🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,103 in Hamamatsu versus $1,347 in Osaka.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,819 in Hamamatsu versus $2,036 in Osaka.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,536 in Hamamatsu versus $2,725 in Osaka.
🌍Living in Hamamatsu costs roughly 18% less than in Osaka, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Hamamatsu is 17% below, Osaka is 1% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hamamatsu
Osaka
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.92¥775
$6.75¥1,064
-27.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.90¥6,603
$35.24¥5,553
18.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.39¥534
$4.75¥749
-28.63%
Cappuccino
$3.03¥477
$3.29¥518
-7.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66¥104
$1.10¥173
-40.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77¥121
$0.76¥120
1.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.05¥324
$2.82¥445
-27.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85¥449
$4.41¥695
-35.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hamamatsu
Osaka
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.47¥232
$1.59¥250
-7.55%
White Bread(500g)
$1.70¥267
$1.44¥227
18.06%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.01¥790
$4.78¥753
4.81%
Eggs
$1.83¥288
$2.33¥367
-21.46%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.11¥1,592
$10.61¥1,671
-4.71%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.19¥975
$6.39¥1,007
-3.13%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.69¥2,472
$18.87¥2,973
-16.85%
Apples(1kg)
$4.06¥640
$3.66¥577
10.93%
Banana(1kg)
$2.11¥332
$2.12¥334
-0.47%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.39¥534
$2.52¥396
34.52%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.13¥650
$4.44¥699
-6.98%
Potato(1kg)
$3.39¥535
$1.67¥262
102.99%
Onion(1kg)
$4.36¥687
$1.26¥199
246.03%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39¥219
$1.33¥209
4.51%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88¥139
$0.87¥138
1.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.45¥544
$3.96¥625
-12.88%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.92¥1,406
$9.05¥1,426
-1.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74¥274
$2.03¥320
-14.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07¥325
$2.90¥458
-28.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Hamamatsu
Osaka
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.06¥166
$1.59¥250
-33.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$56.2¥8,851
$35.37¥5,574
58.81%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.52¥555
$4.45¥700
-20.90%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.96¥467
$3.35¥528
-11.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$21.75¥3,427
$23.70¥3,734
-8.23%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.20¥188
$1.19¥188
0.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K¥3.3M
$23.1K¥3.6M
-8.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$14.1K¥2.2M
$16.9K¥2.7M
-16.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hamamatsu
Osaka
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$109¥17.2K
$135¥21.3K
-19.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.66¥1,522
$27.52¥4,336
-64.90%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.96¥3,303
$30.63¥4,826
-31.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hamamatsu
Osaka
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$103¥16.3K
$57.2¥9,020
80.75%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.56¥2,925
$21.14¥3,331
-12.20%
Cinema Ticket
$13.56¥2,137
$12.25¥1,930
10.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hamamatsu
Osaka
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$279¥43.9K
$68.0¥10.7K
309.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.8K¥2.2M
$10.5K¥1.6M
32.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hamamatsu
Osaka
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.66¥6,564
$44.66¥7,037
-6.72%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.43¥4,322
$28.96¥4,563
-5.28%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$55.1¥8,688
$68.6¥10.8K
-19.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104¥16.3K
$96.6¥15.2K
7.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hamamatsu
Osaka
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$384¥60.5K
$721¥113.6K
-46.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$247¥39.0K
$474¥74.6K
-47.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$869¥136.9K
$1,298¥204.5K
-33.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$597¥94.1K
$818¥128.9K
-26.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,252¥670.1K
$5,971¥940.9K
-28.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,051¥323.1K
$2,029¥319.7K
1.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hamamatsu
Osaka
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,868¥294.3K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0.95
1.81
-47.51%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Hamamatsu: July 26, 2026
Last update for Osaka: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $384 in Hamamatsu and $721 in Osaka. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $42.00 in Hamamatsu vs $35.00 in Osaka. Groceries flip the comparison at $300 vs $300, 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 22% in total monthly costs ($1,103 vs $1,347 including rent). Hamamatsu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Hamamatsu compared to Osaka?
You'd need roughly $1,654 in Hamamatsu and $2,020 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Hamamatsu and in Osaka?
Rent for a central apartment: $384 in Hamamatsu versus $721 in Osaka. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Osaka pay roughly 0% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Hamamatsu – a meal for two runs $42.00 versus $35.00 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 $1,103 in Hamamatsu versus $1,347 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 22% less than in Osaka. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.