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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,221 per month in Fukuoka vs $1,421 in Osaka, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,934 per month in Fukuoka vs $2,048 in Osaka, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,647 per month in Fukuoka vs $2,675 in Osaka, rent included.

Fukuoka is about 14% cheaper than Osaka, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Fukuoka sits 11% below the global median, while Osaka is 3% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.34 ¥1,126

$6.40 ¥983

14.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.73 ¥6,715

$32.97 ¥5,063

32.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.84 ¥897

$5.24 ¥805

11.45%

Cappuccino

$3.44 ¥528

$2.95 ¥452

16.61%

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

$1.07 ¥165

$1.42 ¥218

-24.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 ¥107

$0.75 ¥115

-8.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.91 ¥600

$2.67 ¥410

46.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 ¥343

$3.99 ¥613

-43.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ¥254

$1.47 ¥226

12.93%

White Bread (500g)

$1.95 ¥300

$1.38 ¥212

41.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.52 ¥1,002

$5.60 ¥861

16.43%

Eggs

$2.26 ¥347

$2.10 ¥323

7.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.52 ¥2,844

$9.98 ¥1,532

85.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.48 ¥842

$9.54 ¥1,465

-42.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.17 ¥2,943

$18.71 ¥2,873

2.46%

Apples (1kg)

$3.75 ¥576

$3.47 ¥533

8.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.91 ¥294

$1.98 ¥303

-3.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.91 ¥446

$2.05 ¥315

41.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.35 ¥515

$4.02 ¥617

-16.67%

Potato (1kg)

$2.29 ¥351

$1.60 ¥246

43.13%

Onion (1kg)

$2.57 ¥394

$1.19 ¥183

115.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 ¥167

$1.39 ¥214

-21.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 ¥151

$0.85 ¥130

15.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.95 ¥606

$3.97 ¥610

-0.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.57 ¥1,010

$9.49 ¥1,457

-30.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 ¥258

$1.91 ¥293

-12.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.86 ¥286

$3.28 ¥504

-43.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.65 ¥253

$1.39 ¥214

18.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.79 ¥6,571

$32.85 ¥5,044

30.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.96 ¥608

$3.80 ¥583

4.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.13 ¥327

$3.34 ¥512

-36.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.49 ¥2,839

$21.84 ¥3,354

-15.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 ¥166

$1.10 ¥168

-1.82%

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

$22.0K ¥3.4M

$22.6K ¥3.5M

-2.59%

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

$18.1K ¥2.8M

$15.2K ¥2.3M

18.93%

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

$189 ¥29.0K

$141 ¥21.6K

34.14%

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

$25.84 ¥3,967

$25.14 ¥3,860

2.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.81 ¥5,192

$31.21 ¥4,792

8.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.6 ¥7,920

$54.4 ¥8,347

-5.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.69 ¥2,871

Cinema Ticket

$11.15 ¥1,712

$12.38 ¥1,902

-9.94%

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

$129 ¥19.9K

$526 ¥80.8K

-75.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.8K ¥2.0M

$13.2K ¥2.0M

-2.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.12 ¥5,393

$49.05 ¥7,532

-28.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.57 ¥3,773

$31.73 ¥4,873

-22.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$57.9 ¥8,884

$74.4 ¥11.4K

-22.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$48.42 ¥7,435

$91.7 ¥14.1K

-47.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$479 ¥73.5K

$717 ¥110.1K

-33.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$266 ¥40.9K

$524 ¥80.5K

-49.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,151 ¥176.8K

$1,746 ¥268.1K

-34.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$695 ¥106.8K

$798 ¥122.6K

-12.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,769 ¥885.8K

$6,373 ¥978.6K

-9.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,546 ¥391.0K

$1,960 ¥300.9K

29.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,787 ¥428.0K

$2,336 ¥358.7K

19.30%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.54

2.21

-30.32%

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

Last update for Fukuoka: September 8, 2026

Last update for Osaka: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $479 in Fukuoka versus $717 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 19% higher in Fukuoka, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Fukuoka versus $33.00 in Osaka. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $324 vs $309 – 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: $1,221 in Fukuoka, $1,421 in Osaka – roughly 16% apart. Osaka costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,832 per month in Fukuoka and $2,131 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 $129 per month in Fukuoka and $526 in Osaka. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 5% 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 $1,221, than in Osaka at $1,421. 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 $1,221 in Fukuoka to $1,421 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.