Lishu vs Kofu: Which City Wins for Expats in 2026?
Kofu ranks meaningfully higher on safety. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Kofu is approximately 167% less expensive than Lishu based on cost of living including rent. This makes Kofu a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Kofu has a FIRE Score of 91/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 85, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Kofu is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
About Lishu
Lishu is a hard sell for most expats, and the numbers say why: an overall expat score of 57/100, a small expat community, limited English, and fair healthcare in a city of 25 million. Rent outside the center runs $675/mo for a one-bedroom, yet a single adult's monthly costs excluding rent hit $798/mo, so the budget tier at $405/mo only works if you are sharing or living very lean. The safety index of 58/100 and an air quality index of 72 do not help, though 68 Mbps internet and a subtropical climate keep daily life workable. Come for a local posting or family ties, not for a soft landing.
About China
China works for remote workers and business expats fluent in navigating bureaucracy, not retirees seeking an easy landing. Rent outside the city center averages just $238.5/mo, backing the low COL index of 30.7. But with no retirement visa, no digital nomad visa, and an advisory level of 2, getting legal footing here is the real obstacle, not the budget.
$2,325/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
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About Kofu
Kofu is a quiet, affordable base for anyone who wants Japan without Tokyo prices: a city-center one-bedroom runs $345/mo, an inexpensive restaurant meal costs $6, and a single adult can live on a budget tier of $517/mo. The tradeoffs are real, though. English proficiency is limited, the nearest airport is HND at 111 km away, and the Japan Digital Nomad Visa demands $6,667/mo in income, which prices out most remote workers. Come for the low rent and excellent healthcare, not for a big-city social scene.
About Japan
Safe, efficient, and financially punishing for anyone chasing early retirement. A 1BR in central Tokyo runs $531.81/mo, cheap by American standards, but progressive income tax up to ~55% (incl. local) erases most remote-work savings. No retirement visa exists, and the digital nomad route requires $6,667/mo income with zero path to permanent residency or citizenship without a long, difficult grind.
$2,280/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
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City Details
Which visa fits your move?
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| Metric | Lishu | Kofu |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $920.97 | $345.27 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $675.38 | $347.96 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | N/A | $520 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | N/A | $420 |
| Safety Index | 58 | 85 |
| Internet Speed | 68.2Mbps | 120Mbps |
| Walkability Score | N/A | N/A |
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