Salary Comparison

AI Engineer Salary:
Tokyo vs Osaka

Side-by-side gross salary, after-tax take-home pay, and purchasing power comparison. Updated June 2026.

Tokyo
$56,605
/ year
+23%
difference
Osaka
$46,155
/ year
Bottom line: Tokyo wins on all three metrics — higher salary, more take-home pay, and greater purchasing power. How is this calculated? →
Metric
Tokyo
Osaka
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$56,605✓ higher
$46,155
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$37,557✓ higher
$30,623
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$85,314✓ higher
$69,564
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$41,322✓ higher
$36,001
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$41,930✓ higher
$40,135
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.35×
1.15×✓ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$5,558,436✓ higher
$4,532,204
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$12,626,472✓ higher
$10,295,472

What if you move from Tokyo to Osaka?

Gross salary change
$10,450
23% decrease
Take-home change
$5,321
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
$1,795
equivalent real income

Take-home pay is estimated using 2024 US federal tax brackets (single filer) + 7.65% FICA, or a blended international effective rate. Purchasing power converts gross salary to an equivalent in a US median cost-of-living city (index 1.00×). Full methodology →

Salary Range Comparison

Tokyo$56,605
P10: $5,558,436Median: $56,605P90: $12,626,472
Osaka$46,155
P10: $4,532,204Median: $46,155P90: $10,295,472

More AI Engineer salary comparisons

Tokyo vs NagoyaAll AI Engineer salaries →

Frequently Asked Questions

▶Does a AI Engineer earn more in Tokyo or Osaka?

The median AI Engineer salary in Tokyo is ¥8,377,540/yr compared to ¥6,830,940/yr in Osaka. Tokyo pays 23% more in gross terms.

▶Is a AI Engineer salary worth more in Tokyo or Osaka after cost of living?

After adjusting for local cost of living, your Tokyo salary has the purchasing power of $41,930/yr in a median-cost city, vs $40,135/yr for Osaka. Tokyo offers stronger real purchasing power.

▶What is the take-home pay for a AI Engineer in Tokyo vs Osaka?

After estimated taxes, a AI Engineer in Tokyo takes home approximately $41,322/yr, vs $36,001/yr in Osaka. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.