DATA GUIDE

UN Post Adjustment VS Actual Cost of Living 2026

A country-by-country comparison of UN professional post-adjustment multipliers against real-world cost-of-living data — designed to surface duty stations where the UN uplift looks unusually generous or surprisingly thin relative to what you actually pay to live there.

This guide is an invaluable resource for UN job applicants deciding where they would like to work: choosing a duty station with a high post adjustment and a comparatively low cost of living means you keep more of your salary and build savings faster — one of the most tangible financial benefits of a UN career. Current UN staff can use the same logic when evaluating a move to a different duty station and maximising their take-home.

Disclaimer: Cost-of-living data is sourced from Numbeo as surfaced by World Population Review and was extracted manually for the purpose of this analysis. GloJobs does not own any of the underlying data and has merely performed an independent analysis on publicly available information. UN post-adjustment figures are published by the ICSC. This guide is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or an official product of the United Nations or any of its agencies.
10 min readApril 2026128 overlapping countries

TL;DR

In the current overlap set, the average professional post adjustment is 40.1%, while the average cost of living plus rent score is 29.7. We flag countries as over-adjusted when post adjustment exceeds the including-rent index by at least 15 points, and as under-adjusted when it falls 10 points or more below that index.

Average post adjustment
+40.1%
Professional staff, country overlap only
Large positive gaps
40
Countries where post adjustment is ≥ 15 points above cost incl. rent
Large negative gaps
4
Countries where post adjustment trails cost incl. rent by at least 10 points

What this comparison does well

Good for directional screening

If a country shows a very high UN uplift but a much lower cost-of-living-plus-rent score, it is a strong hint that the duty station deserves a closer manual review. This is especially useful when evaluating relocation attractiveness or comparing assignments.

Not an audit of ICSC methodology

UN post adjustment is duty-station specific and not purely a cost-of-living statistic. The table uses country-level Numbeo averages via World Population Review, so it should be read as an editorial comparison layer rather than an official compensation verdict.

Countries with the biggest positive gaps

Russia
Post adj. +59.7% vs cost incl. rent 15.8
+43.9
Ivory Coast
Post adj. +65.3% vs cost incl. rent 28.0
+37.3
Malaysia
Post adj. +52.5% vs cost incl. rent 20.1
+32.4
China
Post adj. +52.9% vs cost incl. rent 22.2
+30.7
Nigeria
Post adj. +54.4% vs cost incl. rent 24.4
+30.0
Hong Kong
Post adj. +95.2% vs cost incl. rent 65.7
+29.5
Algeria
Post adj. +44.6% vs cost incl. rent 15.2
+29.4
Bangladesh
Post adj. +41.6% vs cost incl. rent 12.7
+28.9

Countries with the biggest negative gaps

Iceland
Post adj. +41.9% vs cost incl. rent 65.9
-24.0
Portugal
Post adj. +16.3% vs cost incl. rent 32.8
-16.5
Italy
Post adj. +22.3% vs cost incl. rent 36.3
-14.0
Puerto Rico
Post adj. +30.1% vs cost incl. rent 41.5
-11.4

Interactive comparison table

Gap = UN post adjustment minus cost of living plus rent. Positive values indicate a larger UN uplift than the national cost index suggests.

CoL excl. rent = Numbeo's consumer-price index without housing. Rent = Numbeo's rent index. CoL incl. rent= Numbeo's combined cost-of-living-plus-rent index.

