Which has lower income requirements: Japan or Malaysia?

Japan requires $6,600/mo; Malaysia requires $2,000/mo. See the comparison table for full details.

Is insurance required for Japan or Malaysia?

Check the Insurance required row in the comparison table above.

Last Updated: Feb 2026

Side-by-side comparison of tax rules, income requirements, and visa difficulty.

Criteria	Japan	Malaysia
Income	$6,600/mo	$2,000/mo
Savings Option	N/A	N/A
Visa Fee	$25	$220
Processing	1 month	4-8 weeks
Validity	6 months (non-renewable)	1 year (renewable)
Cost Tier	Medium	Low
Nomad Cost (est.)	~$2,600/mo	~$1,500/mo
1BR Rent	~$950	~$550
Internet	250 Mbps	130 Mbps
Pet Friendliness	3/10	2/10
Tax trigger	183 days	182 days
Insurance required	Yes	Yes
Pet Catch (2026)	Japan has some of the world's strictest pet import laws.	Malaysia is challenging for dog owners; many condos and public parks ban dogs.