Moving to Japan from Nigeria
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Nigeria to Japan — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Nigeria to Japan, you would find that Japan is 2.5 times more expensive than Nigeria overall. A NGN102,877,500 salary in Nigeria would need to be roughly ¥14,829,278 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 91°F in Abuja, making it significantly cooler.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from Nigeria to Japan.
What does your salary buy?
NGN102,877,500 → ¥14,829,278
To maintain the same standard of living in Japan
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 2.1 times more
Groceries
pay 50.9% more
Transportation
pay 69.3% more
Housing
pay 83.4% more
Childcare
pay 6.3 times more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 2.2 times more
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 Nigeria to Japan, based on official data.
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
- · · ·
-
27.3,069
Nigeria
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Nigeria to Japan.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
of residents who feel safe walking alone at night
per 100,000 people per year
Japan performs significantly better than Nigeria 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
Nigeria generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Japan leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Nigeria 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
Japan generally does better on infrastructure, though Nigeria leads in water stress level.
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
Japan generally does better on employment & economy, though Nigeria leads in top income tax 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 performs significantly better than Nigeria across all family life metrics.
Data: Federal Inland Revenue Service, Nigeria, 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 | Abuja | Tokyo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 97°/74°F (36°/23°C) | 53°/37°F (12°/3°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 91°/69°F (33°/21°C) | 73°/58°F (23°/14°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 85°/66°F (29°/19°C) | 85°/72°F (30°/22°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 93°/64°F (34°/18°C) | 63°/49°F (17°/9°C) |
View all months
| Month | Abuja | Tokyo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 94°/69°F (34.7°/20.4°C) | 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.2°C) |
| Feb | 98°/78°F (36.8°/25.5°C) | 52°/36°F (10.9°/2.1°C) |
| Mar | 98°/76°F (36.9°/24.3°C) | 58°/41°F (14.2°/5.0°C) |
| Apr | 96°/76°F (35.6°/24.7°C) | 67°/50°F (19.4°/9.8°C) |
| May | 91°/67°F (32.7°/19.5°C) | 74°/58°F (23.6°/14.6°C) |
| Jun | 87°/65°F (30.6°/18.3°C) | 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.5°C) |
| Jul | 84°/71°F (29.1°/21.9°C) | 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C) |
| Aug | 84°/64°F (28.9°/17.7°C) | 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C) |
| Sep | 86°/64°F (30.0°/17.5°C) | 82°/69°F (27.5°/20.3°C) |
| Oct | 90°/71°F (32.0°/21.4°C) | 72°/59°F (22.0°/14.8°C) |
| Nov | 94°/60°F (34.4°/15.7°C) | 62°/48°F (16.7°/8.8°C) |
| Dec | 94°/60°F (34.6°/15.5°C) | 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.8°C) |
Data:
Nigerian Meteorological Agency,
Japan Meteorological Agency
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Nigeria 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.
Nigeria passport holder visiting Japan
Visa Required
Japan passport holder visiting Nigeria
Visa Online (e-Visa)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 Nigeria?
No — Japan is on average about 24% more expensive than Nigeria. City-level variation matters.
How much money do I need to move to Japan?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly ¥3,707,320 in Japan on a NGN102,877,500 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 Nigeria across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Japan is 0.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 21.7 in Nigeria. About 83% of people in Japan feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in Japan compared to Nigeria?
Nigeria generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Japan leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 26.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Japan, compared to 3.9 in Nigeria. Japan scores 83 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Nigeria: 38).
What's the weather like in Japan compared to Nigeria?
The average high temperature in Tokyo is 69°F, compared to 91°F in Abuja. Tokyo receives around 62.9 in of rainfall per year, while Abuja gets 48.1 in.
What language do they speak in Japan?
The official language in Japan is Japanese. In Nigeria, the official language is English.
