✦ Cost of living
Japan
National taxes, visas and economy — plus every city we track in Japan.
The cost of living in Japan averages 95 on our index (a typical US city = 100) — about 5% cheaper. Among the cities we track, Sapporo is the most affordable and Tokyo the priciest. A one-bedroom rent runs roughly $850/mo and the top income-tax rate is 45%. The average net salary is about $2,600/mo.
- Currency
- Japanese yen (¥ JPY)
- Languages
- Japanese
- Capital
- Tokyo
- Driving
- Left-hand side
- Power
- A/B · 100V
▤ Taxes
45%
Income tax
progressive
10%
VAT / sales
30%
Corporate
20.315%
Capital gains
$2,600
Avg net salary
per month
$50,183
Avg annual wage
per year · OECD (PPP)
$1,300
Minimum wage
per month
84 yr
Life expectancy
World Bank 2024
✈ Visas & residency
Work visas by category; Highly Skilled Professional points system.
✈ Short visits visa-free for many; work needs a status of residence.
Points-based, fast-track PR.
❖ Cities in Japan
⚖ Compare Japan with other countries
▸ Recommended reading & gear
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