AN American who relocated to Japan has revealed a common struggle despite cheaper rent and coffee prices.
He moved across the globe in 2019 as part of his interest in real estate, but also to find better cost-of-living than California.
A man moved to Japan and found rent and even coffee savings (stock image)[/caption]
Business owner Graham Hill (pictured) relocated in 2019[/caption]
The city ultimately selected in Japan by entrepreneur and author, Graham Hill, was Sapporo, the country’s fifth biggest city, according to what he told The US Sun.
While it holds about two million residents, Sapporo is still “considered low-cost, certainly much lower-cost than California,” Hill explained.
For example, the average monthly rent is about $700 for a one-bedroom apartment compared to upwards of $2,500 to $3,000 in cities like San Francisco.
Some data-collecting sites like RentCafe cite it even higher at $3,507.
Either way, that’s a difference of about $1,800 on the low end, or around $21,600 annually.
Daily food and drink items like coffee and sandwiches are also several dollars cheaper, according to Hill.
“A sandwich in Japan might be $7 compared to $12 in the US,” he explained.
Coffee is also about $2.70, per The Restaurant Authority.
That’s a lower average than last summer in California, which was cited in a study at about $3.88.
For New Yorkers looking to make the move, Hill said the subway in Sapporo is about the same at around $2.
GLOBAL CITIZEN
Considering everything, Hill said the decision saves him money and offers the quality of life he’s looking for while maintaining a home in the United States at the same time.
“Sapporo is less expensive, but also much safer and cleaner than almost anywhere in the US. It’s a great little city,” he told us.
“I still own my home in CA. And it was partly my interest in real estate that brought me to Sapporo; this is a great city, and I can afford to buy real estate here, and the prices are mostly too high in the US.”
Except, there’s still a common struggle that Hill said all Americans encounter currently when trying to move abroad long-term.
International Move Checklist
- Research the destination
- Plan finances and taxes thoroughly
- Get all documents in order
- Notify US authorities or other relevant officials
- Consider health insurance and medical care
- Prep for end of lease or to sell home in US
- Organize all personal belongings
- Confirm and finalize foreign housing
- Join expat communities
Credit: Universal Tax Professionals
That struggle is obtaining a long-stay visa.
“There are a lot of countries that will let Americans stay for three months as tourists, or maybe six months as ‘digital nomads,’ but if you want to really stay — that is much harder,” Hill said.
BUSINESS BONUS
To make his situation work, Hill started a real estate business, Find Hokkaido Agents, and a restaurant review website, Ichiban No Machi, which helped him obtained what’s called a business manager visa.
Those who qualify for a business manager visa in Japan, like Hill, would need to a new business there, invest in an existing one, or manage a Japanese branch of a foreign company.
They’d also need to have a physical office space, make a minimum investment of five million yen (about $33,857), have a detailed business plan, and potentially hire full-time staff.
Overall, there are many considerations to make when moving outside of the United States to another country.
Creating a budget, researching the destination thoroughly, and finding a moving company are all great starts, but it’s best to also consult a tax professional and connect with expat communities for advice to make sound financial decisions in the process.
Some Americans are navigating unique renting situations this year.
A landlord recently put a tenant through “3 years of hell” and forced them to pay $150 in fees.
Another tenant sued after a landlord suddenly evicted them and “refused” to return an $850 security deposit.
