Moving to Japan from Thailand
What to Expect
Considering a move from Thailand to Japan? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Thailand to Japan, you would find that Japan is 40.2% more expensive than Thailand overall. A THB2,448,167 salary in Thailand would need to be roughly ¥13,345,315 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 91°F in Bangkok, making it significantly cooler.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Thailand and Japan.
What does your salary buy?
THB2,448,167 → ¥13,345,315
To maintain the same standard of living in Japan
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 69.1% more
Groceries
pay 57.9% more
Transportation
pay 54.0% more
Housing
pay 60.8% more
Childcare
pay 0.6% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 34.6% 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?
What the data shows about people moving from Thailand to Japan.
people moved from Thailand 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
- 275,252
- 204,814
- 58,340
- · · ·
-
8.53,087
Thailand
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Japan compared to Thailand.
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 performs significantly better than Thailand 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
Thailand 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
Thailand 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 Thailand 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
Thailand 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 performs significantly better than Thailand across all family life metrics.
Data: The Revenue Department, Government of Thailand, 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 | Bangkok | Tokyo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 91°/74°F (33°/23°C) | 53°/37°F (12°/3°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 93°/78°F (34°/26°C) | 73°/58°F (23°/14°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 90°/77°F (32°/25°C) | 85°/72°F (30°/22°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 89°/73°F (32°/23°C) | 63°/49°F (17°/9°C) |
View all months
| Month | Bangkok | Tokyo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 90°/70°F (32.0°/21.0°C) | 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.2°C) |
| Feb | 91°/74°F (32.7°/23.3°C) | 52°/36°F (10.9°/2.1°C) |
| Mar | 93°/77°F (33.7°/24.9°C) | 58°/41°F (14.2°/5.0°C) |
| Apr | 95°/79°F (34.9°/26.1°C) | 67°/50°F (19.4°/9.8°C) |
| May | 93°/78°F (34.0°/25.6°C) | 74°/58°F (23.6°/14.6°C) |
| Jun | 92°/78°F (33.1°/25.4°C) | 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.5°C) |
| Jul | 91°/77°F (32.7°/25.0°C) | 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C) |
| Aug | 90°/77°F (32.5°/24.9°C) | 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C) |
| Sep | 90°/76°F (32.3°/24.6°C) | 82°/69°F (27.5°/20.3°C) |
| Oct | 90°/76°F (32.0°/24.3°C) | 72°/59°F (22.0°/14.8°C) |
| Nov | 89°/74°F (31.6°/23.1°C) | 62°/48°F (16.7°/8.8°C) |
| Dec | 88°/69°F (31.3°/20.8°C) | 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.8°C) |
Data:
Thai Meteorological Department,
Japan Meteorological Agency
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Thailand 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.
Thailand passport holder visiting Japan
Visa Free
Japan passport holder visiting Thailand
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 Thailand?
On average Japan is around 12% pricier than Thailand, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to Japan?
Budget about ¥3,336,329 for 3 months in Japan (based on a THB2,448,167 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 Thailand across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Japan is 0.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 4.8 in Thailand. About 83% of people in Japan feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in Japan compared to Thailand?
Thailand 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 9.3 in Thailand. Japan scores 83 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Thailand: 82).
What's the weather like in Japan compared to Thailand?
The average high temperature in Tokyo is 69°F, compared to 91°F in Bangkok. Tokyo receives around 62.9 in of rainfall per year, while Bangkok gets 59.0 in.
What language do they speak in Japan?
The official language in Japan is Japanese. In Thailand, the official language is Thai.
