Moving to Japan from Singapore
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Singapore to Japan — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Singapore to Japan, you would find that Japan is 33.4% cheaper than Singapore overall. A SGD95,760 salary in Singapore would need to be roughly ¥3,785,500 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 89°F in Singapore, making it significantly cooler.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from Singapore to Japan.
What does your salary buy?
SGD95,760 → ¥3,785,500
To maintain the same standard of living in Japan
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 32.4% less
Groceries
pay 12.2% less
Transportation
pay 1.8% less
Housing
pay 42.1% less
Childcare
pay 65.5% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 42.6% 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 Singapore 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
- · · ·
-
28.3,033
Singapore
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Singapore to Japan.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Singapore performs better than Japan 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
Singapore 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
Japan performs significantly better than Singapore 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
Singapore generally does better on infrastructure, though Japan 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
Singapore 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
Singapore generally does better on family life, though Japan leads in education spending.
Data: Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore, 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 | Singapore | Tokyo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 89°/76°F (31°/25°C) | 53°/37°F (12°/3°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 90°/78°F (32°/26°C) | 73°/58°F (23°/14°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 89°/78°F (31°/25°C) | 85°/72°F (30°/22°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 88°/76°F (31°/25°C) | 63°/49°F (17°/9°C) |
View all months
| Month | Singapore | Tokyo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 87°/76°F (30.6°/24.3°C) | 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.2°C) |
| Feb | 89°/76°F (31.5°/24.6°C) | 52°/36°F (10.9°/2.1°C) |
| Mar | 90°/77°F (32.2°/24.9°C) | 58°/41°F (14.2°/5.0°C) |
| Apr | 90°/78°F (32.4°/25.3°C) | 67°/50°F (19.4°/9.8°C) |
| May | 90°/78°F (32.3°/25.7°C) | 74°/58°F (23.6°/14.6°C) |
| Jun | 89°/78°F (31.9°/25.7°C) | 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.5°C) |
| Jul | 89°/78°F (31.4°/25.4°C) | 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C) |
| Aug | 89°/78°F (31.4°/25.3°C) | 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C) |
| Sep | 89°/77°F (31.6°/25.2°C) | 82°/69°F (27.5°/20.3°C) |
| Oct | 89°/77°F (31.8°/25.0°C) | 72°/59°F (22.0°/14.8°C) |
| Nov | 88°/76°F (31.2°/24.6°C) | 62°/48°F (16.7°/8.8°C) |
| Dec | 87°/76°F (30.5°/24.3°C) | 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.8°C) |
Data:
Meteorological Service Singapore,
Japan Meteorological Agency
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Singapore 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.
Singapore passport holder visiting Japan
Visa Free
Japan passport holder visiting Singapore
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 Singapore?
Yes — Japan is on average about 68% cheaper than Singapore. 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 ¥946,375 in Japan on a SGD95,760 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?
Singapore performs better than Japan across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Japan is 0.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.1 in Singapore.
How is healthcare in Japan compared to Singapore?
Singapore 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 26.0 in Singapore. Japan scores 83 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Singapore: 89).
What's the weather like in Japan compared to Singapore?
The average high temperature in Tokyo is 69°F, compared to 89°F in Singapore. Tokyo receives around 62.9 in of rainfall per year, while Singapore gets 83.2 in.
What language do they speak in Japan?
The official language in Japan is Japanese. In Singapore, the official languages are Chinese, English, Malay and Tamil.
