Moving to Japan from Utah
What to Expect
Considering a move from Utah to Japan? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Utah to Japan, you would find that Japan is 41.0% cheaper than Utah. A $75,000 salary in Utah would need to be roughly ¥6,970,000 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.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓Is Japan cheaper than Utah?
How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 56.3% less
Groceries
pay 7.8% less
Transportation
pay 17.2% less
Housing
pay 59.7% less
Childcare
pay 52.8% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 25.0% 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.
What salary do you need in Japan?
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → ¥6,970,000
To maintain the same standard of living in Japan
Calculate with your salary →Cost of living by city
Cost of living varies a lot by city. Each figure is a city's overall cost of living as a percentage of New York City (the priciest, = 100%).
On average, cities in Japan cost about 35% less than cities in Utah.
Compare cities head-to-head
Get free moving quotes to Japan
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from Utah to Japan.
people moved from United States 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
-
6.58,340
United States
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Japan compared to Utah.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Japan performs significantly better than Utah across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Utah 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
share of people below the poverty line
Utah generally does better on employment & economy, though Japan leads in unemployment rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Japan performs significantly better than Utah across all family life metrics.
Sources: World Bank (2024–2025), US Census Bureau (American Community Survey) (2023), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES) (2022), World Health Organization (2024), Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025), Bureau of Economic Analysis (2024), The World Factbook (2013), OECD Regional Demography (2020). How we calculate this
Weather in Japan vs Utah
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Salt Lake City | Tokyo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 45°/27°F (7°/-3°C) | 53°/37°F (12°/3°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 72°/48°F (22°/9°C) | 73°/58°F (23°/14°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 87°/60°F (31°/16°C) | 85°/72°F (30°/22°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 51°/32°F (10°/0°C) | 63°/49°F (17°/9°C) |
View all months
| Month | Salt Lake City | Tokyo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 37°/22°F (3.0°/-5.8°C) | 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.2°C) |
| Feb | 43°/25°F (6.2°/-3.8°C) | 52°/36°F (10.9°/2.1°C) |
| Mar | 54°/34°F (12.1°/0.9°C) | 58°/41°F (14.2°/5.0°C) |
| Apr | 62°/40°F (16.4°/4.2°C) | 67°/50°F (19.4°/9.8°C) |
| May | 72°/48°F (22.2°/8.8°C) | 74°/58°F (23.6°/14.6°C) |
| Jun | 83°/56°F (28.3°/13.6°C) | 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.5°C) |
| Jul | 93°/65°F (33.7°/18.2°C) | 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C) |
| Aug | 90°/63°F (32.5°/17.4°C) | 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C) |
| Sep | 79°/53°F (26.2°/11.7°C) | 82°/69°F (27.5°/20.3°C) |
| Oct | 65°/41°F (18.2°/5.2°C) | 72°/59°F (22.0°/14.8°C) |
| Nov | 49°/31°F (9.7°/-0.8°C) | 62°/48°F (16.7°/8.8°C) |
| Dec | 38°/23°F (3.3°/-5.2°C) | 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.8°C) |
National Weather Service
Japan Meteorological AgencyCan you move from Utah to Japan?
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States 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.
United States passport holder visiting Japan
Visa Free
Japan passport holder visiting United States
Electronic Travel AuthorisationData: 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 Utah?
On average Japan is about 41% less expensive than Utah, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Japan?
Budget about ¥1,742,500 for 3 months in Japan (based on a $75,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Japan?
From major Japan cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in Utah and Japan are what actually decide it long-term.
How is healthcare in Japan compared to Utah?
Japan performs significantly better than Utah across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Japan compared to Utah?
The average high temperature in Tokyo is 69°F, compared to 64°F in Salt Lake City. Tokyo receives around 62.9 in of rainfall per year, while Salt Lake City gets 16.1 in.
What language do they speak in Japan?
The official language in Japan is Japanese. In Utah, the official language is English.
