Fukuoka
Fukuoka delivers across the board — safe, fast internet (190 Mbps).
Quick answer
Fukuoka, Japan scores 75/100 on the WhereNext city composite (cost, safety, healthcare, education, climate, career, transport). Estimated single-person monthly cost is around $2,000/mo (a central 1-bed runs ~$550/mo). Safety index 92/100; healthcare 88/100; internet 190 Mbps. Top neighborhoods: Central Core, Historic Quarter, Modern Suburbs.
Key facts
- ~$2,000/mo single-person estimated cost of living · 1-bed center $550/mo.
- Safety: 92/100 very safe city by composite safety index.
- Healthcare: 88/100 high-quality healthcare access.
- Internet: 190 Mbps median fixed broadband download — remote-work ready.
- Top neighborhoods Central Core, Historic Quarter, Modern Suburbs — researched expat-friendly areas.
City composite
On par with peers
- Fukuoka
- 75/100
- Japan avg
- 77/100
- Global avg
- 63/100
Compared against 4 indexed cities in Japan and 380 indexed cities globally.
Source: WhereNext 7-dimension city composite (cost, safety, healthcare, education, climate, career, transport, air quality) · updated
Retirement readiness — Japan
Seven dimensions scored 0-10 from primary-source data. Composite = weighted mean (visa 20% · healthcare 20% · tax 15% · safety 15% · climate 10% · language 10% · cost 10%).
Verified · WhereNext corridor registry (visa pathway + claim confidence) · WHO 2024 UHC service-coverage index + JCI accreditation directory · US Treasury bilateral income-tax treaties index · IEP Global Peace Index 2025 · Köppen-Geiger climate classification + WHO air-quality database · EF English Proficiency Index 2025 · Numbeo Cost of Living Index 2026-Q1
- Visa ease(?)🇯🇵Japan6.0
- Healthcare access(?)🇯🇵Japan9.0
- Tax complexity(?)🇯🇵Japan5.0
- Safety(?)🇯🇵Japan9.0
- Climate(?)🇯🇵Japan7.0
- Language(?)🇯🇵Japan4.0
- Cost of living(?)🇯🇵Japan6.0
Composite (weighted mean)
🇯🇵Japan6.8
| Dimension | Weight | Japan | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa ease | 20% | 6.0 | WhereNext corridor registry (visa pathway + claim confidence) |
| Healthcare access | 20% | 9.0 | WHO 2024 UHC service-coverage index + JCI accreditation directory |
| Tax complexity | 15% | 5.0 | US Treasury bilateral income-tax treaties index |
| Safety | 15% | 9.0 | IEP Global Peace Index 2025 |
| Climate | 10% | 7.0 | Köppen-Geiger climate classification + WHO air-quality database |
| Language | 10% | 4.0 | EF English Proficiency Index 2025 |
| Cost of living | 10% | 6.0 | Numbeo Cost of Living Index 2026-Q1 |
| Composite | 1.00 | 6.8 | Weighted mean (see weights column) |
The short version
How much does it cost?
~$2,000/mo for a single person. A central 1-bed is ~$550/mo. Outside the center: ~$380/mo.
Is it safe?
Safety score: 92/100. Fukuoka is considered very safe by global standards.
Can I work remotely?
Internet: 190 Mbps avg. Fast enough for video calls and cloud work. Coworking: ~$180/mo.
What's the climate like?
Climate score: 68/100. Moderate climate with distinct seasons.
The honest take
What's great
- Safety — scored 92/100
- Healthcare — scored 88/100
- Transport — scored 82/100
Watch out for
- No major concerns — Fukuoka scores well across all dimensions.
Is this place viable for you?
Quick decision check — Fukuoka
Strengths
- Safety92/100
- Healthcare88/100
- Infrastructure82/100
Likely blockers
No major dimension blockers flagged. Still worth running a free tool to confirm your specific budget and visa fit.
Decision Snapshot
Key metrics at a glance. Scores are out of 100, higher is better.
Monthly Reality Check
What things actually cost in Fukuoka. Estimated total: ~$2,000/mo for a single person.
