Moving to Japan from New Zealand
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from New Zealand to Japan — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from New Zealand to Japan, you would find that Japan is 20.4% cheaper than New Zealand overall. A NZ$125,240 salary in New Zealand would need to be roughly ¥9,182,411 in Japan to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Japanese.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from New Zealand to Japan.
What does your salary buy?
NZ$125,240 → ¥9,182,411
To maintain the same standard of living in Japan
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 52.5% less
Groceries
pay 12.0% more
Transportation
pay 3.8% less
Housing
pay 27.2% less
Childcare
pay 27.8% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 15.2% 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.
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from New Zealand to Japan, based on official data.
people moved from New Zealand 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
- · · ·
-
25.3,552
New Zealand
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from New Zealand to Japan.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Japan performs significantly better than New Zealand 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
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
New Zealand 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
New Zealand performs better than Japan across all environment metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
New Zealand generally does better on infrastructure, though Japan leads in broadband per 100 people.
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
New Zealand 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 New Zealand leads in education spending.
Data: New Zealand Inland Revenue Department, 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 | Wellington | Tokyo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 69°/58°F (21°/14°C) | 53°/37°F (12°/3°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 59°/49°F (15°/10°C) | 73°/58°F (23°/14°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 56°/46°F (13°/8°C) | 85°/72°F (30°/22°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 64°/53°F (18°/12°C) | 63°/49°F (17°/9°C) |
View all months
| Month | Wellington | Tokyo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 70°/58°F (21.2°/14.7°C) | 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.2°C) |
| Feb | 70°/59°F (21.3°/14.8°C) | 52°/36°F (10.9°/2.1°C) |
| Mar | 68°/56°F (19.8°/13.5°C) | 58°/41°F (14.2°/5.0°C) |
| Apr | 63°/53°F (17.4°/11.5°C) | 67°/50°F (19.4°/9.8°C) |
| May | 59°/49°F (15.2°/9.7°C) | 74°/58°F (23.6°/14.6°C) |
| Jun | 56°/46°F (13.1°/7.9°C) | 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.5°C) |
| Jul | 54°/44°F (12.3°/6.9°C) | 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C) |
| Aug | 55°/45°F (12.9°/7.4°C) | 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C) |
| Sep | 58°/48°F (14.5°/8.8°C) | 82°/69°F (27.5°/20.3°C) |
| Oct | 60°/50°F (15.8°/10.0°C) | 72°/59°F (22.0°/14.8°C) |
| Nov | 64°/53°F (17.5°/11.4°C) | 62°/48°F (16.7°/8.8°C) |
| Dec | 67°/56°F (19.6°/13.5°C) | 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.8°C) |
Data:
New Zealand National Meteorological Service,
Japan Meteorological Agency
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between New Zealand 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.
New Zealand passport holder visiting Japan
Visa Free
Japan passport holder visiting New Zealand
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 Zealand?
Yes — Japan is on average about 23% cheaper than New Zealand. 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 ¥2,295,603 in Japan on a NZ$125,240 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, deposits, 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 New Zealand across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Japan is 0.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.1 in New Zealand.
How is healthcare in Japan compared to New Zealand?
New Zealand 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 35.7 in New Zealand. Japan scores 83 on the WHO universal health coverage index (New Zealand: 85).
What's the weather like in Japan compared to New Zealand?
The average high temperature in Tokyo is 69°F, compared to 62°F in Wellington. Tokyo receives around 62.9 in of rainfall per year, while Wellington gets 37.7 in.
What language do they speak in Japan?
The official language in Japan is Japanese. In New Zealand, the official languages are English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language.
