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Side-by-side analysis of your shortlisted locations using live aggregated data from the World Bank and Open-Meteo.
Visualizing 3 destinations across all core metrics. How we score →
Each line is a country. Crossing lines reveal trade-offs between dimensions.
Which country saves you more? Compare cost of living, tax rates, and housing costs side-by-side
Unlock with ProCan you actually move there? Compare visa requirements, processing times, and document checklists
Unlock with ProWhich has better hospitals? Safer streets? See healthcare, safety, and education scores compared head-to-head
Unlock with ProGood WiFi or good weather? Compare climate data, internet speeds, and remote work infrastructure
Unlock with ProHow confident should you be in this ranking? See ranking stability, vulnerable dimensions, and what could flip the order
Unlock with ProGet a personalized verdict on which country wins for your specific priorities and lifestyle
Unlock with ProWant better results? Take the personalization quiz to weight dimensions to your priorities.
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Compare 5-year wealth accumulation across all countries vs. staying home (US)
Compare salary, tax burden, and 5-year savings trajectory across countries
🇰🇷 South Korea offers the highest 5-year savings potential of $245,630 as a software engineer — factoring in salary, taxes, and cost of living.
How far does your budget stretch in each country?
🇹🇼 Taiwan gives you $2,350/mo surplus at 4.62x purchasing power — enough for luxury living living.
| Category | 🇯🇵 Japan | 🇰🇷 South Korea | 🇹🇼 Taiwan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent (1BR) | $900-40% | $825-45% | $2,549+70% |
| Groceries | $420-30% | $390-35% | $1,020+70% |
| Dining Out | $220-45% | $180-55% | $680+70% |
| Transport | $100-50% | $70-65% | $340+70% |
| Utilities | $117-35% | $99-45% | $306+70% |
| Internet | $32-54% | $25-64% | $119+70% |
| Healthcare | $63-75% | $50-80% | $425+70% |
| Monthly Total | $1,852 | $1,639 | $5,439 |
Estimates based on single person, moderate lifestyle. Actual costs vary by city and personal spending.
| Category | 🇯🇵 Japan | 🇰🇷 South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Rent — Studio (City Centre) | $750 | $600 |
| Rent — 1 Bedroom (City Centre) | $900 | $750 |
| Rent — 3 Bedroom (City Centre) | $2,000 | $1,600 |
| Groceries (Monthly) | $350 | $300 |
| Public Transport Pass | $75 | $50 |
| Utilities (Elec, Water, Internet) | $180 | $150 |
| Mid-Range Meal for 2 | $35 | $25 |
| Cappuccino | $3.80 | $4.00 |
| Gym Membership (Monthly) | $65 | $40 |
| Mobile Data Plan (Monthly) | $35 | $25 |
| Total Monthly Budget | $2,000/mo-37% vs US | $1,550/mo-52% vs US |
Estimates based on a single person, comfortable lifestyle in city centres. Actual costs vary by neighbourhood and personal spending. Data reflects 2024 averages.
| Tax Type | 🇯🇵 Japan | 🇰🇷 South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Income Tax | 5-45% + local 10% | 6-45% |
| Top Marginal Rate | 45% | 45% |
| VAT / Sales Tax | 10% | 10% |
| Social Security | ~15% employee | ~9% employee |
| Capital Gains | 20.315% | Varies by asset |
| Corporate Tax | 30.62% | 24% |
Tax rates are indicative and subject to change. Actual effective rates depend on income level, deductions, and treaty benefits. Consult a tax professional.
| Metric | 🇯🇵 Japan | 🇰🇷 South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Rent – Studio | $550/mo | $500/mo |
| Rent – 1BR | $700/mo | $650/mo |
| Rent – 3BR | $1,400/mo | $1,300/mo |
| Buy Price/m² | $6,800 | $8,200 |
| Rental Yield | 3.5% | 2.2% |
| Price/Income Ratio | 13.4x | 19.5x |
| Market Trend | Rising | Cooling |
| Expat Areas | Tokyo ShibuyaOsaka NambaFukuoka Tenjin | Seoul GangnamItaewon/HannamBusan Haeundae |
| Rent vs Buy | Rent; buildings depreciate fast and key money adds upfront cost | Rent via jeonse (deposit system) or wolse (monthly); buying is very expensive |
Housing data is based on World Bank, local market reports, and public property indices (2024 averages). Prices reflect city-centre estimates and vary by neighbourhood.
| Category | 🇯🇵 Japan | 🇰🇷 South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Work | 2 options | 2 options |
| Investment | 1 option | 1 option |
| Student | 1 option | 1 option |
| Family | 1 option | 1 option |
| Total Available | 5 visas | 5 visas |
Visa requirements, processing times, and costs are approximate and subject to change without notice. Immigration laws vary by nationality, personal circumstances, and geopolitical conditions. This information is for general guidance only and does not constitute legal advice. Always consult a qualified immigration attorney or the relevant consulate before making visa or relocation decisions.
| Requirement | 🇯🇵 Japan | 🇰🇷 South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Apostille Convention | ||
| Translation Language | Japanese | Korean |
| Biometrics Required | ||
| Interview Required | ||
| Health Insurance Required | ||
| Police Check Required | ||
| Financial Proof | Bank balance certificate, tax documents, or sponsor letter | Bank balance certificate or sponsor financial guarantee |
Document requirements, processing times, fees, and success rates are approximate and subject to change. Requirements vary by nationality, personal circumstances, and consulate. Apostille and translation requirements may differ based on bilateral agreements. This information is for general guidance only and does not constitute legal or immigration advice. Always consult a qualified immigration attorney or the relevant embassy before preparing your visa application.
