London vs Tokyo: Which City Is Better for Expats?
London scores higher overall for expats, leading in 9 of 16 factors.
Updated May 2026
Factor Breakdown
| Metric | 🇬🇧 London | 🇯🇵 Tokyo | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quality of Life | 69 | 74 | Tokyo |
| Safety | 39 | 81 | Tokyo |
| Healthcare | 59 | 84 | Tokyo |
| Climate | 53 | 83 | Tokyo |
| Pollution | 72 | 63 | London |
| Nightlife | 97 | 89 | London |
| English Spoken | 98 | 23 | London |
| Foreigner Friendly | 65 | 46 | London |
| Expat Community | 67 | 63 | London |
| Family Friendly | 71 | 63 | London |
| LGBTQ+ Safety | 91 | 75 | London |
| Coworking Spaces | 85 | 96 | Tokyo |
| Startup Ecosystem | 40 | 42 | Too close to call |
| Property Affordability | 91 | 75 | London |
| LGBTQ+ Friendliness | 71 | 54 | London |
Cost Breakdown
Lower = cheaper. The number is roughly the share of New York City's everyday expenses you'd pay there (so 60 ≈ 60% of NYC). The gap between two columns is roughly how much cheaper one place is than the other.
| Category | London | Tokyo |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of Living | 87.5 | 54.2 |
| Rent | 70.1 | 25.8 |
| Groceries | 68.9 | 62.9 |
| Restaurants | 89.7 | 35.4 |
| Purchasing Power | 117.5 | 117.8 |
Based on aggregated cost-of-living data from multiple public sources, 2026.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is London or Tokyo cheaper to live in?
Tokyo is roughly 38% cheaper than London overall (54.2 vs 87.5 on our cost of living index, where lower = cheaper). This covers rent, groceries, restaurants, and overall purchasing power.
Which city is safer, London or Tokyo?
Tokyo scores higher on safety at 81 vs 39. This factors in crime rates, personal safety perceptions, and walking-alone-at-night metrics.
Is English widely spoken in London and Tokyo?
London rates higher for English speakers (98 vs 23). Scores reflect how easily you can get by day-to-day in English, based on expat community reports.
Which city has better nightlife, London or Tokyo?
London edges out on nightlife with a score of 97 vs 89, based on aggregated nightlife and entertainment ratings.
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How we compare cities
City scores are normalized to 0-100 from multiple publicly available datasets covering cost of living, safety, healthcare, climate, quality of life, pollution, property prices, commute times, nightlife, English proficiency, expat friendliness, and LGBTQ+ friendliness.