Sapporo, Japan

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 -
55%
Connectivity -
72%
Weather
73
General
Currency | JPY |
Population (in millions) | 1.9 |
Quality of life (world rank from 1 to 200) | 144 |
Cost of living compared to Chicago, USA | 8% more expensive |
Best neighborhood to stay | Toyohira, Sapporo-shi |
Culture
Number of museums and galleries | 30 |
Top selling local beer | Sapporo |
Most popular local dish | Ramen |
Travel
Most popular tourist attraction(s) | Sapporo Snow Festival, Mt. Moiwa, Sapporo Beer Museum |
Discount airline | Peach |
Major airline | All Nippon Airways (ANA) |
Largest ride sharing company | Nihon Kotsu Co., Ltd |
Primary train stations | Sapporo Station, Shin-Sapporo Station, Minami-Chitose Station |
Primary airports | Chitose, Okadama, and Shin-Chitose |
Best rental car company | Nippon Rent-A-Car |
Used car costs | 500000 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 type | A, B |
Supply voltage | 100V |
Best electronics store | BicCamera |
Best internet carrier | NTT |
Primary cellular carrier | Softbank |
Average monthly cost for internet | 4,000 JPY |
Shopping
The best drug store | Matsumotokiyoshi |
Best restaurant chain | Ramen Yokocho |
The best grocery store | Seicomart |
The most popular fashion brand | Uniqlo |
Regulatory
GDP per capita | $41,845 / year |
Average annual income | $38,000 |
Sales tax rate | 8% |
Income tax rate | 10.21% |
Tourist visa valid (in days) | 90 days |
Financial
Average mortgage rate | Not available |
Suggested ATM take out | 10,000 JPY |
Bank that has the most ATM machines | Sapporo Bank |
Average tip in restaurant | 15% |
Pay using credit or debit card | Not very common |
Health
Emergency Phone Numbers | 119 (general), 110 (police), 119 (ambulance), 119 (firefighters) |
Polution per square meter | 845 |
Health quality rank (according to WHO) | 18 |
Main religion | Shinto |
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-Rate | 1.42% |
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 |