Sapporo, Japan

Editor

Editor

March 12, 2023

The city of Sapporo, located in the northernmost part of Japan, is an ideal destination for digital nomads. With its vibrant culture, stunning natural beauty, and a wide range of activities, Sapporo is the perfect place to work and explore. According to the World Economic Forum, Sapporo is the third most livable city in Japan, and the city has been ranked as one of the top 10 cities for digital nomads in the world.Sapporo is home to a wide range of activities, from skiing and snowboarding in the winter to hiking and camping in the summer. The city also offers a variety of cultural attractions, including the Sapporo Beer Museum, the Sapporo Clock Tower, and the Sapporo Snow Festival. With its vibrant nightlife, Sapporo is also a great place to socialize and meet new people.The cost of living in Sapporo is relatively low compared to other cities in Japan, making it an attractive destination for digital nomads. According to Numbeo, the cost of living in Sapporo is about 20% lower than Tokyo. Additionally, the city has a wide range of accommodation options, from traditional Japanese inns to modern apartments.Sapporo is also well-connected to the rest of Japan, with a number of international flights and high-speed rail links. The city is also home to a number of coworking spaces, making it easy for digital nomads to stay connected and productive.Overall, Sapporo is an ideal destination for digital nomads looking for a vibrant city with a low cost of living and plenty of activities. With its stunning natural beauty, vibrant culture, and wide range of activities, Sapporo is the perfect place to work and explore.

Living in Sapporo, Japan: Overview

Overall score | Worksplorer index

  • 71%

    Quality of life
  • 42%

    Cost of living
  • 76%

    Connectivity
  • 72%

    Weather

73

General

CurrencyJPY
Population (in millions)1.9
Quality of life (world rank from 1 to 200)144
Cost of living compared to Chicago, USA8% more expensive
Best neighborhood to stayToyohira, Sapporo-shi
Culture

Number of museums and galleries30
Top selling local beerSapporo
Most popular local dishRamen
Travel

Most popular tourist attraction(s)Sapporo Snow Festival, Mt. Moiwa, Sapporo Beer Museum
Discount airlinePeach
Major airlineAll Nippon Airways (ANA)
Largest ride sharing companyNihon Kotsu Co., Ltd
Primary train stationsSapporo Station, Shin-Sapporo Station, Minami-Chitose Station
Primary airportsChitose, Okadama, and Shin-Chitose
Best rental car companyNippon Rent-A-Car
Used car costs500000 JPY
Connectivity

Apple store addresses Apple Sapporo, Esta 2F, Kita 5-jo Nishi 3-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 0
Internet connection (in Mbps)100 Mbps
Power socket typeA, B
Supply voltage 100V
Best electronics storeBicCamera
Best internet carrierNTT
Primary cellular carrierSoftbank
Average monthly cost for internet4,000 JPY
Shopping

The best drug storeMatsumotokiyoshi
Best restaurant chainRamen Yokocho
The best grocery storeSeicomart
The most popular fashion brandUniqlo
Regulatory

GDP per capita$41,845 / year
Average annual income$38,000
Sales tax rate8%
Income tax rate10.21%
Tourist visa valid (in days)90 days
Financial

Average mortgage rateNot available
Suggested ATM take out10,000 JPY
Bank that has the most ATM machinesSapporo Bank
Average tip in restaurant15%
Pay using credit or debit cardNot very common
Health

Emergency Phone Numbers119 (general), 110 (police), 119 (ambulance), 119 (firefighters)
Polution per square meter845
Health quality rank (according to WHO) 18
Main religionShinto
Quality of life

71%

  • 92%

    Safety, freedom, rights
  • 99%

    Traffic
  • 56%

    Property to income
  • 8%

    Crime
  • 100%

    Healthcare
  • 72%

    Weather
Salaries

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)¥268,909
Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate1.42%
Childcare

Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child¥39,800
International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child¥1,480,000
Cost of living

42%

  • Purchasing Power

    82%

     

     

  • Rent

    10%

     

     

  • Food

    69%

     

     

  • Restaurant

    40%

     

     

  • Workspace

    23%

     

     

  • Transport

    51%

     

     

Rent

Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre Per Month¥52,500
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre Per Month¥35,000
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre Per Month¥107,500
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre Per Month¥80,000
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend), Sports And Leisure¥1,650
Food

Milk (regular), (1 liter)¥179.33
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g)¥205
Eggs (regular) (12)¥216
Local Cheese (1kg)¥1,250
Water (1.5 liter bottle)¥113
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)¥1,000
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)¥293.33
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)¥500
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro)¥445
Chicken Fillets (1kg)¥1,050
Apples (1kg)¥500
Oranges (1kg)¥600
Potato (1kg)¥500
Lettuce (1 head)¥200
Rice (white), (1kg)¥1,250
Tomato (1kg)¥500
Banana (1kg)¥380
Onion (1kg)¥325
Beef Round (1kg) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)¥3,000
Restaurants

Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant¥1,250
Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course¥5,000
McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal)¥620
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter draught)¥350
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)¥300
Coke/Pepsi (0.33 liter bottle)¥133.33
Water (0.33 liter bottle) ¥100
Cappuccino (regular)¥443.33
Connectivity

94%

Infrastructure

89/100

Internet speed

92/100

Internet cost

95/100

Pre-paid plan

98/100

Utilities (Monthly)

Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 85m2 Apartment¥40,833.33
1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local (No Discounts or Plans)¥70
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL)¥6,333.33
Sports

Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult¥7,133.33
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend)¥1,650
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat¥2,150
Transportation

One-way Ticket (Local Transport)¥250
Monthly Pass (Regular Price)¥4,400
Gasoline (1 liter)¥164.5
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car)¥1,600,000
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car)¥2,466,600
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)¥500
Taxi 1km (Normal Tariff)¥186.41
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)¥3,000