Cost of Living Comparison Between Hamamatsu and Osaka Cost of Living Comparison Between Hamamatsu and Osaka

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $784 in Hamamatsu versus $1,393 in Osaka.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,297 in Hamamatsu versus $2,070 in Osaka.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,810 in Hamamatsu versus $2,747 in Osaka.

Living in Hamamatsu costs roughly 44% less than in Osaka, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Hamamatsu is 43% below, Osaka is 2% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hamamatsu
Osaka
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.91 ¥610
$6.65 ¥1,038
-41.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.33 ¥6,605
$32.08 ¥5,006
31.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.15 ¥804
$5.25 ¥818
-1.90%
Cappuccino
$3.46 ¥539
$3.05 ¥476
13.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12 ¥175
$1.41 ¥220
-20.57%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 ¥118
$0.70 ¥109
8.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.61 ¥407
$2.79 ¥435
-6.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30 ¥515
$3.88 ¥605
-14.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hamamatsu
Osaka
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.06 ¥165
$1.48 ¥231
-28.38%
White Bread (500g)
$1.73 ¥270
$1.31 ¥205
32.06%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.81 ¥595
$5.49 ¥857
-30.60%
Eggs
$1.69 ¥263
$2.07 ¥323
-18.36%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.23 ¥1,908
$9.84 ¥1,535
24.29%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.19 ¥965
$9.68 ¥1,510
-36.05%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.72 ¥2,296
$18.58 ¥2,900
-20.78%
Apples (1kg)
$5.71 ¥892
$3.43 ¥535
66.47%
Banana (1kg)
$2.87 ¥449
$2.04 ¥319
40.69%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.87 ¥448
$2.13 ¥332
34.74%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.21 ¥657
$4.18 ¥651
0.72%
Potato (1kg)
$2.62 ¥408
$1.60 ¥250
63.75%
Onion (1kg)
$2.70 ¥422
$1.21 ¥189
123.14%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.32 ¥206
$1.36 ¥212
-2.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67 ¥105
$0.80 ¥125
-16.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.81 ¥595
$4.00 ¥625
-4.75%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.34 ¥989
$9.49 ¥1,481
-33.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86 ¥290
$2.00 ¥313
-7.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 ¥320
$3.20 ¥499
-35.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Hamamatsu
Osaka
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.41 ¥220
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$51.7 ¥8,062
$32.84 ¥5,124
57.34%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.25 ¥508
$3.93 ¥614
-17.30%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.57 ¥402
$3.20 ¥499
-19.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$20.64 ¥3,221
$22.17 ¥3,459
-6.90%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 ¥170
$1.13 ¥176
-3.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.9K ¥3.4M
$22.4K ¥3.5M
-2.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.4K ¥2.9M
$15.6K ¥2.4M
17.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hamamatsu
Osaka
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$134 ¥20.9K
$140 ¥21.8K
-4.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.28 ¥1,448
$24.68 ¥3,851
-62.40%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.89 ¥5,131
$31.03 ¥4,842
5.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hamamatsu
Osaka
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$53.1 ¥8,282
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.35 ¥2,706
$19.04 ¥2,970
-8.88%
Cinema Ticket
$13.07 ¥2,040
$12.30 ¥1,918
6.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hamamatsu
Osaka
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$652 ¥101.7K
$529 ¥82.5K
23.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.3K ¥2.4M
$13.3K ¥2.1M
15.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hamamatsu
Osaka
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.7 ¥9,934
$48.93 ¥7,635
30.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.90 ¥5,133
$31.85 ¥4,969
3.30%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$63.8 ¥9,957
$76.1 ¥11.9K
-16.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 ¥16.1K
$94.3 ¥14.7K
9.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hamamatsu
Osaka
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$728 ¥113.6K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$512 ¥79.8K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,753 ¥273.5K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$778 ¥121.4K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,047 ¥1.3M
$6,376 ¥994.8K
26.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,552 ¥866.2K
$1,959 ¥305.6K
183.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hamamatsu
Osaka
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,614 ¥251.8K
$2,342 ¥365.4K
-31.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.12
2.21
-4.07%

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

Last update for Hamamatsu: September 13, 2026

Last update for Osaka: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Osaka pays 45% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $42.00 in Hamamatsu vs $32.00 in Osaka. Groceries flip the comparison at $293 vs $308, with Hamamatsu cheaper for home cooking.

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
Hamamatsu vs Osaka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Hamamatsu and in Osaka?
Hamamatsu and Osaka differ by about 78% in total monthly costs ($784 vs $1,393 including rent). Hamamatsu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 45% lower in Osaka. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 5% higher in Osaka. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Hamamatsu – a meal for two runs $42.00 versus $32.00 in Osaka. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $784 in Hamamatsu versus $1,393 in Osaka, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Hamamatsu but tight or insufficient in Osaka. The gap between the two cities makes Hamamatsu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Hamamatsu and 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.
Is Hamamatsu or Osaka safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Hamamatsu and Osaka are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Hamamatsu or Osaka?
Expats usually find Hamamatsu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 78% less than in Osaka. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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