CountryPost adj.CoL excl. rentRentCoL incl. rentGapStatus
Russia
RU · RUS
+59.7%22.37.515.8+43.9Over-adjusted
Ivory Coast
CI · CIV
+65.3%38.814.528.0+37.3Over-adjusted
Malaysia
MY · MYS
+52.5%29.713.620.1+32.4Over-adjusted
China
CN · CHN
+52.9%30.711.622.2+30.7Over-adjusted
Nigeria
NG · NGA
+54.4%26.421.824.4+30.0Over-adjusted
Hong Kong
HK · HKG
+95.2%73.655.765.7+29.5Over-adjusted
Algeria
DZ · DZA
+44.6%24.53.415.2+29.4Over-adjusted
Bangladesh
BD · BGD
+41.6%20.92.412.7+28.9Over-adjusted
Colombia
CO · COL
+46.6%26.08.118.1+28.5Over-adjusted
Ghana
GH · GHA
+50.4%30.612.122.4+28.0Over-adjusted
Mexico
MX · MEX
+52.5%34.514.125.4+27.1Over-adjusted
Belarus
BY · BLR
+44.5%25.08.717.8+26.7Over-adjusted
Denmark
DK · DNK
+74.6%66.925.748.6+26.0Over-adjusted
Afghanistan
AF · AFG
+37.4%19.92.012.0+25.4Over-adjusted
Hungary
HU · HUN
+50.2%36.611.125.3+24.9Over-adjusted
Lebanon
LB · LBN
+52.3%38.813.627.7+24.6Over-adjusted
Pakistan
PK · PAK
+34.6%17.82.911.2+23.4Over-adjusted
Cuba
CU · CUB
+50.2%40.811.627.9+22.3Over-adjusted
Israel
IL · ISR
+69.6%65.227.148.3+21.3Over-adjusted
Kenya
KE · KEN
+39.6%28.27.619.1+20.5Over-adjusted
Venezuela
VE · VEN
+42.7%35.95.822.6+20.1Over-adjusted
Saudi Arabia
SA · SAU
+48.3%41.911.528.4+19.9Over-adjusted
Kuwait
KW · KWT
+51.7%40.421.932.2+19.5Over-adjusted
Czechia
CZ · CZE
+50.7%42.617.631.5+19.2Over-adjusted
Turkey
TR · TUR
+43.8%34.712.825.0+18.8Over-adjusted
Libya
LY · LBY
+30.9%18.63.912.1+18.8Over-adjusted
Somalia
SO · SOM
+41.7%38.73.523.1+18.6Over-adjusted
Philippines
PH · PHL
+36.8%28.86.919.1+17.7Over-adjusted
United States
US · USA
+71.9%64.940.954.3+17.6Over-adjusted
Belize
BZ · BLZ
+45.6%41.411.628.2+17.4Over-adjusted
India
IN · IND
+30.5%19.55.013.1+17.4Over-adjusted
Latvia
LV · LVA
+45.4%43.410.028.6+16.8Over-adjusted
Uzbekistan
UZ · UZB
+35.6%24.212.018.8+16.8Over-adjusted
Kazakhstan
KZ · KAZ
+35.9%26.610.519.4+16.5Over-adjusted
Zimbabwe
ZW · ZWE
+38.9%34.78.523.1+15.8Over-adjusted
Switzerland
CH · CHE
+90.5%98.445.274.8+15.7Over-adjusted
Palestine
PS · PSE
+41.1%39.57.825.5+15.6Over-adjusted
Germany
DE · DEU
+57.9%58.422.442.4+15.5Over-adjusted
Zambia
ZM · ZMB
+38.5%33.89.823.1+15.4Over-adjusted
Uganda
UG · UGA
+33.5%26.08.518.2+15.3Over-adjusted
Tanzania
TZ · TZA
+35.4%31.88.821.6+13.8Close
Madagascar
MG · MDG
+27.3%20.710.013.5+13.8Close
Estonia
EE · EST
+47.5%49.414.133.8+13.7Close
Argentina
AR · ARG
+37.7%35.79.924.3+13.4Close
Egypt
EG · EGY
+25.1%19.03.512.2+12.9Close
Ethiopia
ET · ETH
+43.8%43.215.731.0+12.8Close
Namibia
NA · NAM
+34.0%29.311.421.4+12.6Close
Cameroon
CM · CMR
+40.3%36.217.227.8+12.5Close
Azerbaijan
AZ · AZE
+32.9%29.59.020.4+12.5Close
Bulgaria
BG · BGR
+36.4%35.410.124.2+12.2Close
Peru
PE · PER
+32.7%29.49.220.5+12.2Close
Morocco
MA · MAR
+30.5%27.27.118.3+12.2Close
Indonesia
ID · IDN
+29.2%24.67.717.1+12.1Close
Barbados
BB · BRB
+59.5%70.020.147.9+11.6Close
Mongolia
MN · MNG
+34.9%30.614.323.4+11.5Close
Bolivia
BO · BOL
+29.2%25.26.117.7+11.5Close
Iran
IR · IRN
+28.4%23.68.516.9+11.5Close
Brazil
BR · BRA
+28.8%25.615.217.4+11.4Close
Paraguay
PY · PRY
+28.0%23.08.616.6+11.4Close
Moldova
MD · MDA
+34.0%30.812.622.7+11.3Close
Slovenia
SI · SVN
+45.2%46.218.934.1+11.1Close
Jordan
JO · JOR
+35.2%37.27.724.1+11.1Close
Thailand
TH · THA
+34.8%33.711.924.1+10.7Close
Fiji
FJ · FJI
+35.5%32.015.624.8+10.7Close
Croatia
HR · HRV
+40.8%43.214.530.5+10.3Close
Poland
PL · POL
+39.1%38.916.128.8+10.3Close
France
FR · FRA
+51.0%58.019.441.0+10.0Close
North Macedonia
MK · MKD
+29.8%30.36.819.9+9.9Close
Slovakia
SK · SVK
+39.5%42.114.129.7+9.8Close
Rwanda
RW · RWA
+32.4%34.68.222.9+9.5Close
Iraq
IQ · IRQ
+27.7%26.97.318.2+9.5Close
Ukraine
UA · UKR
+26.2%24.67.817.1+9.1Close
Sri Lanka
LK · LKA
+30.5%33.56.321.5+9.0Close
Uruguay
UY · URY
+40.1%46.312.531.3+8.8Close
Kyrgyzstan
KG · KGZ
+27.7%25.410.818.9+8.8Close
