MMoving to Japan

Is 188,000/m after taxes enough in Osaka, Japan?

  • February 14, 2025

Hi all, I recently received an offer from a Japanese company for a Software Engineer role with an in-hand salary of around 188,000 Yen per month (after taxes). Additionally, they’ll provide 20,000 Yen per month as a house rent allowance. I’m a new grad, graduating this year, and I wanted to know how much new grads typically earn as Software Engineers in Osaka, Japan, and what my expenses might look like (e.g., electricity, Wi-Fi, food, etc.). Will I be able to save anything with this salary?

Edit: The company also has a 26-month bond, and if I leave before completing this period, I’ll have to pay 420,000 Yen (equivalent to two months salary).

Also, the company mentioned that they won’t cover flight charges but will provide a loan for it, which will be deducted from my monthly salary.

by rum1nas

31 comments

  1. That seems very low, around minimum wage by the looks of it. It’d be hard in Osaka I think unless you live frugally.

  5. The company also has a 26-month bond, and if I leave before completing this period, I’ll have to pay 420,000 Yen (equivalent to two months’ salary).

    That is not legal

  6. In general – and this goes for every country – you do NOT want to take an engineering position with a contract like you described.

    They’ll screw you over every which way until you’re so burnt out you can’t think straight.

    To answer you question – no. you won’t be saving a damn thing on that, and you’ll be living in poverty. I’d be shocked if you even found somewhere willing to rent to you on that salary. As someone else mentioned, you can literally make more working in a konbini.

  8. As a new grad you’ll be seeing new grad salaries which are unfortunately pretty low. If you’re already a resident in Japan AND you’re proficient in Japanese this is probably okay, but if not I would do some time in your home country first. The difference in your overall lifetime compensation will be significant.

  9. The offer is very low and very sketchy. 26 month bond shouldn’t even be legal. You will not be able to save much if anything at all and you will also most likely end up in trouble with the kind of arrangements they are giving you.

  10. agreed with everyone else so far: this sounds very sketchy.

    I know it sucks right out of uni, and you should pass on this but will think”man I had an offer” if you struggle to find work. but this sounds pretty poor and the regret of taking it will definitely outweigh any regret you have for where you end up otherwise. (given you don’t trade this for an identicaly poor sounding role).

  12. I work a shitty part time warehouse baito and I get paid only slightly less than that. You can almost certainly do better.

  13. People are joking but, if you have issues with your country and living in very bad environment, you can consider. But you have to reject loans and repayment. Other than that, you can search another job when you’re in Japan.

    If you have time, better to check other companies and keep try searching alternatives.

  14. I even part-time worker make around the amount you showed so don’t do it I’ve seen people earn minimum 400000yen monthly atleast look for more options you’ll Def find more good company if you look into it

  15. >The company also has a 26-month bond, and if I leave before completing this period, I’ll have to pay 420,000 Yen (equivalent to two months salary).

    This is illegal, and should tell you everything you need to know about this companyh.

    But also:

    >Also, the company mentioned that they won’t cover flight charges but will provide a loan for it, which will be deducted from my monthly salary.

    Not illegal, but really shitty.

    Also shitty: That salary.

  16. 26 month bond is not legal. They will threaten you with this, but they cannot enforce it.

  17. Software engineer’s average monthly income is about 300,000 ~500,000 yen before tax. After tax is: 240,000. What kind of bonds do they provide? Is it optional? Can you swap to salary or bonus?

  21. Hey, if it helps, I’m in a really similar position in which I’ll have around the same amount after taxes like you would do, I am a fresh grad too and I am software/robotics developer. I’ll move in March to Japan, I spent last summer in Tokyo living with around 150,000, rent included (I stayed in a Sharehouse) while doing unpaid internship and well, let me tell you that you’re not going to be living in a very comfortable manner, but I can assure you that it is sufficient to at least live and enjoy some places, if you come from a third world country that is slowly getting worse, then I can assure you this is a good opportunity or at least one that you could consider to enhance quality of life, the only thing that looks sketchy and would recommend to avoid is the bonding agreement for two years, if you can negotiate to take that out then it would be nice, for everything else, it is okay to have it as a starter point.

  23. This sounds disgustingly bad hahahaha. I’d not even consider it. Especially for a software engineer.

  25. That’s pretty low! U may need to live in a share house.

    I was making around 220,000 as as soft engineer 10 years ago and I had enough to play and save . (But I did had to count any penny) . Also, I had mansion with no loan so no rent . Only property tax + concierge (around 50k monthly) 

    So it’s possible but no fun 

  26. Any company that charges you for quitting is a giant red flag. I think the flight loan is another way to trap you. That salary is just enough to get by. Don’t go for it. Keep looking for other jobs.

  28. Don’t reject this offer. It sounds sketchy and the salary is not good, but it’s better than anything. Tell them to wait until you graduate and try to find a better offer meanwhile. If you don’t find anything better, hey, at least you have the security of the sketchy offer!

  30. I received a similar offer a while back and rejected it. Is it enough? Yes. Barely. But is it good? Absolutely not. It’s terrible.

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