TokyovsBeijing
💰
Beijing saves you $300/month
14% cheaper on rent, food & transport
🌡️
Temperate vs Continental 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
Tokyo
Beijing
Total Budget
$2,100/mo
$1,800/mo ✓
Rent (1BR)
$1,200/mo
$750/mo ✓
Coworking
$200/mo
$180/mo ✓
Meal Out
$8
$4 ✓
Coffee
$4
$4
Beijing is $300/mo cheaper (17% savings)
💻 Remote Work Essentials
Internet, timezone, and language comparison
🇯🇵 Tokyo
📶 Internet200 Mbps
🕐 TimezoneUTC+9
🗣️ Englishlow
🛂 Nomad VisaAvailable
Working hours overlap:
🇺🇸 US West0h
🇺🇸 US East0h
🇬🇧 London2h
🇩🇪 Berlin3h
🌍 Beijing
📶 Internet200 Mbps
🕐 TimezoneUTC+8
🗣️ Englishlow
🛂 Nomad VisaNot available
Working hours overlap:
🇺🇸 US West0h
🇺🇸 US East0h
🇬🇧 London3h
🇩🇪 Berlin4h
🌡️ Climate Comparison
Weather patterns and best times to visit
Tokyo
ClimateTemperate
Avg Temp17°C
Rainy Days123/year
Best months: June, July, September
Beijing
ClimateContinental
Avg Temp14°C
Rainy Days62/year
Best months: June, April, May, September
Quarterly Temperatures
Jan
5°-2°
Apr
15°16°
Jul
28°28°
Oct
19°13°
TokyoBeijing
📊 Full Comparison
Category
🇯🇵Tokyo
🌍Beijing
💰
Monthly Budget
$2,100
$1,800
Winner📶
Internet Speed
200 Mbps
200 Mbps
🛡️
Safety
4.9/5
Winner4.5/5
⭐
Nomad Score
4.3/10
4/10
🍽️
Food Scene
10/10
10/10
🎉
Nightlife
8/10
8/10
🚶
Walkability
8/10
7/10
👥
Community
large
Winnermedium
2
Tokyo wins
vs
1
Beijing wins
Which City is Right for You?
Recommendations based on your nomad style
💵Budget Nomad
Beijing
$300/mo cheaper with similar quality of life
💻Developer
Either works
Both have adequate internet for development work
🦋Social Butterfly
Tokyo
Larger nomad community for networking
🛡️Safety-First
Tokyo
Significantly higher safety rating
🍜Foodie
Either works
Both have great food scenes
🎉Party Person
Either works
Both have great nightlife
🇯🇵Tokyo
Pros
- +Exceptional safety - one of the safest major cities in the world
- +World-class public transportation system with JR and Metro
- +Incredible food scene from street food to Michelin stars
- +Fascinating blend of ultra-modern and traditional culture
Cons
- −Language barrier - low English proficiency among locals
- −High cost of living especially for accommodation
- −Can feel socially isolating without Japanese language skills
- −Small apartments and limited living space
🌍Beijing
Pros
- +Incredibly rich history and culture with UNESCO World Heritage Sites
- +Excellent public transportation with extensive metro network
- +Very safe city with low crime rates
- +World-class food scene from street food to fine dining
Cons
- −Internet censorship requires VPN for many Western sites
- −Air pollution can be severe especially in winter
- −Language barrier with limited English outside expat areas
- −Cold winters with temperatures dropping below -10C
