Edinburgh VS Osaka

Cost of Living & Salary Comparison 2026

Edinburgh
United Kingdom
62.1
COLI Index
#41
Global Rank
GBP
Currency
Osaka
Japan
62.8
COLI Index
#38
Global Rank
JPY
Currency

Key Differences

Cost of Living
62.1
62.8
1BR Rent (USD/mo)
$1,300
$1,000
Total Deductions
25.1%
29.0%
Exchange Rate
1 GBP = 205.7200 JPY
Is Edinburgh cheaper than Osaka?

Yes, Edinburgh is 1% cheaper than Osaka based on our cost of living index. Edinburgh has a COLI of 62.1, while Osaka has a COLI of 62.8. 1% cheaper

Key Takeaways: Edinburgh vs Osaka

Overall, Edinburgh is approximately 1% cheaper than Osaka based on our cost of living index. Edinburgh has a COLI of 62.1 (ranked #41 of 182 cities), while Osaka has a COLI of 62.8 (ranked #38).

When it comes to housing, one-bedroom apartment rent in Edinburgh averages $1,300/month compared to $1,000/month in Osaka. That makes Osaka approximately 23% cheaper for rent alone.

Edinburgh has lower total deductions (25.1%) compared to Osaka (29.0%), meaning you keep more of your gross salary in Edinburgh. When evaluating a relocation, remember that total deductions directly impact your take-home pay and should be weighed alongside cost of living differences.

Tax & Deductions Comparison

Full breakdown of mandatory payroll deductions for a mid-range salary as a local employee in each city.

Edinburgh

Income Tax
13%
National Insurance (NI)
8.0%
Council Tax (avg)
4.3%
Total: 25.1%Take-Home: £26,266/yr

Osaka

Income Tax
14%
Health + Pension + Employment
14.8%
Total: 29.0%Take-Home: ¥5,177,912/yr

Rates shown for local employees. Expat deductions may differ — use the main converter for personalized calculations.

Salary Equivalent

If you earn £56,476 in Edinburgh, you would need approximately ¥11,749,185 in Osaka to maintain the same purchasing power. That is 1% more due to higher cost of living.

Salary Comparison by Job Title

Estimated mid-level annual salaries in local currency, adjusted for each city's cost of living:

Job Title Edinburgh (GBP) Osaka (JPY)
Doctor (General) £84,172 ¥17,510,986
Software Engineer £39,748 ¥8,269,077
Product Manager £46,762 ¥9,728,325
Lawyer £46,762 ¥9,728,325
Data Scientist £44,424 ¥9,241,909
Marketing Manager £33,669 ¥7,004,394
Teacher £22,446 ¥4,669,596
Nurse £27,122 ¥5,642,429

Salary estimates are adjusted by each city's COLI relative to the New York baseline. Actual salaries vary by company, experience, and industry.

Neighborhoods

Edinburgh (Top 5)

NeighborhoodMultiplier
New Town1.25x (+25%)
Old Town1.18x (+18%)
Stockbridge1.15x (+15%)
Dean Village1.15x (+15%)
Morningside1.10x (+10%)

Osaka (Top 5)

NeighborhoodMultiplier
Kita (Umeda)1.22x (+22%)
Chuo (Namba)1.18x (+18%)
Shinsaibashi1.15x (+15%)
Fukushima1.10x (+10%)
Tennoji1.08x (+8%)

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Edinburgh or Osaka more expensive?

Osaka is more expensive overall. Edinburgh has a COLI of 62.1 while Osaka has a COLI of 62.8, making Edinburgh approximately 1% cheaper.

What salary in Osaka equals £56,476 in Edinburgh?

To maintain the same standard of living as £56,476 in Edinburgh, you would need approximately ¥11,749,185 in Osaka.

Is rent cheaper in Edinburgh or Osaka?

Average one-bedroom rent in Edinburgh is $1,300/month compared to $1,000/month in Osaka. Osaka has lower rent by approximately 23%.

Which city has lower taxes, Edinburgh or Osaka?

Edinburgh has lower total deductions (25.1%) compared to Osaka (29.0%), meaning you keep more of your gross salary in Edinburgh.

Explore Each City

Data Sources & Methodology

Cost of living indices (COLI) are benchmarked to New York City = 100 and derived from Numbeo and Expatistan crowd-sourced price surveys, cross-referenced with national statistics agencies. Rent data from Numbeo Property Prices.

Salary ranges are compiled from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OES), Glassdoor, and PayScale. Tax rates are approximate effective rates for mid-range earners based on OECD Taxing Wages and national tax authorities. Exchange rates from the European Central Bank. Neighborhood multipliers are estimated from local rental indices and property data.

Last updated: 2026-02-28. Data is refreshed periodically. All figures are estimates for informational purposes only.