| Metric | 🇯🇵 Japan | 🇰🇷 South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| System Type | Universal Mixed | Universal Mixed |
| UHC Index | 83/100 | 86/100 |
| Expat Access | Full | Full |
| GP Visit | $10-30 (30% co-pay) | $5-20 (co-pay) |
| ER Visit | $50-150 (30% co-pay) | $20-100 (co-pay) |
| Insurance Cost | $150-350/mo | $100-250/mo |
| Wait Times | Short | Short |
| Emergency Quality | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Pharmacy Access | Excellent | Excellent |
| Mental Health | Limited | Growing |
Healthcare data is based on WHO UHC indexes, local government sources, and expatriate surveys. Costs are approximate and vary by location, provider, and insurance plan.
| Metric | 🇯🇵 Japan | 🇰🇷 South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| GPI Rank | #17 | #38 |
| GPI Score | 1.355 | 1.562 |
| Homicide Rate | 0.2/100k | 0.6/100k |
| Scam Prevalence | Very Low | Low |
| Disaster Risk | High | Low |
| Women Safety | ||
| Night Safety | ||
| Political Stability | Very Stable | Stable |
| Terrorism Risk | Very Low | Low |
Safety data is based on the Global Peace Index 2024, UNODC homicide statistics, and various travel safety assessments. Conditions can change rapidly due to political events, natural disasters, or other factors. This information is for general guidance only. Always consult your government's travel advisories before making relocation decisions.
| Metric | 🇯🇵 Japan | 🇰🇷 South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| PISA Score (avg) | 536 | 527 |
| System Type | Public | Hybrid |
| Int'l Schools | High | High |
| Unis in Top 100 | 2 in global top 100 | 1 in global top 100 |
| Tuition (Local) | $5,000/yr (national unis) | $3,000-5,000/yr (national) |
| Tuition (Int'l) | $5,000-15,000/yr | $7,000-15,000/yr |
| Language | Japanese (limited English programs) | Korean (English programs at top universities) |
| Literacy Rate | 99% | 99% |
PISA scores from OECD 2022. University rankings from QS/THE. Tuition and literacy data are approximate. Consult official sources for current figures.
Lifestyle scores are curated estimates based on travel indices, expat surveys, and cultural research. Individual experiences may vary.
| Metric | 🇯🇵 Japan | 🇰🇷 South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Work Hours / Week | 42.5h | 40h |
| Mandatory Vacation Days | 10 | 15 |
| Public Holidays | 16 | 15 |
| Total Days Off | 26 | 30 |
| Remote Work Acceptance | Moderate | Moderate |
| Hierarchy Level | Very Hierarchical | Very Hierarchical |
| Overtime Expectation | Expected | Common |
| Meeting Culture | Formal, consensus-based (nemawashi) | Hierarchical, after-work dinners expected |
| Lunch Break | 60 min, bento or cafeteria | 60 min, group lunch norm |
| Business Language | Japanese; limited English outside global firms | Korean; English in tech and global firms |
| Work-Life Balance | 2/5 | 2/5 |
Work culture data is based on national labor laws, OECD statistics, and expat surveys. Actual experiences vary by company and industry.
| Country | Avg Temp | Hottest | Coldest | Annual Rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇯🇵 Japan | 17°C | 31°C | -1°C | 1,588mm |
| 🇰🇷 South Korea | 14°C | 25°C | -1°C | 1,120mm |
| 🇹🇼 Taiwan | 26°C | 47°C | -1°C | 2,332mm |
Monthly temperatures are modeled from annual averages. For precise data, consult local meteorological services.
| Metric | 🇯🇵 Japan | 🇰🇷 South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Download Speed | 160 Mbps | 220 Mbps |
| Upload Speed | 80 Mbps | 140 Mbps |
| Mobile Speed | 70 Mbps | 120 Mbps |
| 5G Coverage | Nationwide | Nationwide |
| Broadband Access | 93%pop. | 97%pop. |
| Coworking Spaces | Abundant | Abundant |
| Power Reliability | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Digital Gov't | Good | Advanced |
| Internet Cost | $35-55/mo | $25-40/mo |
| Major ISPs | NTTSoftBankau KDDI+1 more | KTSK BroadbandLG U+ |
Speed data based on Speedtest Global Index and Ookla reports. Broadband penetration from ITU/World Bank. Costs are approximate monthly residential rates and vary by plan and provider.
| Country | Max Stay | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 🇰🇷 South Korea | 12 months | $200/year |
| Metric | 🇯🇵 Japan | 🇰🇷 South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Budget | $1,800-3,000 | $1,500-2,500 |
| Coworking Cost | $200-350/mo | $150-280/mo |
| Coworking Density | Good | Good |
| Internet Speed | 145 Mbps | 200 Mbps |
| Community | Growing | Growing |
| Timezone | UTC+9 (Asia-Pacific) | UTC+9 (Asia-Pacific) |
Nomad scores are curated estimates based on visa policies, cost of living indices, internet speed benchmarks, and community reports. Individual experiences may vary.
How confident should you be in this ranking? What could change it?
Close call: These destinations are very evenly matched. Your personal priorities will be the deciding factor — small weight changes could change the order.
These dimensions are closely contested between the compared countries. Changing your priority weights in these areas could flip the ranking:
🇰🇷 South Korea leads slightly, but 🇯🇵 Japan is a strong contender. Consider visiting both before deciding — the on-the-ground experience may be the tiebreaker.
South Korea leads across most dimensions with an average score of 70/100.
Based on the data, South Korea (70/100 avg) is the strongest overall choice, especially for families prioritizing safety and retirees needing good healthcare. However, Taiwan (70/100) is a strong contender.