Which country offers the most savings for Japanese expats?

Malaysia currently leads — roughly 52% lower cost of living than Japan, with a healthcare proxy of 78/100.

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

Malaysia ranks #1 for Japanese expats — about 52% cheaper than Japan on cost of living and 54% cheaper on rent.

Score blends cost arbitrage, a healthcare proxy (78/100), safety (74/100), visa access, and English fluency.

City-level costs inside Malaysia vary a lot. Compare cities with Pro →

Top 10 by lifestyle-adjusted score

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

Malaysia

61.6

Portugal

60.7

Malta

58.1

United Arab Emirates

57.3

Cyprus

56.8

Thailand

56.5

Estonia

55.9

South Korea

55.5

Spain

55.3

Croatia

54.1

#	Country	Score	CoL vs Japan	Rent vs Japan	HC	Safety
1	MalaysiaVisa	61.6	−52%	−54%	78	74	vs Japan →
2	PortugalVisa	60.7	−9%	+3%	88	90	vs Japan →
3	MaltaVisa	58.1	−5%	+14%	82	84	vs Japan →
4	United Arab EmiratesVisa	57.3	+6%	+107%	82	88	vs Japan →
5	CyprusVisa	56.8	−3%	−8%	78	82	vs Japan →
6	ThailandVisa	56.5	−50%	−50%	76	70	vs Japan →
7	EstoniaVisa	55.9	+6%	−24%	78	84	vs Japan →
8	South KoreaVisa	55.5	−3%	+0%	90	84	vs Japan →
9	SpainVisa	55.3	−3%	−2%	92	80	vs Japan →
10	CroatiaVisa	54.1	−20%	−37%	74	82	vs Japan →
11	HungaryVisa	53.3	−21%	−41%	72	78	vs Japan →
12	GreeceVisa	52.9	−9%	−44%	78	78	vs Japan →
13	CanadaVisa	52.6	+38%	+69%	84	80	vs Japan →
14	IndonesiaVisa	52.1	−52%	−63%	58	64	vs Japan →
15	RomaniaVisa	52.1	−32%	−50%	66	70	vs Japan →
16	LatviaVisa	51.7	−12%	−41%	70	78	vs Japan →
17	IcelandVisa	51.6	+71%	+85%	88	96	vs Japan →
18	Singapore	51.5	+18%	+215%	95	95	vs Japan →
19	South AfricaVisa	50.7	−36%	−48%	62	36	vs Japan →
20	Slovenia	50.5	−6%	−24%	80	88	vs Japan →
21	GeorgiaVisa	50.4	−39%	−48%	60	60	vs Japan →
22	Bahrain	50.3	−24%	−13%	74	80	vs Japan →
23	SerbiaVisa	49.1	−29%	−54%	60	60	vs Japan →
24	Taiwan	49.1	−14%	−37%	88	88	vs Japan →
25	Netherlands	49.0	+21%	+79%	90	88	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