Chile
CL · CHL
+33.0%35.110.624.3+8.7Close
Austria
AT · AUT
+52.1%60.722.043.6+8.5Close
United Arab Emirates
AE · ARE
+55.9%54.139.747.8+8.1Close
Canada
CA · CAN
+54.0%58.730.346.1+7.9Close
Albania
AL · ALB
+35.3%39.911.727.4+7.9Close
Sweden
SE · SWE
+46.2%54.219.138.7+7.5Close
Tunisia
TN · TUN
+23.6%25.54.616.3+7.3Close
Nepal
NP · NPL
+21.3%23.03.014.1+7.2Close
Jamaica
JM · JAM
+42.5%50.317.735.9+6.6Close
Dominican Republic
DO · DOM
+30.1%34.39.823.5+6.6Close
Belgium
BE · BEL
+46.6%56.519.340.1+6.5Close
Honduras
HN · HND
+30.0%34.610.223.8+6.2Close
Greece
GR · GRC
+36.9%46.511.831.1+5.8Close
Mauritius
MU · MUS
+29.9%35.642.224.1+5.8Close
South Africa
ZA · ZAF
+27.1%30.011.121.6+5.5Close
Lithuania
LT · LTU
+35.8%44.014.430.9+4.9Close
South Korea
KR · KOR
+42.8%56.515.138.2+4.6Close
Guatemala
GT · GTM
+30.7%36.812.626.1+4.6Close
Finland
FI · FIN
+44.6%58.719.141.1+3.5Close
Cambodia
KH · KHM
+26.3%33.99.423.0+3.3Close
Armenia
AM · ARM
+33.1%39.617.629.9+3.2Close
Ireland
IE · IRL
+53.7%59.839.050.6+3.1Close
Georgia
GE · GEO
+25.7%30.412.822.6+3.1Close
Qatar
QA · QAT
+44.6%47.534.441.7+2.9Close
Ecuador
EC · ECU
+22.9%30.08.020.3+2.6Close
Mozambique
MZ · MOZ
+30.0%38.913.227.5+2.5Close
Maldives
MV · MDV
+37.4%45.33.935.0+2.4Close
Vietnam
VN · VNM
+21.3%26.69.218.9+2.4Close
El Salvador
SV · SLV
+30.1%37.915.628.0+2.1Close
Macau
MO · MAC
+46.4%56.810.844.6+1.8Close
Norway
NO · NOR
+50.1%69.024.849.4+0.7Close
Oman
OM · OMN
+27.9%39.812.027.5+0.4Close
Bahamas
BS · BHS
+65.3%81.446.966.1-0.8Close
Netherlands
NL · NLD
+46.8%60.532.147.9-1.1Close
Malta
MT · MLT
+35.9%48.014.437.1-1.2Close
New Zealand
NZ · NZL
+39.4%55.323.441.2-1.8Close
Costa Rica
CR · CRI
+34.3%50.118.536.1-1.8Close
Syria
SY · SYR
+12.2%23.33.514.5-2.3Close
Botswana
BW · BWA
+22.0%39.57.224.5-2.5Close
Spain
ES · ESP
+30.5%43.521.233.6-3.1Close
Japan
JP · JPN
+28.4%45.614.131.6-3.2Close
Panama
PA · PAN
+31.1%43.922.534.4-3.3Close
Bahrain
BH · BHR
+32.1%48.320.436.0-3.9Close
Luxembourg
LU · LUX
+49.7%64.842.254.8-5.1Close
Cyprus
CY · CYP
+32.9%49.524.038.2-5.3Close
Singapore
SG · SGP
+67.7%79.167.073.7-6.0Close
Australia
AU · AUS
+40.6%60.929.847.1-6.5Close
Papua New Guinea
PG · PNG
+45.9%67.436.653.7-7.8Close
Yemen
YE · YEM
+21.8%48.45.929.6-7.8Close
Puerto Rico
PR · PRI
+30.1%58.719.941.5-11.4Under-adjusted
Italy
IT · ITA
+22.3%51.017.736.3-14.0Under-adjusted
Portugal
PT · PRT
+16.3%41.222.232.8-16.5Under-adjusted
Iceland
IS · ISL
+41.9%83.443.765.9-24.0Under-adjusted

Directional comparison only: post adjustment is duty-station based; the cost-of-living figures here are country-level averages from Numbeo via World Population Review.

Why can CoL incl. rent be lower than CoL excl. rent? Because Numbeo's plus-rent figure is a weighted composite index, not a sum. If a country's rent index is lower than its non-rent consumer-price index, the combined figure lands between them and can therefore be lower than CoL excl. rent.

Methodology

  • UN post-adjustment multipliers come from the local ICSC XML file already used by the salary subsystem.
  • Cost-of-living figures come from the generated country JSON sourced from World Population Review / Numbeo.
  • The headline gap uses cost of living plus rent because housing often dominates relocation economics.
  • Rows without both post-adjustment and cost-of-living data are excluded from the main comparison set.

Source snapshot: World Population Review · scraped 22/04/2026 · dataset year 2025.

Explore the salary tools next

Use the salary calculator and country salary pages to move from these directional comparisons to grade-by-grade UN pay estimates.

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Guide researched and written by Max Pevzner— GloJobs, April 2026.

Data: Numbeo via World Population Review · ICSC post-adjustment tables.