Japan
Norway
Exchange rates: European Central Bank reference rates, 2026-10-23. Japan: Tokyo, Kyokai Kenpo, salary paid evenly each month with no bonus, no dependants. Norway: Employee in Oslo, Norwegian tax resident and a Norwegian national (no expatriate rules such as PAYE source tax), single with no children, aged 17-69, salary only paid evenly as monthly pay (no bonus or benefits in kind), income year 2026. Tax on ordinary income (22%: municipal, county and state common tax combined; the same rate applies in Oslo as everywhere outside Troms and Finnmark) after the standard deduction (minstefradrag) and personal allowance (personfradrag, class 1); bracket tax (trinnskatt) on gross pay; national insurance contribution (trygdeavgift) on gross pay. Net wealth tax and capital income are ignored. Employer side: employer's national insurance contribution in zone I (Oslo) and the statutory minimum occupational pension (OTP).
At three salary levels
| Salary (US$ equivalent) | Japan | Norway |
|---|---|---|
| $60,000 | Cost 1.14× Keeps 73% ¥9,408,202 | Cost 1.16× Keeps 77% kr 561,056 |
| $120,000 | Cost 1.10× Keeps 66% ¥18,816,403 | Cost 1.16× Keeps 68% kr 1,122,112 |
| $250,000 | Cost 1.05× Keeps 57% ¥39,200,840 | Cost 1.15× Keeps 60% kr 2,337,733 |
Employment rules compared
| Japan | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Statutory annual leave | 10 days after six months, rising to 20; 5 days must be taken | 25 working days; 5 weeks common |
| Public holidays in 2026 | 18 | 12 (Oslo) |
| Notice of dismissal | 30 days, or pay in lieu | 1-6 months by service and age |
| Severance required by law | None | None by law |
| Typical negotiated exit | Commonly 3–6 months’ pay plus unused leave | No official benchmark |
| Probation | Commonly 3–6 months; dismissal still needs grounds | Up to 6 months, 14 days' notice |
| Working hours | 40 a week; overtime capped at 45 a month and 360 a year | 9 h/day, 40 h/week |
| How hard is dismissal? | Very hard: needs objectively reasonable grounds | Hard: objective grounds; can stay during dispute |
| Women in management (ILO) | 14.5% (2023) | 30.8% (2024) |
Questions
What does a US$120,000 salary cost an employer in Japan and Norway?
With the rates and exchange rates as of October 2026, in Japan (Tokyo, ¥18,816,403) the employer’s total cost is 1.10 times the salary; in Norway (kr 1,122,112) it is 1.16 times. The employee keeps 66% of salary in Japan and 68% in Norway.
Is it cheaper to employ someone in Japan or Norway?
At this salary, the employer’s on-cost is lower in Japan. The ratio changes with pay, though: where contributions are capped, the on-cost falls as a share of salary for high earners. Enter the real salary in the calculator above to compare.
How do notice and severance compare?
Japan: 30 days, or pay in lieu; no severance is required by law, and negotiated exits are commonly 3–6 months’ pay plus unused leave. Norway: notice is 1-6 months by service and age; severance required by law: none by law; typical negotiated exit: no official benchmark.
Which has more paid leave and public holidays?
Japan: 10 days after six months, rising to 20; 5 days must be taken, and 18 public holidays in 2026. Norway: 25 working days; 5 weeks common, and 12 public holidays in 2026.
Sources: Japan (Kyokai Kenpo, Japan Pension Service, MHLW, National Tax Agency, MIC). Norway: every rate and rule is listed with its primary source on Norway's HR data. Exchange rates: ECB reference rates (2026-10-23); for currencies the ECB does not quote, the central bank's rate.
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