Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Fukushima and Osaka

For one person, living is cheaper in Fukushima: $1,179 a month against $1,409 in Osaka, rent and utilities included – about $2,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Fukushima, Japan
Osaka, Japan
Fukushima
🇯🇵 Japan
$1,179
/mo nomad
Osaka
🇯🇵 Japan
$1,409
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Fukushima and in Osaka

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Fukushima and in Osaka actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,179 in Fukushima versus $1,409 in Osaka.

  • Fukushima $1,179
  • Osaka $1,409

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,896 in Fukushima versus $2,057 in Osaka.

  • Fukushima $1,896
  • Osaka $2,057

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,613 in Fukushima versus $2,706 in Osaka.

  • Fukushima $2,613
  • Osaka $2,706

Living in Fukushima costs roughly 16% less than in Osaka, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Fukushima is 13% below, Osaka is 4% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Fukushima
Osaka
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.97 ¥946
$6.27 ¥993
-4.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.63 ¥4,694
$31.41 ¥4,975
-5.67%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.37 ¥692
$4.89 ¥775
-10.63%
Cappuccino
$2.47 ¥391
$2.99 ¥474
-17.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97 ¥153
$1.43 ¥226
-32.17%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67 ¥105
$0.75 ¥119
-10.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.58 ¥409
$2.74 ¥434
-5.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 ¥504
$3.86 ¥611
-17.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Fukushima
Osaka
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.51 ¥240
$1.46 ¥231
3.42%
White Bread (500g)
$1.53 ¥243
$1.29 ¥204
18.60%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.10 ¥650
$5.39 ¥854
-23.93%
Eggs
$2.09 ¥330
$2.07 ¥328
0.97%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.23 ¥1,620
$10.55 ¥1,671
-3.03%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.50 ¥1,029
$10.18 ¥1,612
-36.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.13 ¥2,713
$25.32 ¥4,011
-32.35%
Apples (1kg)
$3.71 ¥588
$3.33 ¥528
11.41%
Banana (1kg)
$2.23 ¥353
$1.95 ¥308
14.36%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.95 ¥467
$2.04 ¥323
44.61%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.09 ¥648
$4.13 ¥654
-0.97%
Potato (1kg)
$2.38 ¥376
$1.52 ¥241
56.58%
Onion (1kg)
$2.48 ¥392
$1.13 ¥179
119.47%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.32 ¥210
$1.36 ¥216
-2.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83 ¥132
$0.86 ¥136
-3.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.99 ¥632
$3.89 ¥616
2.57%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.55 ¥1,037
$12.51 ¥1,981
-47.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.88 ¥298
$1.94 ¥307
-3.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15 ¥341
$3.14 ¥497
-31.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Fukushima
Osaka
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.52 ¥241
$1.32 ¥209
15.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$58.4 ¥9,251
$33.27 ¥5,269
75.56%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.56 ¥565
$3.72 ¥589
-4.30%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.96 ¥469
$2.69 ¥426
10.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$23.07 ¥3,653
$26.85 ¥4,253
-14.08%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.21 ¥192
$1.05 ¥166
15.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.4K ¥3.5M
$22.3K ¥3.5M
0.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.0K ¥2.4M
$15.3K ¥2.4M
-1.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fukushima
Osaka
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$125 ¥19.7K
$141 ¥22.3K
-11.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.80 ¥3,453
$24.75 ¥3,919
-11.92%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.57 ¥5,158
$31.11 ¥4,927
4.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Fukushima
Osaka
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.2 ¥8,105
$51.0 ¥8,071
0.43%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.38 ¥2,911
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.50 ¥1,821
$12.59 ¥1,994
-8.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Fukushima
Osaka
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$692 ¥109.6K
$685 ¥108.5K
1.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.2K ¥2.9M
$15.8K ¥2.5M
15.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Fukushima
Osaka
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.5 ¥8,313
$48.04 ¥7,609
9.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.18 ¥5,413
$30.67 ¥4,858
11.44%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$67.4 ¥10.7K
$74.3 ¥11.8K
-9.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.2 ¥12.2K
$90.1 ¥14.3K
-14.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Fukushima
Osaka
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$556 ¥88.0K
$739 ¥117.0K
-24.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$334 ¥52.9K
$504 ¥79.8K
-33.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$973 ¥154.1K
$1,700 ¥269.3K
-42.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$808 ¥128.0K
$761 ¥120.6K
6.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,329 ¥685.7K
$6,708 ¥1.1M
-35.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,479 ¥392.7K
$3,145 ¥498.1K
-21.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Fukushima
Osaka
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$2,295 ¥363.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.21
2.21
-

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

Last update for Fukushima: November 1, 2026

Last update for Osaka: October 31, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Fukushima
$334
Osaka
$504 50.8% $170
Groceries & Markets
Fukushima
$288
Osaka
$337 16.8% $48
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fukushima
$179
Osaka
$196 9.7% $17
Eating Out
Fukushima
$116
Osaka
$131 12.6% $15
Clothing & Footwear
Fukushima
$104
Osaka
$109 5.1% $5.3
Getting Around
Fukushima
$83
Osaka
$56 32.8% $27
Sport & Entertainment
Fukushima
$74
Osaka
$76 2.7% $2

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $556 in Fukushima and $739 in Osaka. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $30 in Fukushima vs $31 in Osaka for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $337 per month, with Fukushima cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇯🇵 Fukushima
🇯🇵 Osaka
🕒 Local time
12:04 12:04 PM
12:04 12:04 PM
Same time as Fukushima
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
282,693
2,691,185
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to JPY – Japanese Yen Converter

Japanese Yen exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 158 JPY (1,000 JPY = 6.31 USD). 1 EUR = 178 JPY (1,000 JPY = 5.62 EUR).

On the map
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  • Fukushima Osaka 560 km ≈ 1 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Fukushima
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City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

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Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Fukushima vs Osaka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fukushima cheaper than Osaka?
Fukushima is about 16% cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You’d need roughly $1,768 in Fukushima and $2,113 in Osaka to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Fukushima and Osaka?
Rent for a central apartment: $556 in Fukushima versus $739 in Osaka. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Fukushima and in Osaka?
Supermarket bills run roughly 17% higher in Osaka. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Fukushima or in Osaka?
Dining out is cheaper in Fukushima – a meal for two runs $30 versus $31 in Osaka. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is it better to live in Fukushima or in Osaka?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is safer, Fukushima or Osaka?
Safety-wise, Fukushima and Osaka are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.

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