Cost of Living Comparison Between Asahikawa and Osaka Cost of Living Comparison Between Asahikawa and Osaka

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,179 per month in Asahikawa vs $1,346 in Osaka, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,894 per month in Asahikawa vs $1,976 in Osaka, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,608 per month in Asahikawa vs $2,606 in Osaka, rent included.

Asahikawa is about 12% cheaper than Osaka, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Asahikawa and Osaka are more affordable than the global median – Asahikawa 14% lower, Osaka 2% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.91 ¥1,075

$6.13 ¥954

12.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.02 ¥5,139

$30.75 ¥4,786

7.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.73 ¥736

$4.81 ¥748

-1.66%

Cappuccino

$2.59 ¥402

$2.93 ¥456

-11.60%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.08 ¥168

$1.43 ¥223

-24.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 ¥118

$0.69 ¥108

10.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.38 ¥371

$2.63 ¥409

-9.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ¥559

$3.64 ¥567

-1.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.55 ¥241

$1.43 ¥222

8.39%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 ¥206

$1.28 ¥199

3.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.28 ¥666

$5.25 ¥817

-18.48%

Eggs

$2.11 ¥328

$2.10 ¥327

0.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.81 ¥1,683

$9.80 ¥1,525

10.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.57 ¥1,023

$9.18 ¥1,429

-28.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.19 ¥2,675

$18.09 ¥2,816

-4.98%

Apples (1kg)

$4.80 ¥747

$3.38 ¥526

42.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.99 ¥310

$1.91 ¥298

4.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.31 ¥515

$1.98 ¥308

67.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.42 ¥688

$3.89 ¥605

13.62%

Potato (1kg)

$2.68 ¥417

$1.54 ¥239

74.03%

Onion (1kg)

$2.36 ¥367

$1.17 ¥182

101.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.16 ¥181

$1.29 ¥200

-10.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 ¥132

$0.81 ¥127

4.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.38 ¥682

$3.84 ¥597

14.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.72 ¥1,202

$9.50 ¥1,479

-18.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.64 ¥255

$1.87 ¥290

-12.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 ¥363

$3.22 ¥502

-27.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.55 ¥241

$1.36 ¥212

13.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$49.32 ¥7,676

$31.99 ¥4,979

54.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.91 ¥454

$3.77 ¥587

-22.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.82 ¥438

$3.04 ¥473

-7.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.96 ¥2,950

$21.01 ¥3,270

-9.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 ¥151

$1.09 ¥170

-11.01%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$18.4K ¥2.9M

$21.4K ¥3.3M

-14.06%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$17.0K ¥2.6M

$15.1K ¥2.4M

12.15%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$143 ¥22.3K

$136 ¥21.2K

5.25%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$25.83 ¥4,021

$23.92 ¥3,722

7.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.30 ¥4,872

$30.63 ¥4,767

2.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.8 ¥8,368

$48.60 ¥7,563

10.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.90 ¥2,786

Cinema Ticket

$11.03 ¥1,717

$12.04 ¥1,874

-8.39%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$621 ¥96.6K

$520 ¥80.9K

19.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.4K ¥2.2M

$13.2K ¥2.1M

9.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.46 ¥7,075

$44.15 ¥6,872

2.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.64 ¥5,081

$29.71 ¥4,624

9.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.3 ¥9,547

$72.6 ¥11.3K

-15.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$94.3 ¥14.7K

$88.8 ¥13.8K

6.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$517 ¥80.4K

$699 ¥108.8K

-26.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$369 ¥57.4K

$507 ¥78.9K

-27.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,158 ¥180.2K

$1,682 ¥261.8K

-31.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$783 ¥121.8K

$761 ¥118.4K

2.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,258 ¥662.8K

$5,636 ¥877.2K

-24.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,134 ¥332.1K

$1,822 ¥283.6K

17.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,245 ¥349.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.06

2.21

-6.79%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Asahikawa: September 1, 2026

Last update for Osaka: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $517 in Asahikawa versus $699 in Osaka. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Asahikawa versus $31.00 in Osaka. Groceries tell a different story – $298 in Asahikawa vs $298 in Osaka – so Asahikawa wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Asahikawa vs Osaka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,179 in Asahikawa, $1,346 in Osaka – roughly 14% apart. Osaka costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,769 per month in Asahikawa and $2,019 in Osaka. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Asahikawa, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 54% less in Asahikawa. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $621 per month in Asahikawa and $520 in Osaka. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Asahikawa, where all-in costs run around $1,179, than in Osaka at $1,346. In Asahikawa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Osaka it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Osaka has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,179 in Asahikawa to $1,346 in Osaka. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Asahikawa. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Osaka makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.