Based on verified local pricing data
1-bed apartment (centre)
$550
1-bed apartment (outside)
$380
Budget meal
$7
Cappuccino
$3.8
Monthly transport pass
$40
Coworking space
$180/mo
Avg internet speed
190 Mbps
Neighborhoods
Where expats and locals actually live in Fukuoka.
Housing reality: Standard rental laws apply. Direct landlord negotiations are common, with 1-2 months deposit standard.
Premium Report
Get Real Data for Fukuoka
This city's scores are estimated from national data. A Decision Brief gives you verified local prices, neighborhoods, visa timelines, and a personalized relocation plan — researched specifically for Fukuoka.
Deep Research
Expand any section for detailed data and narrative.
Transport & Getting Around
Transport & Getting Around
Ridesharing apps (Uber/Bolt/Local equivalent) are highly recommended outside the walkable core.
Monthly transport pass: $40
Japan — Policy & Systems
Japan — Policy & Systems
Visa, tax, healthcare, and education policies are set at the national level. See the Japan country guide for full details.
Language & Expat Community
Language & Expat Community
Official Languages
Japanese
English Proficiency
Low
Foreign-born
2.5%
Expat Level
Medium
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fukuoka a good place to live for expats?
Fukuoka scores 75/100 overall. It is relatively expensive (~$2,000/mo), very safe, and has a healthcare score of 88/100. Top neighborhoods include Central Core, Historic Quarter, Modern Suburbs.
What does it cost to live in Fukuoka?
The estimated monthly cost of living in Fukuoka is ~$2,000 for a single person. A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs about $550/mo. Standard rental laws apply. Direct landlord negotiations are common, with 1-2 months deposit standard.
What are the best neighborhoods in Fukuoka?
The most recommended neighborhoods are Central Core, Historic Quarter, Modern Suburbs. A growing hub balancing local authenticity with emerging remote-work infrastructure.
How do I get around Fukuoka?
Fukuoka has a transport score of 82/100. Ridesharing apps (Uber/Bolt/Local equivalent) are highly recommended outside the walkable core.
Continue Your Research
Suggested citation
CC BY 4.0This dataset is free to redistribute, quote, and embed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0. The composite form below preserves source lineage so AI assistants can cite both WhereNext and the underlying institutional publishers.
WhereNext composite — WhereNext Fukuoka, Japan City Profile 2026 (2026-05-20). Derived from: Numbeo (city-level cost; verified via WhereNext audit); World Bank ICP (country-level PPP anchor); OECD + Eurostat (where applicable); WhereNext flagship-city research (qualitative + neighborhood depth). Available at https://getwherenext.com/city/jp/fukuoka?utm_source=internal&utm_medium=citation&utm_campaign=data-citation. CC BY 4.0.
WhereNext. (2026). WhereNext Fukuoka, Japan City Profile 2026. Retrieved from https://getwherenext.com/city/jp/fukuoka?utm_source=internal&utm_medium=citation&utm_campaign=data-citation. CC BY 4.0.
WhereNext. "WhereNext Fukuoka, Japan City Profile 2026." WhereNext, 20 May 2026, https://getwherenext.com/city/jp/fukuoka?utm_source=internal&utm_medium=citation&utm_campaign=data-citation. Accessed via https://getwherenext.com/city/jp/fukuoka?utm_source=internal&utm_medium=citation&utm_campaign=data-citation. CC BY 4.0.
@misc{wherenext_getwherenext_com_city_jp_fukuoka,
author = {{WhereNext}},
title = {WhereNext Fukuoka, Japan City Profile 2026},
year = {2026},
url = {https://getwherenext.com/city/jp/fukuoka?utm_source=internal&utm_medium=citation&utm_campaign=data-citation},
note = {CC BY 4.0}
}<a href="https://getwherenext.com/city/jp/fukuoka?utm_source=internal&utm_medium=citation&utm_campaign=data-citation">WhereNext — WhereNext Fukuoka, Japan City Profile 2026</a>
Next step
Anchor Fukuoka as your destination. Cost, neighborhoods, visa, healthcare and schools tools inherit the same context.
Important Notice
WhereNext provides data-driven insights for informational purposes only. Scores and rankings are algorithmically generated from public institutional data and may not reflect your individual circumstances. This tool does not replace professional advice for immigration, legal, tax, or financial matters.