Japan

Living in Japan: the short version

Japan is safe, spotless and efficient, and a weak yen has made it cheaper for foreigners than it has been in decades. Work culture can be demanding and Japanese language skills matter for most careers, but visa options for professionals and remote workers have widened.

Best for: Professionals with a Japanese employer, English teachers, and high-earning remote workers on short stays.

How to move to Japan: main visa and residency routes

Summaries only — requirements and income thresholds change. Always check the official sources below.

Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services

The most common work visa, sponsored by a Japanese employer.

Highly Skilled Professional

Points-based status with faster permanent residency for qualified professionals.

Digital nomad visa

A six-month stay for remote workers with high annual income from outside Japan.

Specified Skilled Worker

For workers in designated industries who pass skills and Japanese tests.

Healthcare for newcomers

Residents join National Health Insurance or an employer scheme, which typically covers 70% of costs. Care is high quality and waiting times are short.

How Japan compares

Calculated from our data for all 55 countries. How we calculate this

Cost of living rank

12th most expensive of 55

Single person, core costs

$1,500/mo

Family of four, core costs

$3,144/mo

Take-home on $60,000

$42,150/yr

• Renting a one-bedroom home takes about 21% of the average local salary in Japan, less than the median of 36% across the countries we cover.
• Core monthly costs for one person (rent, groceries, transport, utilities, internet and eating out) come to about $1,500, or 45% of the average local monthly salary.
• On a gross salary of $60,000 taxed locally, our estimate leaves $42,150 a year after income tax and employee social security (an effective rate of 30%), the 37th highest take-home pay of 55 countries. After single-person core costs, that leaves roughly $24,150 a year to save or spend.
• Countries with a similar overall cost of living: Canada, Netherlands, Sweden.
• Cheaper options in Asia: South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand.

Estimates for planning, using simplified national tax brackets in US dollars; local taxes, deductions and your own spending will differ. Try your own numbers in the tax calculator or budget planner.

Our guides to Japan

• Traditional Japanese Cuisine: A Complete Food Guide · Food & Cuisine

Sources and methodology

Figures on this page are estimates in US dollars, compiled from the international datasets below and converted at recent exchange rates. The cost of living index uses New York City as 100. Guidance was last reviewed on September 30, 2026. Found something out of date? Tell us.