Hokkaido (Sapporo base)vsPhuket
📶
Hokkaido (Sapporo base) has 3x faster internet
250 Mbps avg download speed
🌡️
Continental vs Tropical Wet climate
Different weather patterns year-round
💰 Cost of Living Breakdown
Monthly expenses comparison in USD
Expense
Hokkaido (Sapporo base)
Phuket
Total Budget
$1,900/mo
$1,800/mo ✓
Rent (1BR)
$900/mo
$550/mo ✓
Coworking
$220/mo
$100/mo ✓
Meal Out
$7
$2 ✓
Coffee
$3
$3
Phuket is $100/mo cheaper (6% 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
🇹🇭 Phuket
📶 Internet100 Mbps
🕐 TimezoneUTC+7
🗣️ Englishmedium
🛂 Nomad VisaAvailable
Working hours overlap:
🇺🇸 US West0h
🇺🇸 US East0h
🇬🇧 London4h
🇩🇪 Berlin5h
🌡️ Climate Comparison
Weather patterns and best times to visit
Hokkaido (Sapporo base)
ClimateContinental
Avg Temp9°C
Rainy Days168/year
Phuket
ClimateTropical Wet
Avg Temp28°C
Rainy Days225/year
Best months: February, January, March
Quarterly Temperatures
Jan
-6°27°
Apr
8°29°
Jul
23°28°
Oct
11°27°
Hokkaido (Sapporo base)Phuket
📊 Full Comparison
Category
🇯🇵Hokkaido (Sapporo base)
🇹🇭Phuket
💰
Monthly Budget
$1,900
$1,800
📶
Internet Speed
250 Mbps
Winner100 Mbps
🛡️
Safety
4.6/5
Winner3.8/5
⭐
Nomad Score
4.1/10
4/10
🍽️
Food Scene
9/10
9/10
🎉
Nightlife
7/10
8/10
🚶
Walkability
7/10
Winner4/10
👥
Community
small
large
Winner3
Hokkaido (Sapporo base) wins
vs
1
Phuket wins
Which City is Right for You?
Recommendations based on your nomad style
💵Budget Nomad
Either works
Similar costs - choose based on other factors
💻Developer
Hokkaido (Sapporo base)
250 Mbps is essential for video calls & uploads
🦋Social Butterfly
Phuket
Larger nomad community for networking
🛡️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
🇹🇭Phuket
Pros
- +Beautiful beaches with crystal-clear waters
- +Excellent Thai food at affordable prices
- +Fast fiber internet and 5G coverage
- +Destination Thailand Visa for long-term stays
Cons
- −Scams common in tourist areas
- −Transportation difficult without scooter
- −Taxi mafia with inflated prices
- −Tourist areas very crowded
