New York 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 ¥1,848,073 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 New York and Japan.
How is healthcare in Japan compared to New York?
Japan performs significantly better than New York across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Japan compared to New York?
The average high temperature in Tokyo is 69°F, compared to 58°F in Albany. Tokyo receives around 62.9 in of rainfall per year, while Albany gets 39.4 in.
What language do they speak in Japan?
The official language in Japan is Japanese. In New York, the official language is English.
