Moving to Japan from Washington
What to Expect
Considering a move from Washington to Japan? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Washington to Japan, you would find that Japan is 42.1% cheaper than Washington. A $75,000 salary in Washington would need to be roughly ¥7,460,862 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?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Washington and Japan.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → ¥7,460,862
To maintain the same standard of living in Japan
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 61.8% less
Groceries
pay 14.3% less
Housing
pay 53.6% less
Childcare
pay 65.5% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 35.2% 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 46% less than cities in Washington.
Compare cities head-to-head
Get free moving quotes to Japan
We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.
- ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
- ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
- ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you
Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from Washington 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 Washington.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Japan performs significantly better than Washington across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Washington 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
Washington 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 Washington 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 | Olympia | Tokyo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 50°/34°F (10°/1°C) | 53°/37°F (12°/3°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 65°/43°F (18°/6°C) | 73°/58°F (23°/14°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 76°/49°F (24°/10°C) | 85°/72°F (30°/22°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 51°/36°F (11°/2°C) | 63°/49°F (17°/9°C) |
View all months
| Month | Olympia | Tokyo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 46°/34°F (7.7°/0.9°C) | 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.2°C) |
| Feb | 49°/33°F (9.6°/0.4°C) | 52°/36°F (10.9°/2.1°C) |
| Mar | 54°/35°F (12.2°/1.7°C) | 58°/41°F (14.2°/5.0°C) |
| Apr | 59°/38°F (14.9°/3.2°C) | 67°/50°F (19.4°/9.8°C) |
| May | 65°/43°F (18.5°/6.2°C) | 74°/58°F (23.6°/14.6°C) |
| Jun | 71°/48°F (21.4°/8.7°C) | 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.5°C) |
| Jul | 77°/51°F (24.9°/10.4°C) | 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C) |
| Aug | 78°/51°F (25.4°/10.3°C) | 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C) |
| Sep | 72°/46°F (22.1°/7.8°C) | 82°/69°F (27.5°/20.3°C) |
| Oct | 60°/40°F (15.7°/4.7°C) | 72°/59°F (22.0°/14.8°C) |
| Nov | 50°/36°F (10.1°/2.4°C) | 62°/48°F (16.7°/8.8°C) |
| Dec | 44°/33°F (6.8°/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 Washington?
On average Japan is about 37% less expensive than Washington, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Japan?
Budget about ¥1,865,216 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 Washington and Japan are what actually decide it long-term.
How is healthcare in Japan compared to Washington?
Japan performs significantly better than Washington across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Japan compared to Washington?
The average high temperature in Tokyo is 69°F, compared to 60°F in Olympia. Tokyo receives around 62.9 in of rainfall per year, while Olympia gets 50.0 in.
What language do they speak in Japan?
The official language in Japan is Japanese. In Washington, the official language is English.
