Moving to Japan from Sweden
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Sweden to Japan — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Sweden to Japan, you would find that Japan is 2.6% cheaper than Sweden overall. A SEK693,101 salary in Sweden would need to be roughly ¥8,633,751 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 52°F in Stockholm, making it significantly warmer.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from Sweden to Japan.
What does your salary buy?
SEK693,101 → ¥8,633,751
To maintain the same standard of living in Japan
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 58.1% less
Transportation
pay 23.4% less
Housing
pay 20.3% less
Childcare
pay 2.6 times more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 27.7% 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 Sweden 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
- · · ·
-
32.1,782
Sweden
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Sweden 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 generally does better on safety, though Sweden leads in road traffic deaths.
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
Sweden 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
Sweden performs better than Japan 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
Sweden 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
the highest marginal rate on personal income
Japan generally does better on employment & economy, though Sweden 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 Sweden leads in education spending.
Data: Skatteverket, 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 | Stockholm | Tokyo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 36°/28°F (2°/-2°C) | 53°/37°F (12°/3°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 61°/45°F (16°/7°C) | 73°/58°F (23°/14°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 69°/56°F (21°/13°C) | 85°/72°F (30°/22°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 43°/36°F (6°/2°C) | 63°/49°F (17°/9°C) |
View all months
| Month | Stockholm | Tokyo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 34°/27°F (1.0°/-2.9°C) | 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.2°C) |
| Feb | 34°/26°F (1.2°/-3.2°C) | 52°/36°F (10.9°/2.1°C) |
| Mar | 40°/30°F (4.7°/-1.1°C) | 58°/41°F (14.2°/5.0°C) |
| Apr | 51°/37°F (10.7°/2.6°C) | 67°/50°F (19.4°/9.8°C) |
| May | 62°/45°F (16.5°/7.1°C) | 74°/58°F (23.6°/14.6°C) |
| Jun | 69°/53°F (20.8°/11.6°C) | 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.5°C) |
| Jul | 74°/59°F (23.6°/14.8°C) | 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C) |
| Aug | 72°/58°F (22.1°/14.2°C) | 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C) |
| Sep | 62°/50°F (16.6°/10.2°C) | 82°/69°F (27.5°/20.3°C) |
| Oct | 50°/42°F (10.1°/5.5°C) | 72°/59°F (22.0°/14.8°C) |
| Nov | 42°/35°F (5.4°/1.9°C) | 62°/48°F (16.7°/8.8°C) |
| Dec | 36°/30°F (2.5°/-1.2°C) | 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.8°C) |
Data:
Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI),
Japan Meteorological Agency
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Sweden 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.
Sweden passport holder visiting Japan
Visa Free
Japan passport holder visiting Sweden
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 Sweden?
Yes — Japan is on average about 28% cheaper than Sweden. 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 ¥2,158,438 in Japan on a SEK693,101 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 generally does better on safety, though Sweden leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Japan is 0.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.1 in Sweden. About 83% of people in Japan feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in Japan compared to Sweden?
Sweden 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 71.5 in Sweden. Japan scores 83 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Sweden: 85).
What's the weather like in Japan compared to Sweden?
The average high temperature in Tokyo is 69°F, compared to 52°F in Stockholm. Tokyo receives around 62.9 in of rainfall per year, while Stockholm gets 21.5 in.
What language do they speak in Japan?
The official language in Japan is Japanese. In Sweden, the official language is Swedish.
