Salary Comparison

Software Engineer Salary:
Tokyo vs Nagoya

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

Tokyo
$53,034
/ year
+30%
difference
Nagoya
$40,795
/ 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
Nagoya
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$53,034✓ higher
$40,795
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$35,188✓ higher
$27,067
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$79,932✓ higher
$61,485
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$38,715✓ higher
$31,820
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$39,284✓ higher
$34,572
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.35×
1.18×✓ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$5,207,824✓ higher
$4,005,916
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$11,829,936✓ higher
$9,099,780

What if you move from Tokyo to Nagoya?

Gross salary change
$12,239
30% decrease
Take-home change
$6,895
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
$4,712
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$53,034
P10: $5,207,824Median: $53,034P90: $11,829,936
Nagoya$40,795
P10: $4,005,916Median: $40,795P90: $9,099,780

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Frequently Asked Questions

▶Does a Software Engineer earn more in Tokyo or Nagoya?

The median Software Engineer salary in Tokyo is ¥7,849,032/yr compared to ¥6,037,660/yr in Nagoya. Tokyo pays 30% more in gross terms.

▶Is a Software Engineer salary worth more in Tokyo or Nagoya after cost of living?

After adjusting for local cost of living, your Tokyo salary has the purchasing power of $39,284/yr in a median-cost city, vs $34,572/yr for Nagoya. Tokyo offers stronger real purchasing power.

▶What is the take-home pay for a Software Engineer in Tokyo vs Nagoya?

After estimated taxes, a Software Engineer in Tokyo takes home approximately $38,715/yr, vs $31,820/yr in Nagoya. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.