Moving to Japan from North Carolina
What to Expect
A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from North Carolina to Japan — from daily expenses to quality of life.
If you moved from North Carolina to Japan, you would find that Japan is 31.1% cheaper than North Carolina. A $75,000 salary in North Carolina would need to be roughly ¥8,283,771 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.
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 North Carolina to Japan.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → ¥8,283,771
To maintain the same standard of living in Japan
Calculate with your salary →The biggest cost differences at a glance
Restaurants
pay 56.0% less
Groceries
pay 16.3% less
Transportation
pay 9.8% more
Housing
pay 49.8% less
Childcare
pay 61.5% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 23.5% 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 39% less than cities in North Carolina.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
Real numbers on people moving from North Carolina 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 North Carolina and Japan stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Japan performs significantly better than North Carolina across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
North Carolina 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
North Carolina 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 North Carolina 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 | Asheville | Tokyo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 52°/32°F (11°/0°C) | 53°/37°F (12°/3°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 75°/53°F (24°/12°C) | 73°/58°F (23°/14°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 82°/62°F (28°/17°C) | 85°/72°F (30°/22°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 58°/38°F (15°/3°C) | 63°/49°F (17°/9°C) |
View all months
| Month | Asheville | Tokyo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 47°/28°F (8.1°/-2.4°C) | 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.2°C) |
| Feb | 50°/31°F (10.2°/-0.6°C) | 52°/36°F (10.9°/2.1°C) |
| Mar | 58°/37°F (14.4°/2.9°C) | 58°/41°F (14.2°/5.0°C) |
| Apr | 67°/45°F (19.7°/7.3°C) | 67°/50°F (19.4°/9.8°C) |
| May | 75°/53°F (23.9°/11.7°C) | 74°/58°F (23.6°/14.6°C) |
| Jun | 82°/61°F (27.6°/16.1°C) | 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.5°C) |
| Jul | 85°/65°F (29.3°/18.1°C) | 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C) |
| Aug | 84°/64°F (28.7°/17.7°C) | 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C) |
| Sep | 77°/57°F (25.1°/13.8°C) | 82°/69°F (27.5°/20.3°C) |
| Oct | 68°/46°F (19.9°/7.9°C) | 72°/59°F (22.0°/14.8°C) |
| Nov | 58°/38°F (14.7°/3.1°C) | 62°/48°F (16.7°/8.8°C) |
| Dec | 49°/30°F (9.4°/-0.9°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 North Carolina?
Generally yes: Japan runs about 32% cheaper than North Carolina 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 ¥2,070,943 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 North Carolina and Japan.
How is healthcare in Japan compared to North Carolina?
Japan performs significantly better than North Carolina across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Japan compared to North Carolina?
The average high temperature in Tokyo is 69°F, compared to 67°F in Asheville. Tokyo receives around 62.9 in of rainfall per year, while Asheville gets 37.0 in.
What language do they speak in Japan?
The official language in Japan is Japanese. In North Carolina, the official language is English.
