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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,306 per month in Fukuoka vs $1,352 in Osaka, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,041 per month in Fukuoka vs $2,031 in Osaka, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,777 per month in Fukuoka vs $2,710 in Osaka, rent included.

Fukuoka is about 3% cheaper than Osaka, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Fukuoka sits 2% below the global median, while Osaka is 1% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.24 ¥1,314

$6.95 ¥1,109

18.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.19 ¥6,730

$34.82 ¥5,555

21.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.24 ¥995

$4.95 ¥789

26.06%

Cappuccino

$3.13 ¥499

$3.32 ¥530

-5.72%

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

$1.09 ¥173

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 ¥124

$0.72 ¥115

8.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 ¥269

$2.79 ¥446

-39.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 ¥330

$4.37 ¥697

-52.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ¥273

$1.58 ¥253

8.23%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ¥255

$1.47 ¥235

8.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.10 ¥654

$4.65 ¥741

-11.83%

Eggs

$2.60 ¥415

$2.36 ¥377

10.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.07 ¥3,362

$10.40 ¥1,659

102.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.11 ¥975

$6.50 ¥1,036

-6.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.91 ¥3,335

$19.26 ¥3,073

8.57%

Apples (1kg)

$3.13 ¥500

$3.63 ¥580

-13.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.41 ¥224

$2.09 ¥333

-32.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.35 ¥215

$2.47 ¥394

-45.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.93 ¥946

$4.35 ¥693

36.32%

Potato (1kg)

$2.80 ¥447

$1.65 ¥263

69.70%

Onion (1kg)

$3.25 ¥519

$1.30 ¥207

150.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.97 ¥154

$1.34 ¥214

-27.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 ¥122

$0.84 ¥135

-8.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.94 ¥629

$3.81 ¥607

3.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.40 ¥1,020

$9.20 ¥1,468

-30.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.00 ¥320

$2.08 ¥331

-3.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 ¥339

$2.98 ¥475

-28.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.81 ¥289

$1.58 ¥252

14.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.35 ¥6,757

$35.89 ¥5,727

18.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.63 ¥738

$4.49 ¥716

3.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.51 ¥719

$3.39 ¥540

33.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.43 ¥3,100

$23.90 ¥3,813

-18.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ¥197

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

$22.8K ¥3.6M

$23.4K ¥3.7M

-2.75%

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

$20.1K ¥3.2M

$17.2K ¥2.7M

16.79%

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

$215 ¥34.3K

$130 ¥20.8K

65.11%

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

$27.08 ¥4,320

$27.23 ¥4,344

-0.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.39 ¥5,645

$30.85 ¥4,921

14.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$58.6 ¥9,354

$58.6 ¥9,343

0.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.39 ¥541

$20.43 ¥3,260

-83.41%

Cinema Ticket

$13.91 ¥2,220

$12.38 ¥1,975

12.36%

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

$424 ¥67.6K

$69.4 ¥11.1K

510.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.3K ¥2.1M

$10.4K ¥1.7M

27.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$43.07 ¥6,871

$43.94 ¥7,010

-1.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.05 ¥4,795

$29.63 ¥4,727

1.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.6 ¥10.3K

$68.8 ¥11.0K

-6.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$60.5 ¥9,647

$94.8 ¥15.1K

-36.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$537 ¥85.7K

$733 ¥117.0K

-26.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$293 ¥46.8K

$467 ¥74.5K

-37.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,038 ¥165.6K

$1,275 ¥203.4K

-18.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$699 ¥111.5K

$822 ¥131.2K

-15.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,288 ¥1.0M

$5,986 ¥954.9K

5.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,673 ¥426.4K

$2,086 ¥332.8K

28.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,547 ¥246.8K

$1,989 ¥317.3K

-22.22%

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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Osaka: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $537 in Fukuoka versus $733 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 29% 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: $331 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: $1,306 in Fukuoka, $1,352 in Osaka – roughly 3% apart. Osaka costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,960 per month in Fukuoka and $2,027 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 $424 per month in Fukuoka and $69.4 in Osaka. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 10% 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 $1,306, than in Osaka at $1,352. 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 $1,306 in Fukuoka to $1,352 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.