Cost of Living Comparison Between Himeji and Osaka Cost of Living Comparison Between Himeji and Osaka

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,295 per month in Himeji vs $1,371 in Osaka, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,026 per month in Himeji vs $2,038 in Osaka, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,757 per month in Himeji vs $2,705 in Osaka, rent included.

Himeji is about 6% cheaper than Osaka, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Himeji sits 3% below the global median, while Osaka is 2% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.15 ¥1,303

$6.95 ¥1,112

17.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.03 ¥5,443

$34.58 ¥5,531

-1.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.35 ¥1,016

$4.98 ¥797

27.51%

Cappuccino

$3.11 ¥497

$3.33 ¥532

-6.61%

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

$1.15 ¥184

$1.08 ¥173

6.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 ¥111

$0.76 ¥122

-9.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.35 ¥535

$2.74 ¥438

22.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.13 ¥501

$4.35 ¥695

-28.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.52 ¥242

$1.61 ¥257

-5.59%

White Bread (500g)

$1.81 ¥289

$1.43 ¥229

26.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.01 ¥802

$4.86 ¥778

3.09%

Eggs

$2.47 ¥395

$2.46 ¥393

0.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.44 ¥2,790

$10.43 ¥1,669

67.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.50 ¥1,200

$6.38 ¥1,021

17.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.43 ¥2,467

$18.61 ¥2,977

-17.09%

Apples (1kg)

$9.03 ¥1,444

$3.53 ¥564

155.81%

Banana (1kg)

$2.78 ¥444

$2.19 ¥350

26.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.42 ¥547

$2.48 ¥397

37.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$9.74 ¥1,557

$4.31 ¥689

125.99%

Potato (1kg)

$3.90 ¥625

$1.69 ¥271

130.77%

Onion (1kg)

$2.11 ¥338

$1.28 ¥205

64.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 ¥161

$1.39 ¥222

-27.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.40 ¥224

$0.85 ¥136

64.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.52 ¥564

$3.93 ¥629

-10.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.44 ¥1,509

$9.27 ¥1,482

1.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.06 ¥330

$2.13 ¥340

-3.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 ¥371

$2.99 ¥479

-22.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.66 ¥265

$1.61 ¥258

3.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$56.1 ¥8,979

$36.32 ¥5,810

54.57%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.51 ¥561

$4.56 ¥729

-23.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.02 ¥482

$3.31 ¥530

-8.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.15 ¥2,742

$23.95 ¥3,830

-28.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 ¥132

$1.19 ¥191

-30.25%

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

$23.0K ¥3.7M

$23.6K ¥3.8M

-2.21%

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

$17.0K ¥2.7M

$16.9K ¥2.7M

0.66%

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

$138 ¥22.1K

$135 ¥21.6K

2.57%

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

$27.74 ¥4,437

$27.60 ¥4,415

0.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.52 ¥4,242

$30.37 ¥4,858

-12.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.7 ¥8,909

$59.1 ¥9,460

-5.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.98 ¥2,236

$20.39 ¥3,262

-31.44%

Cinema Ticket

$8.13 ¥1,300

$12.36 ¥1,978

-34.22%

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

$481 ¥76.9K

$68.1 ¥10.9K

605.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.4K ¥1.8M

$10.5K ¥1.7M

8.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$38.14 ¥6,101

$44.08 ¥7,050

-13.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$10.25 ¥1,639

$29.47 ¥4,713

-65.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$41.46 ¥6,632

$67.2 ¥10.8K

-38.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$55.1 ¥8,805

$94.8 ¥15.2K

-41.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$463 ¥74.0K

$717 ¥114.7K

-35.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$336 ¥53.7K

$483 ¥77.2K

-30.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$882 ¥141.1K

$1,311 ¥209.6K

-32.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$661 ¥105.8K

$807 ¥129.0K

-18.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,674 ¥747.6K

$5,951 ¥951.8K

-21.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,191 ¥350.4K

$2,055 ¥328.6K

6.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,944 ¥310.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.78

1.81

-1.66%

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

Last update for Himeji: May 30, 2026

Last update for Osaka: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $463 in Himeji 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $34.00 in Himeji versus $35.00 in Osaka. Groceries tell a different story – $394 in Himeji vs $299 in Osaka – so Osaka wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Himeji vs Osaka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Osaka is pricier by about 6%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,942 per month in Himeji and $2,057 in Osaka. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Himeji, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 32% cheaper in Osaka – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $34.00 in Himeji and $35.00 in Osaka. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Himeji, where all-in costs run around $1,295, than in Osaka at $1,371. In Himeji it covers expenses comfortably, while in Osaka it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Himeji – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Himeji. 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.