Moving to Japan from Pakistan

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Pakistan to Japan? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Pakistan to Japan, you would find that Japan is 4.3 times more expensive than Pakistan overall. A PKR20,891,250 salary in Pakistan would need to be roughly ¥27,953,313 in Japan to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Japanese. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Tokyo averages 69°F vs 84°F in Islamabad, making it significantly cooler.

How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Pakistan and Japan.

What does your salary buy?

PKR20,891,250 ¥27,953,313

To maintain the same standard of living in Japan

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 2.7 times more

Groceries

pay 4.3 times more

Transportation

pay 4.2 times more

Housing

pay 4.3 times more

Childcare

pay 9.7 times more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 2.7 times more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 PKR = 0.5719 JPY (June 2026)

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?

What the data shows about people moving from Pakistan to Japan.

Moved in 2023
3,831 ↑ 7% vs 2022

people moved from Pakistan to Japan · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to Japan?

Top countries of origin for Japan's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Japan compared to Pakistan.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

PK
4.2
JP
0.2
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

PK
11.9
JP
2.7

Japan performs significantly better than Pakistan across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

PK
$152
JP
$5,365
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2020

affects wait times and access to care

PK
10.8
JP
26.1

Pakistan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Japan leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

PK
105.0
JP
12.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

PK
0.8t
JP
7.8t

Pakistan generally does better on environment, though Japan leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

PK
1.3
JP
37.2
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

PK
162.1%
JP
36.0%

Japan performs significantly better than Pakistan across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

PK
5.5%
JP
2.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

PK
$5,600
JP
$46,300

Japan generally does better on employment & economy, though Pakistan leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

PK
69.7 yrs
JP
84.8 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

PK
54.0
JP
1.9

Japan performs significantly better than Pakistan across all family life metrics.

Data: Federal Board of Revenue, Government of Pakistan, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Islamabad Rain: 49.1 in/yr (1247 mm)
84° / 58°F

Avg. annual high / low

Tokyo Rain: 62.9 in/yr (1598 mm)
69° / 54°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Islamabad Tokyo
Jan–Mar 69°/44°F (21°/7°C) 53°/37°F (12°/3°C)
Apr–Jun 95°/68°F (35°/20°C) 73°/58°F (23°/14°C)
Jul–Sep 94°/74°F (34°/23°C) 85°/72°F (30°/22°C)
Oct–Dec 78°/48°F (26°/9°C) 63°/49°F (17°/9°C)
View all months
Month Islamabad Tokyo
Jan 64°/38°F (17.9°/3.2°C) 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.2°C)
Feb 68°/43°F (19.8°/6.0°C) 52°/36°F (10.9°/2.1°C)
Mar 76°/51°F (24.5°/10.7°C) 58°/41°F (14.2°/5.0°C)
Apr 87°/60°F (30.5°/15.8°C) 67°/50°F (19.4°/9.8°C)
May 97°/69°F (36.0°/20.7°C) 74°/58°F (23.6°/14.6°C)
Jun 101°/75°F (38.4°/23.8°C) 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.5°C)
Jul 96°/76°F (35.3°/24.4°C) 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C)
Aug 93°/75°F (33.7°/23.8°C) 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C)
Sep 93°/70°F (33.7°/21.1°C) 82°/69°F (27.5°/20.3°C)
Oct 88°/58°F (30.9°/14.5°C) 72°/59°F (22.0°/14.8°C)
Nov 79°/47°F (25.9°/8.3°C) 62°/48°F (16.7°/8.8°C)
Dec 68°/40°F (20.2°/4.3°C) 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.8°C)

Data: Japan Meteorological Agency Japan Meteorological Agency

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Pakistan 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.

Pakistan passport

Pakistan passport holder visiting Japan

Visa Required
Pakistan passport holders need a visa to enter Japan.
Japan passport

Japan passport holder visiting Pakistan

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Japan passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Pakistan.

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 Pakistan?

On average Japan is around 134% pricier than Pakistan, with notable variation by city.

How much money do I need to move to Japan?

Budget about ¥6,988,328 for 3 months in Japan (based on a PKR20,891,250 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, rental deposit, visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Japan?

Connectivity is usually fine (Japan: 37.2 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Japan offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Japan safe for expats?

Japan performs significantly better than Pakistan across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Japan is 0.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 4.2 in Pakistan.

How is healthcare in Japan compared to Pakistan?

Pakistan 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 10.8 in Pakistan. Japan scores 83 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Pakistan: 45).

What's the weather like in Japan compared to Pakistan?

The average high temperature in Tokyo is 69°F, compared to 84°F in Islamabad. Tokyo receives around 62.9 in of rainfall per year, while Islamabad gets 49.1 in.

What language do they speak in Japan?

The official language in Japan is Japanese. In Pakistan, the official languages are English and Urdu.

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At a Glance

PK JP
Population 242,923,845 124,214,766
Currency Pakistani Rupee (PKR) Japanese Yen (¥)
Languages English, Urdu Japanese
Driving side Left Left
Calling code +92 +81
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 15 110