Moving to Japan from Philippines
What to Expect
A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Philippines to Japan — from daily expenses to quality of life.
If you moved from Philippines to Japan, you would find that Japan is 2.0 times more expensive than Philippines overall. A ₱4,557,825 salary in Philippines would need to be roughly ¥16,930,947 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 88°F in Manila, making it significantly cooler.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
How your spending power changes when you relocate from Philippines to Japan.
What does your salary buy?
₱4,557,825 → ¥16,930,947
To maintain the same standard of living in Japan
Calculate with your salary →The biggest cost differences at a glance
Restaurants
pay 70.5% more
Groceries
pay 44.4% more
Transportation
pay 3.9 times more
Housing
pay 75.5% more
Childcare
pay 2.3 times more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 82.8% 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?
Real numbers on people moving from Philippines to Japan, and how the trend has changed.
people moved from Philippines 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
-
4.275,252
Philippines
- 204,814
- 58,340
Key Indicator Comparison
How Philippines and Japan stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Japan performs significantly better than Philippines 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
Philippines 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
Philippines 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 Philippines 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
Philippines generally does better on employment & economy, though Japan leads in gdp per capita.
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 Philippines leads in education spending.
Data: Bureau of Internal Revenue, 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 | Manila | Tokyo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 87°/75°F (31°/24°C) | 53°/37°F (12°/3°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 91°/79°F (33°/26°C) | 73°/58°F (23°/14°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 88°/78°F (31°/26°C) | 85°/72°F (30°/22°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 87°/77°F (30°/25°C) | 63°/49°F (17°/9°C) |
View all months
| Month | Manila | Tokyo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 85°/74°F (29.5°/23.5°C) | 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.2°C) |
| Feb | 87°/75°F (30.5°/23.8°C) | 52°/36°F (10.9°/2.1°C) |
| Mar | 90°/77°F (32.1°/24.9°C) | 58°/41°F (14.2°/5.0°C) |
| Apr | 92°/79°F (33.5°/26.2°C) | 67°/50°F (19.4°/9.8°C) |
| May | 92°/80°F (33.2°/26.7°C) | 74°/58°F (23.6°/14.6°C) |
| Jun | 90°/79°F (32.2°/26.2°C) | 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.5°C) |
| Jul | 88°/78°F (31.1°/25.8°C) | 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C) |
| Aug | 87°/78°F (30.6°/25.5°C) | 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C) |
| Sep | 88°/78°F (30.9°/25.5°C) | 82°/69°F (27.5°/20.3°C) |
| Oct | 88°/78°F (30.9°/25.5°C) | 72°/59°F (22.0°/14.8°C) |
| Nov | 87°/77°F (30.7°/24.9°C) | 62°/48°F (16.7°/8.8°C) |
| Dec | 85°/75°F (29.7°/23.9°C) | 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.8°C) |
Data:
Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration,
Japan Meteorological Agency
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Philippines 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.
Philippines passport holder visiting Japan
Visa Required
Japan passport holder visiting Philippines
Visa FreeData: 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 Philippines?
Day-to-day costs in Japan run about 41% higher than Philippines on average; specific cities can swing further.
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 ₱4,557,825 comparable salary, that's around ¥4,232,737 in Japan for everyday spending, before flights, shipping, deposits, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Japan?
With 37.2 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Japan can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Philippines and Japan.
Is Japan safe for expats?
Japan performs significantly better than Philippines across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Japan is 0.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 4.3 in Philippines.
How is healthcare in Japan compared to Philippines?
Philippines 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 7.9 in Philippines. Japan scores 83 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Philippines: 58).
What's the weather like in Japan compared to Philippines?
The average high temperature in Tokyo is 69°F, compared to 88°F in Manila. Tokyo receives around 62.9 in of rainfall per year, while Manila gets 86.7 in.
What language do they speak in Japan?
The official language in Japan is Japanese. In Philippines, the official languages are English and Filipino.
