Cost of Living: Las Palmas vs Tokyo (2026)

Spain vs Japan — relocation comparison

TL;DRLas Palmas is 23% cheaper on rent ($1049/mo vs $1359/mo). Las Palmas has milder winters (16°C vs 4°C lows). Both countries will let you complain about the government in public — and mean it.
70
Livability Score
🇪🇸 Las Palmas
Spain
Full profile
68
Livability Score
🇯🇵 Tokyo
Japan
Full profile
Las Palmas and Tokyo are almost suspiciously well-matched. Flip a coin.
💰
Cost of Living
Las Palmas
$310/mo cheaper on rent alone
🔒
Safety
Tokyo
0.2 homicides per 100k
🗳️
Democracy
Tokyo
8.4/10 EIU index
☀️
Weather
26°C vs 28°C summers
🗣️
English
Las Palmas
higher proficiency score
Las Palmas
Metric
Tokyo
$1049/mo
🏠
Rent (1BR centre)
$1359/mo
$462/mo
🛒
Living costs (no rent)
$576/mo
🧳
Cost to land
$6,924
0.6 / 100k
🔒
Homicides
0.2 / 100k
🚨
Crime perception
lower is better
25 / 100
26°C
☀️
Summer high
28°C
16°C
❄️
Winter low
4°C
Internet speed
53 Mbps
8.1 / 10
🗳️
Democracy
8.4 / 10
High (62/100)
🗣️
English ease
Low (36/100)
$58k
💼
GDP per capita
$52k
2.8%
📈
Inflation
2.7%
70 / 100
🏅
Livability Score
68 / 100
Grid reliability
99/100 — Reliable
🗽
Freedom House
96/100
📋
Time to PR
5 years

For the Kids

Schools, pediatric care, and whether your children can actually enroll

477
PISA
country avg
533
15
Intl schools
23
Public school
Yes (Japanese)
Pediatric care
Pediatric care free or near-free for children in most municipalities
Specialist wait
1–3 weeks
$499/mo
Childcare
full-day
$1142/mo

Sources: OECD PISA 2022 · Wikipedia · Numbeo · official health systems

Settler Essentials

stable
Democracy trend
improving
Industries
financeautomotivegamingelectronics
Startup ecosystem
hub
Grid reliability
99/100
Time to PR
5 yrs
EU visa
Moderate
RU visa
Complex
UA visa
Moderate
Spouse works
⚠️ Your partner can exist, with paperwork

Sources: EIU · Freedom House · Startup Genome · IEA · official immigration portals

The Short Version

  • Rent is 23% cheaper in Las Palmas ($1049/mo vs $1359/mo for a 1BR city centre).
  • Summers are slightly warmer in Tokyo (28°C vs 26°C).
  • English is easier to get by in Las Palmas (62/100 vs 36/100 English proficiency).

Las Palmas vs Tokyo — Common Questions

Is Las Palmas cheaper than Tokyo?

Las Palmas is cheaper. A 1-bedroom apartment in city centre costs around $1049/month in Las Palmas vs $1359/month in the other city (Numbeo data).

Which is safer, Las Palmas or Tokyo?

Tokyo is statistically safer based on UNODC homicide data. Las Palmas has a rate of 0.61 per 100,000 and Tokyo has 0.23 per 100,000.

Should I move to Las Palmas or Tokyo?

Las Palmas and Tokyo are almost suspiciously well-matched. Flip a coin. See the full comparison above for rent, safety, internet speed, climate, and democracy scores to decide which city fits your priorities.

Is it easier to get residency in Las Palmas or Tokyo?

Las Palmas: no specific remote work visa. Tokyo: Japan Digital Nomad Visa (moderate requirements, 6 months (no renewal)). See each city's profile page for full requirements.

Which has better weather, Las Palmas or Tokyo?

Tokyo is warmer in summer (28°C vs 26°C). Las Palmas has milder summers, which suits those who prefer cooler weather. Climate preference is personal — use the weather section above to compare seasons.

Can I live in Las Palmas or Tokyo without speaking the local language?

English is easier to get by in Las Palmas (EF EPI score: 62/100) than in Tokyo (36/100). In Las Palmas, daily life and professional settings often work in English. In Tokyo, learning some of the local language will make long-term settlement significantly smoother.

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