Which country offers the most savings for Japanese expats?

Portugal currently leads — roughly 10% lower cost of living than Japan, with a healthcare proxy of 88/100.

Do Japanese citizens need a visa?

Most destinations on this list offer a digital nomad, retirement, or long-stay visa accessible to Japanese passport holders. Confirm specifics before relocating.

Will I still owe tax in Japan?

Tax residency rules in Japan typically depend on physical presence and ties — consult a cross-border adviser before relocating.

Best Countries for Japanese Expats (2026)

With a weak yen and high domestic costs of imports, Japanese retirees and remote workers increasingly explore Southeast Asia.

Updated March 2026

Key takeaway

Portugal ranks #1 for Japanese expats — about 10% cheaper than Japan on cost of living and 0% cheaper on rent.

Score blends cost arbitrage, a healthcare proxy (88/100), safety (90/100), visa access, and English fluency.

Top 10 by lifestyle-adjusted score

Higher = better cost arbitrage and lifestyle fit for Japanese expats.

Portugal

60.8

Malaysia

59.8

Estonia

58.2

United Arab Emirates

57.8

Malta

56.4

Cyprus

56.2

Spain

55.7

Canada

54.9

Iceland

54.9

Thailand

54.6

#	Country	Score	CoL vs Japan	Rent vs Japan	HC	Safety
1	PortugalVisa	60.8	−10%	+3%	88	90	vs Japan →
2	MalaysiaVisa	59.8	−37%	−54%	78	74	vs Japan →
3	EstoniaVisa	58.2	−12%	−24%	78	84	vs Japan →
4	United Arab EmiratesVisa	57.8	+2%	+107%	82	88	vs Japan →
5	MaltaVisa	56.4	+9%	+14%	82	84	vs Japan →
6	CyprusVisa	56.2	+1%	−8%	78	82	vs Japan →
7	SpainVisa	55.7	−6%	−2%	92	80	vs Japan →
8	CanadaVisa	54.9	+19%	+69%	84	80	vs Japan →
9	IcelandVisa	54.9	+44%	+85%	88	96	vs Japan →
10	ThailandVisa	54.6	−35%	−50%	76	70	vs Japan →
11	HungaryVisa	54.3	−30%	−41%	72	78	vs Japan →
12	CroatiaVisa	53.4	−14%	−37%	74	82	vs Japan →
13	GreeceVisa	53.2	−11%	−44%	78	78	vs Japan →
14	South KoreaVisa	52.8	+18%	+0%	90	84	vs Japan →
15	LatviaVisa	52.6	−19%	−41%	70	78	vs Japan →
16	RomaniaVisa	52.4	−34%	−50%	66	70	vs Japan →
17	IndonesiaVisa	50.9	−42%	−63%	58	64	vs Japan →
18	Slovenia	50.9	−10%	−24%	80	88	vs Japan →
19	South AfricaVisa	50.4	−34%	−48%	62	36	vs Japan →
20	Qatar	49.7	+9%	+107%	84	90	vs Japan →
21	Netherlands	49.6	+17%	+79%	90	88	vs Japan →
22	SerbiaVisa	49.4	−31%	−54%	60	60	vs Japan →
23	ItalyVisa	49.3	−4%	−15%	86	74	vs Japan →
24	Sweden	49.1	+12%	+7%	88	84	vs Japan →
25	Finland	49.0	+18%	+14%	86	90	vs Japan →

What we measured

Cost arbitrage — how much cheaper rent and overall cost of living are vs Japan.
Healthcare proxy (0–100) — blended outcome data, infrastructure, and resident satisfaction.
Safety proxy (0–100) — petty + violent crime + perceived nighttime safety.
Visa access — whether the destination offers a digital-nomad or long-stay visa accessible to Japanese citizens.
English fluency — day-to-day usability for new arrivals before learning the local language.

Top 10 by lifestyle-adjusted score

What we measured

Other origins