Fukuoka
Fukuoka is Japan's most liveable and affordable major city a compact port on Kyushu Island facing Korea, famous as the birthplace of tonkotsu ramen, and home to a government-backed Startup Visa programme that fast-tracks foreign entrepreneurs. At roughly $1,500/month all-in, it costs substantially less than Tokyo. The city's yatai (open-air food stalls) transform the canal banks at dusk into something uniquely atmospheric. Ohori Park, the walkable Daimyo bar district, and a booming IT scene anchored by LINE and Fujitsu make it the best quality-of-life-per-dollar city in Japan.
What it costs to live in Fukuoka, Japan: rent from $750/mo, about $1,470/mo all-in for one person. Visa options, safety, internet and climate scores for anyone relocating — compare Fukuoka with 355 other cities on Jonzy.
Best for: Tech founders, Digital nomads, Foodies.
- Rent from $750/mo, about $1,470/mo all-in for one person.
- Safety 95/100 · Internet 88/100 · a mild, fairly pleasant climate.
- Visa: Moderate process, about 4 weeks.
- Local salaries average around $2,800/mo, with a solid, growing expat community.
Cost of living in Fukuoka
| Rent (1-bed, typical) | $750/mo |
|---|---|
| Food & groceries | $320/mo |
| Transport | $90/mo |
| Healthcare | $100/mo |
| Utilities | $80/mo |
| Other essentials | $130/mo |
| Total (all-in) | $1,470/mo |
How Fukuoka stacks up
- Rent eats about 51% of a one-person monthly budget in Fukuoka — a rent-heavy split, so location choice moves your total the most.
- At ~$1,470/mo all-in, Fukuoka runs about 5% pricier than the median Jonzy city ($1,400/mo).
- A local salary (~$2,800/mo) covers roughly 190% of one person's costs — comfortable on local pay.
- Its strongest catalog score is safety (95/100); the weakest is expat community (70/100).
Is Fukuoka right for you?
Highlights
- Fast, reliable internet (88/100).
- Very safe by catalog scores (95/100).
- Clean air (AQI ~28).
Quality of life in Fukuoka
- Safety: 95/100
- Internet speed: 88/100
- Climate: 72/100
- Healthcare: 90/100
- Expat community: 70/100
Taxes in Fukuoka
0% as non-resident; up to 55% combined for tax residents
Living in Japan
Japan is an island archipelago of 125 million people where ancient tradition and hyper-modern technology coexist seamlessly. Its extraordinary safety, world-class cuisine, and precision make it one of the world's most compelling long-stay destinations. The Digital Nomad Visa (launched 2024) requires foreign income above ¥10 million/year (~$66k) and grants a 6-month stay renewable once.
Fukuoka relocation FAQ
How much does it cost to live in Fukuoka?
A single person typically spends about $1,470/month in Fukuoka, including rent (from $750/mo), food, transport, healthcare, utilities, and misc. Costs vary by neighbourhood and lifestyle.
What is the monthly cost breakdown in Fukuoka?
Typical monthly costs for one person in Fukuoka: rent from $750, food $320, transport $90, healthcare $100, utilities $80, and other essentials $130 — about $1,470/mo all-in. Sign in to Jonzy for community-validated figures and a budget tuned to your lifestyle.
Is Fukuoka a good place to relocate?
On this page, Fukuoka scores 88/100 for internet, 95/100 for safety, and 72/100 for climate — catalog averages, not personalised to you. In Jonzy, you can rank it against 355 other cities for your income, passport, and lifestyle priorities.
What visa do I need to live in Fukuoka?
Long-stay relocation routes for Fukuoka depend on your passport. For example, a US passport holder may see "Highly Skilled Professional / Digital Nomad Visa" (is catalogued in our catalog). Tourist entry is separate, confirm border rules on official sources before travel. Jonzy matches Japan against 525+ visa programs in-app. Informational only, not legal advice.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Fukuoka?
Core costs for one person run about $1,470/mo, so a comfortable budget with room for savings, travel, and irregular expenses is roughly $2,100/mo take-home. Local salaries average around $2,800/mo. Jonzy calculates your exact surplus after tax for your income and passport.
Who is Fukuoka best for?
Fukuoka tends to suit tech founders, digital nomads and foodies — based on its cost profile (about $1,470/mo all-in), 88/100 internet, 95/100 safety, and a solid, growing expat community. Jonzy scores it against your own income, passport, and lifestyle priorities so you can see whether it fits you specifically, not just the average relocator.
Is Fukuoka expensive to live in?
At about $1,470/mo all-in for one person, Fukuoka is a little pricier than average — roughly 5% above the median of the 356 Jonzy cities ($1,400/mo). Your own number depends on neighbourhood, lifestyle, and whether you rent short- or long-term.
Is Fukuoka safe to live in?
Fukuoka scores 95/100 on Jonzy's safety index, among the safer cities in the catalog. For families specifically it rates 96/100. Safety varies sharply by neighbourhood and time of day everywhere — treat the score as a city-level average, and use community threads for street-level reality.
Is Fukuoka good for remote work?
Connectivity scores 88/100 — fast and dependable enough for video-heavy remote work. The expat and nomad scene rates 70/100, and work-life balance 78/100. Combined with ~$1,470/mo all-in costs, that is the core remote-work math for Fukuoka; Jonzy re-ranks it against your own income and timezone needs.
What is the weather like in Fukuoka?
Fukuoka scores 72/100 for climate — a comfortable climate for most of the year. It logs roughly 175 sunny days a year in the catalog. The city guide's seasonal data shows how the year actually feels; the climate planner tool maps it against your heat and daylight preferences.
What are taxes like in Fukuoka?
Typical tax snapshot for Fukuoka, Japan: 0% as non-resident; up to 55% combined for tax residents. Your actual liability depends on residency status, income source, and any tax treaty — Jonzy estimates take-home pay for your specific situation, and this is not tax advice.