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 ¥7,647,620 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. A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Washington and Japan. What does your salary buy? $75,000 → ¥7,647,620 To maintain the same standard of living in Japan 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 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 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. What the data shows about people moving from Washington to Japan. people moved from United States to Japan · OECD (latest data available) Top countries of origin for Japan's foreign-born residents. The numbers behind daily life in Japan compared to Washington. share of adults with obesity Japan performs significantly better than Washington across all health & wellbeing metrics. share of households with internet Washington performs better than Japan across all infrastructure metrics. 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. 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) Monthly averages — select a city to compare. Avg. annual high / low Avg. annual high / low 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 Japan passport holder visiting United States Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements. On average Japan is about 37% less expensive than Washington, with major cities narrowing the gap. Budget about ¥1,911,905 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. 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. Japan performs significantly better than Washington across all health & wellbeing metrics. 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. The official language in Japan is Japanese. In Washington, the official language is English. How Far Will Your Money Go?
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What's the Climate Like?
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) Visitor Visa Requirements
Frequently Asked Questions
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