Moving to Japan from Virginia
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Virginia to Japan — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Virginia to Japan, you would find that Japan is 35.9% cheaper than Virginia. A $75,000 salary in Virginia would need to be roughly ¥7,505,330 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 ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from Virginia to Japan.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → ¥7,505,330
To maintain the same standard of living in Japan
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 61.7% less
Groceries
pay 22.0% less
Transportation
pay 11.3% more
Housing
pay 52.1% less
Childcare
pay 68.7% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 33.0% 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.
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 41% less than cities in Virginia.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from Virginia to Japan, based on official data.
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
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Virginia to Japan.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Japan performs significantly better than Virginia across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Virginia 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
Virginia 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 Virginia across all family life metrics.
Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Richmond | Tokyo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 53°/32°F (12°/0°C) | 53°/37°F (12°/3°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 78°/55°F (26°/13°C) | 73°/58°F (23°/14°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 86°/65°F (30°/19°C) | 85°/72°F (30°/22°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 61°/39°F (16°/4°C) | 63°/49°F (17°/9°C) |
View all months
| Month | Richmond | Tokyo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 47°/28°F (8.6°/-2.1°C) | 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.2°C) |
| Feb | 51°/31°F (10.7°/-0.8°C) | 52°/36°F (10.9°/2.1°C) |
| Mar | 60°/37°F (15.6°/2.8°C) | 58°/41°F (14.2°/5.0°C) |
| Apr | 70°/46°F (21.3°/7.8°C) | 67°/50°F (19.4°/9.8°C) |
| May | 78°/55°F (25.5°/12.8°C) | 74°/58°F (23.6°/14.6°C) |
| Jun | 86°/65°F (30.1°/18.1°C) | 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.5°C) |
| Jul | 90°/69°F (32.1°/20.5°C) | 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C) |
| Aug | 88°/67°F (30.9°/19.7°C) | 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C) |
| Sep | 81°/60°F (27.3°/15.6°C) | 82°/69°F (27.5°/20.3°C) |
| Oct | 71°/48°F (21.7°/9.1°C) | 72°/59°F (22.0°/14.8°C) |
| Nov | 61°/39°F (16.3°/4.1°C) | 62°/48°F (16.7°/8.8°C) |
| Dec | 51°/31°F (10.4°/-0.3°C) | 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.8°C) |
National Weather Service
Japan Meteorological AgencyVisitor Visa Requirements
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 Virginia?
Yes — Japan is on average about 38% cheaper than Virginia. 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 ¥1,876,332 in Japan on a $75,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from Japan?
Usually fine from major cities in Japan. The harder questions are legal — digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
How is healthcare in Japan compared to Virginia?
Japan performs significantly better than Virginia across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Japan compared to Virginia?
The average high temperature in Tokyo is 69°F, compared to 70°F in Richmond. Tokyo receives around 62.9 in of rainfall per year, while Richmond gets 43.6 in.
What language do they speak in Japan?
The official language in Japan is Japanese. In Virginia, the official language is English.
