Hokkaido (Sapporo base)vsBeirut
💰
Beirut saves you $400/month
21% cheaper on rent, food & transport
📶
Hokkaido (Sapporo base) has 10x faster internet
250 Mbps avg download speed
🌡️
Continental vs Mediterranean climate
Different weather patterns year-round
🛂
Japan offers a digital nomad visa
Long-stay visa for remote workers
💰 Cost of Living Breakdown
Monthly expenses comparison in USD
Expense
Hokkaido (Sapporo base)
Beirut
Total Budget
$1,900/mo
$1,500/mo ✓
Rent (1BR)
$900/mo
$800/mo ✓
Coworking
$220/mo
$190/mo ✓
Meal Out
$7 ✓
$10
Coffee
$3
$3
Beirut is $400/mo cheaper (27% savings)
💻 Remote Work Essentials
Internet, timezone, and language comparison
🇯🇵 Hokkaido (Sapporo base)
📶 Internet250 Mbps
🕐 TimezoneUTC+9
🗣️ Englishmedium
🛂 Nomad VisaAvailable
Working hours overlap:
🇺🇸 US West0h
🇺🇸 US East0h
🇬🇧 London2h
🇩🇪 Berlin3h
🌍 Beirut
📶 Internet25 Mbps
🕐 TimezoneUTC+2
🗣️ Englishmedium
🛂 Nomad VisaNot available
Working hours overlap:
🇺🇸 US West1h
🇺🇸 US East4h
🇬🇧 London8h
🇩🇪 Berlin8h
🌡️ Climate Comparison
Weather patterns and best times to visit
Hokkaido (Sapporo base)
ClimateContinental
Avg Temp9°C
Rainy Days168/year
Beirut
ClimateMediterranean
Avg Temp21°C
Rainy Days72/year
Best months: July, May, June, September
Quarterly Temperatures
Jan
-6°15°
Apr
8°19°
Jul
23°29°
Oct
11°24°
Hokkaido (Sapporo base)Beirut
📊 Full Comparison
Category
🇯🇵Hokkaido (Sapporo base)
🌍Beirut
💰
Monthly Budget
$1,900
$1,500
Winner📶
Internet Speed
250 Mbps
Winner25 Mbps
🛡️
Safety
4.6/5
Winner2.5/5
⭐
Nomad Score
4.1/10
Winner3.2/10
🍽️
Food Scene
9/10
9/10
🎉
Nightlife
7/10
7/10
🚶
Walkability
7/10
6/10
👥
Community
small
small
3
Hokkaido (Sapporo base) wins
vs
1
Beirut wins
Which City is Right for You?
Recommendations based on your nomad style
💵Budget Nomad
Beirut
$400/mo cheaper with similar quality of life
💻Developer
Hokkaido (Sapporo base)
250 Mbps is essential for video calls & uploads
🦋Social Butterfly
Either works
Similar social opportunities
🛡️Safety-First
Hokkaido (Sapporo base)
Significantly higher safety rating
🍜Foodie
Either works
Both have great food scenes
🎉Party Person
Either works
Both have great nightlife
🇯🇵Hokkaido (Sapporo base)
Pros
- +Cooler summers than the rest of Japan with fresh air and easy access to mountains, forests and national parks
- +Lower rents than Tokyo and Osaka while still having big-city infrastructure in Sapporo
- +Fast and reliable fibre internet with Japan among the global leaders in fixed broadband speeds
- +Very safe environment with low violent crime and clean, well-maintained streets
Cons
- −Long, cold and snowy winters which are magical for some but demanding if you dislike snow and ice
- −Smaller international and digital nomad community compared with Tokyo, Osaka or Fukuoka
- −English is less widely spoken, so daily life can involve more language friction in smaller businesses
- −Distances within Hokkaido are large – many scenic spots require trains, buses or renting a car
🌍Beirut
Pros
- +Rich Mediterranean culture with layers of history, nightlife and café culture in a compact city
- +Lower everyday costs than many European capitals for food, rent and going out (in USD terms)
- +Strong café scene with many laptop-friendly spots in Gemmayze, Mar Mikhael and Hamra
- +Several modern coworking hubs such as BDD, antwork and Berytech with fast, prioritised internet
Cons
- −Ongoing economic and political crises with frequent electricity cuts and fuel issues; most places rely on private generators and solar
- −Security situation and regional tensions mean many governments issue strong travel advisories for Lebanon
- −Internet speeds are lower than global averages and can drop during power rationing, especially outside premium spaces
- −Currency volatility and dual pricing (USD vs local Lira) can make budgeting confusing for newcomers
