Cost of Living Comparison Between Hiroshima and Osaka Cost of Living Comparison Between Hiroshima and Osaka

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,058 per month in Hiroshima vs $1,330 in Osaka, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,651 per month in Hiroshima vs $2,038 in Osaka, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,244 per month in Hiroshima vs $2,746 in Osaka, rent included.

Hiroshima is about 20% cheaper than Osaka, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Hiroshima sits 21% below the global median, while Osaka is 0% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.30 ¥1,024

$7.07 ¥1,149

-10.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.22 ¥5,723

$34.92 ¥5,674

0.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.75 ¥772

$4.76 ¥773

-0.21%

Cappuccino

$2.97 ¥482

$3.22 ¥523

-7.76%

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

$1.06 ¥173

$1.10 ¥179

-3.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 ¥115

$0.71 ¥115

-1.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.76 ¥448

$2.84 ¥462

-2.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.08 ¥662

$4.21 ¥683

-3.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.58 ¥256

$1.54 ¥250

2.60%

White Bread (500g)

$1.42 ¥231

$1.43 ¥232

-0.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.68 ¥761

$4.62 ¥751

1.30%

Eggs

$2.18 ¥355

$2.44 ¥396

-10.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.53 ¥898

$10.56 ¥1,716

-47.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.25 ¥1,016

$6.57 ¥1,068

-4.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.18 ¥1,979

$18.71 ¥3,041

-34.90%

Apples (1kg)

$3.54 ¥576

$3.69 ¥599

-4.07%

Banana (1kg)

$2.21 ¥360

$2.11 ¥343

4.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.11 ¥668

$2.47 ¥401

66.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.04 ¥656

$4.54 ¥738

-11.01%

Potato (1kg)

$1.65 ¥268

$1.64 ¥267

0.61%

Onion (1kg)

$3.78 ¥614

$1.30 ¥212

190.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.39 ¥226

$1.37 ¥223

1.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 ¥146

$0.87 ¥142

3.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.94 ¥639

$3.87 ¥629

1.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.74 ¥1,258

$9.15 ¥1,487

-15.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.08 ¥338

$2.10 ¥342

-0.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 ¥425

$2.87 ¥466

-9.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.04 ¥331

$1.67 ¥271

22.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.80 ¥3,867

$35.74 ¥5,807

-33.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.49 ¥729

$4.62 ¥751

-2.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.28 ¥208

$3.27 ¥532

-60.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.31 ¥3,787

$23.47 ¥3,814

-0.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ¥188

$1.18 ¥191

-1.69%

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

$23.6K ¥3.8M

$22.8K ¥3.7M

3.53%

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

$16.9K ¥2.7M

$17.3K ¥2.8M

-2.28%

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

$132 ¥21.4K

$134 ¥21.8K

-1.91%

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

$27.61 ¥4,486

$27.44 ¥4,458

0.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.58 ¥4,969

$30.41 ¥4,941

0.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.8 ¥8,746

$57.8 ¥9,396

-6.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.66 ¥920

$21.18 ¥3,441

-73.28%

Cinema Ticket

$12.50 ¥2,031

$12.32 ¥2,002

1.46%

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

$173 ¥28.2K

$68.2 ¥11.1K

154.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,779 ¥614.1K

$10.6K ¥1.7M

-64.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.74 ¥5,156

$44.49 ¥7,229

-28.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.63 ¥4,490

$29.52 ¥4,796

-6.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$52.6 ¥8,546

$66.7 ¥10.8K

-21.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.2 ¥11.2K

$96.8 ¥15.7K

-28.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$353 ¥57.3K

$727 ¥118.1K

-51.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$240 ¥39.0K

$476 ¥77.3K

-49.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$758 ¥123.2K

$1,301 ¥211.3K

-41.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$557 ¥90.5K

$827 ¥134.3K

-32.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,124 ¥345.1K

$5,911 ¥960.3K

-64.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,096 ¥340.5K

$2,051 ¥333.2K

2.18%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,933 ¥314.0K

$1,865 ¥303.0K

3.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.81

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

Last update for Hiroshima: July 11, 2026

Last update for Osaka: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $353 in Hiroshima versus $727 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 4% higher in Hiroshima, 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 $35.00 in Hiroshima versus $35.00 in Osaka. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $269 vs $300 – making Hiroshima 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

Hiroshima vs Osaka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Osaka costs about 26% more than Hiroshima, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,587 per month in Hiroshima and $1,994 in Osaka. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,058 in Hiroshima and $1,330 in Osaka. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 50% less in Hiroshima. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Hiroshima, where all-in costs run around $1,058, than in Osaka at $1,330. In Hiroshima it covers expenses comfortably, while in Osaka it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Hiroshima costs $1,058 versus $1,330 in Osaka. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Hiroshima. 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.