Cost of Living Comparison Between Fukuoka and Osaka Cost of Living Comparison Between Fukuoka and Osaka

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,291 per month in Fukuoka vs $1,347 in Osaka, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,023 per month in Fukuoka vs $2,036 in Osaka, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,754 per month in Fukuoka vs $2,725 in Osaka, rent included.

Fukuoka is about 4% cheaper than Osaka, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Fukuoka sits 3% below the global median, while Osaka is 1% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.55 ¥1,396

$6.75 ¥1,103

26.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.07 ¥6,870

$35.24 ¥5,755

19.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.08 ¥993

$4.75 ¥776

28.00%

Cappuccino

$3.15 ¥514

$3.29 ¥537

-4.26%

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

$1.09 ¥178

$1.10 ¥179

-0.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 ¥125

$0.76 ¥124

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.64 ¥267

$2.82 ¥461

-41.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 ¥330

$4.41 ¥720

-54.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ¥283

$1.59 ¥260

8.81%

White Bread (500g)

$1.58 ¥258

$1.44 ¥235

9.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.08 ¥666

$4.78 ¥781

-14.64%

Eggs

$2.63 ¥430

$2.33 ¥381

12.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$20.60 ¥3,364

$10.61 ¥1,732

94.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.25 ¥1,020

$6.39 ¥1,043

-2.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.46 ¥3,341

$18.87 ¥3,081

8.43%

Apples (1kg)

$3.18 ¥519

$3.66 ¥598

-13.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.43 ¥233

$2.12 ¥346

-32.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.36 ¥222

$2.52 ¥411

-46.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.73 ¥936

$4.44 ¥724

29.05%

Potato (1kg)

$2.85 ¥465

$1.67 ¥272

70.66%

Onion (1kg)

$3.12 ¥509

$1.26 ¥206

147.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 ¥148

$1.33 ¥217

-31.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 ¥125

$0.87 ¥143

-11.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.96 ¥647

Wine (Bottle)

$6.16 ¥1,006

$9.05 ¥1,478

-31.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 ¥314

$2.03 ¥331

-5.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 ¥345

$2.90 ¥474

-27.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.78 ¥290

$1.59 ¥259

11.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.97 ¥6,854

$35.37 ¥5,776

18.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.72 ¥771

$4.45 ¥726

6.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.46 ¥728

$3.35 ¥547

33.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.49 ¥3,183

$23.70 ¥3,869

-17.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 ¥197

$1.19 ¥195

1.68%

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

$22.9K ¥3.7M

$23.1K ¥3.8M

-0.98%

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

$20.4K ¥3.3M

$16.9K ¥2.8M

21.20%

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

$219 ¥35.7K

$135 ¥22.0K

62.08%

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

$27.63 ¥4,511

$27.52 ¥4,493

0.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.36 ¥5,775

$30.63 ¥5,001

15.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$58.9 ¥9,612

$57.2 ¥9,347

2.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.38 ¥552

$21.14 ¥3,452

-84.01%

Cinema Ticket

$13.95 ¥2,277

$12.25 ¥2,000

13.88%

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

$414 ¥67.6K

$68.0 ¥11.1K

508.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.3K ¥2.2M

$10.5K ¥1.7M

27.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$43.64 ¥7,126

$44.66 ¥7,292

-2.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.39 ¥4,799

$28.96 ¥4,729

1.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.5 ¥10.9K

$68.6 ¥11.2K

-3.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$59.7 ¥9,755

$96.6 ¥15.8K

-38.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$543 ¥88.7K

$721 ¥117.7K

-24.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$294 ¥48.0K

$474 ¥77.3K

-37.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,056 ¥172.4K

$1,298 ¥211.9K

-18.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$710 ¥116.0K

$818 ¥133.6K

-13.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,208 ¥1.0M

$5,971 ¥975.1K

3.97%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,623 ¥428.4K

$2,029 ¥331.3K

29.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,547 ¥252.7K

$1,868 ¥305.0K

-17.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.67

1.81

-7.73%

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

Last update for Fukuoka: July 27, 2026

Last update for Osaka: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $543 in Fukuoka versus $721 in Osaka. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 21% higher in Osaka, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Fukuoka versus $35.00 in Osaka. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $327 vs $300 – making Osaka the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Fukuoka vs Osaka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,291 in Fukuoka, $1,347 in Osaka – roughly 4% apart. Osaka costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,937 per month in Fukuoka and $2,020 in Osaka. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $414 per month in Fukuoka and $68.0 in Osaka. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 9% cheaper in Osaka – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Fukuoka, where all-in costs run around $1,291, than in Osaka at $1,347. In Fukuoka it covers expenses comfortably, while in Osaka it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Fukuoka has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,291 in Fukuoka to $1,347 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 Fukuoka. 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.