What rent and the move cost
Monthly rent and utilities for a one-bedroom, plus the one-time cost of getting there and settling in. The move covers the visa fee, a one-way flight with three extra bags (averaged across five US airports), three weeks of temporary lodging, the apartment move-in, a starter kit for the new place and a 10% cushion.
| City size | Example cities | Rent, 1BR | Utilities | One-time move |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big city | Tokyo, Osaka, Yokohama | $1,193 | $180 | $10,637 |
| Mid-size city | Fukuoka, Kyoto, Nagoya | $749 | $155 | $7,751 |
| Smaller town | Sapporo, Sendai, Naha | $508 | $140 | $6,162 |
Not included: groceries, transport and health insurance. Amounts in US dollars at the exchange rates in the planner’s data.
Getting in and staying
US citizens can stay 90 days visa-free.
The planner’s remote-work route is the digital nomad visa. It asks you to show income of about $5,301 a month. The application fee in the planner is about $29.
Visa rules change often. Check the official immigration or consular page before you apply. Our sources page explains where these figures come from.
Signing a lease
Plan on about 4.5 months’ rent up front when you sign: a deposit, key money (a one-time gift to the landlord), agency and guarantor fees and the first month. In a mid-size city that’s about $3,370.
Language and time zone
Low English proficiency (EF EPI 2025). Expect to use a translation app outside tourist areas. When it’s 9 a.m. in New York, it’s 11 p.m. in Tokyo. Keeping full US working hours here means early mornings or late nights.
Worth knowing
The digital nomad visa lasts six months and asks for about $5,301 a month in income, the highest bar of the ten countries. Move-in can also take about 4.5 months’ rent once key money is counted.
See where you fit
The 1-minute quiz matches your income, savings and the kind of place you want with three of these ten countries. The Expat Relocation Planner builds the full budget for Japan with your own airport, household and savings.
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