Moving to Japan from Taiwan
What to Expect
A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Taiwan to Japan — from daily expenses to quality of life.
If you moved from Taiwan to Japan, you would find that Japan is 13.6% more expensive than Taiwan overall. A NT$2,357,010 salary in Taiwan would need to be roughly ¥11,047,761 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.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
How your spending power changes when you relocate from Taiwan to Japan.
What does your salary buy?
NT$2,357,010 → ¥11,047,761
To maintain the same standard of living in Japan
Calculate with your salary →The biggest cost differences at a glance
Restaurants
pay 14.6% more
Groceries
pay 4.3% less
Transportation
pay 57.2% more
Housing
pay 55.8% more
Childcare
pay 31.9% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 20.3% 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 Taiwan to Japan, and how the trend has changed.
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
Key Indicator Comparison
How Taiwan and Japan stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.
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
Taiwan 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
Japan performs significantly better than Taiwan across all family life metrics.
Data: Taxation Administration, Ministry of Finance, R.O.C., The World Factbook
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Taiwan 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.
Taiwan passport holder visiting Japan
Visa Free
Japan passport holder visiting Taiwan
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 Taiwan?
Generally yes: Japan runs about 8% cheaper than Taiwan 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 NT$2,357,010 comparable salary, that's around ¥2,761,940 in Japan for everyday spending, before flights, shipping, deposits, 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 Taiwan and Japan.
What language do they speak in Japan?
The official language in Japan is Japanese. In Taiwan, the official language is Chinese.
