He gave up his expensive California lifestyle in favor of Japan’s low cost of living, saving up to $2,300 per month on rent and stacking the savings on food costs.
The cost of living in the United States is relatively high when compared to many other countries, making it one of the most expensive countries in the world.
High housing prices, healthcare costs, education expenses, and food prices all contribute to the United States’ ranking as one of the top 20 most expensive countries to live.
The cost of living varies greatly across the United States, with residents in major cities and states spending significantly more money than those in less populated areas.
For example, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Alabama have relatively low cost of living, whereas New York, Hawaii, and California are extremely expensive.
Graham Hill, a US citizen, decided to pack up his life in California and relocate to Japan in 2019, citing the East Asian country’s much lower cost of living.
While America is the 13th most expensive country in the world, Japan is significantly cheaper, ranking 44th in terms of cost of living in 2025.
PACK YOUR BAGS
Hill left the United States six years ago and relocated to Sapporo, Japan, he exclusively told The Sun.
Sapporo is Japan’s fifth-largest city, with nearly two million residents.
The city, the capital of Hokkaido, Japan’s second largest island, is considered low-cost.
Sapporo is “certainly much lower-cost than California,” according to Hill.He explained that some pricing was relatively consistent across the United States and Japan, such as the $2 subway fare.
However, savings can accumulate in other areas.
For example, Hill pointed out that a $12 sandwich in the United States would only cost $7 in Japan.
Rent is also significantly lower in the latter country.
2025 Cost of Living Index by Country
- US Virgin Islands: 98.4
- Switzerland: 98.4
- Iceland: 83.4
- Bahamas: 81.4
- Singapore: 79.1
- Hong Kong (China): 73.6
- Barbados: 70.0
- Norway: 69.0
- Papua New Guinea: 67.4
- Denmark: 66.9
- Guernsey: 66.1
- Israel: 65.2
- United States: 64.9
- Luxembourg: 64.8
- Australia: 60.9
- Austria: 60.7
- Netherlands: 60.5
- Ireland: 59.8
- United Kingdom: 59.2
- Puerto Rico: 58.7
- Finland: 58.7
- Canada: 58.7
- Germany: 58.4
- France: 58.0
- Macao (China): 56.8
- South Korea: 56.5
- Belgium: 56.5
- New Zealand: 55.3
- Sweden: 54.2
- United Arab Emirates: 54.1
- Italy: 51.0
- Jamaica: 50.3
- Costa Rica: 50.1
- Cyprus: 49.5
- Estonia: 49.4
- Trinidad and Tobago: 48.9
- Yemen: 48.4
- Bahrain: 48.3
- Malta: 48.0
- Qatar: 47.5
- Greece: 46.5
- Uruguay: 46.3
- Slovenia: 46.2
- Japan: 45.6
- Maldives: 45.3
- Brunei: 44.4
- Taiwan: 44.4
- Lithuania: 44.0
- Panama: 43.9
- Spain: 43.5
Living in Sapporo costs about $700 per month, compared to the high rent prices in California, which range from $2,500 to $3,000 in cities such as San Francisco, Hill explained.
In addition to being significantly less expensive than the United States, he stated that Sapporo is much safer and cleaner than almost anywhere in America.
“It is a great little city,” said the expat.
MOVING MADNESS
While living in Japan has many advantages, there is one significant drawback to making the move.
According to Hill, the most difficult aspect for most Americans seeking to relocate to a low-cost country is obtaining a long-term 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,” according to him.
To ensure his stay in Japan, Hill established his own businesses and obtained a business manager visa.
One of his companies, Ichiban No Machi, a restaurant review website in Sapporo, provides English-language food reviews from a local perspective.
Hill’s other company, Find Hokkaido Agents, focuses on real estate and assists foreigners with renting and buying in Sapporo.
His interest in real estate prompted him to relocate to Sapporo in the first place because of the investment opportunities.
“This is a great city, and I can afford to buy real estate here, whereas prices are generally too high in the United States,” said Hill, who still owns a home in California.
This is a great city and I can afford to buy real estate here, while the prices are mostly too high in the US.”
According to Find Hokkaido Agents, the main factors influencing the price of a home in Sapporo are property age, material, and location.
While housing costs vary greatly throughout the city, the average cost of buying a home in Sapporo is approximately $188,537, according to the website’s 2023 analysis.
On the other hand, a house in Los Angeles costs on average $650,000, demonstrating how Sapporo provides a lower entry cost for real estate.
“Both my real estate work and my restaurant reviews put me in touch with foreigners, including many Americans, some of whom are trying to figure out how to stay,” Hill told me.
Americans who want to cut their living expenses without leaving the country can look into tiny homes, which are becoming increasingly popular.
Wayfair now sells a tiny ranch home for $15,699, with a large porch and four sizes.
Furthermore, Amazon is selling a self-sufficient tiny home that fits in the back of the garden for $13,000, which is less than the cost of a house.