Cost of Living Comparison Between Kanazawa and Osaka Cost of Living Comparison Between Kanazawa and Osaka

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,196 per month in Kanazawa vs $1,371 in Osaka, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,871 per month in Kanazawa vs $2,038 in Osaka, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,547 per month in Kanazawa vs $2,705 in Osaka, rent included.

Kanazawa is about 13% cheaper than Osaka, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Kanazawa sits 11% below the global median, while Osaka is 2% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.69 ¥910

$6.95 ¥1,112

-18.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.23 ¥5,634

$34.58 ¥5,531

1.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.82 ¥772

$4.98 ¥797

-3.21%

Cappuccino

$3.32 ¥532

$3.33 ¥532

-0.30%

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

$1.09 ¥174

$1.08 ¥173

0.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 ¥115

$0.76 ¥122

-5.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.80 ¥447

$2.74 ¥438

2.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.40 ¥705

$4.35 ¥695

1.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 ¥257

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ¥239

$1.43 ¥229

4.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.69 ¥749

$4.86 ¥778

-3.50%

Eggs

$2.44 ¥390

$2.46 ¥393

-0.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.62 ¥1,699

$10.43 ¥1,669

1.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.33 ¥1,012

$6.38 ¥1,021

-0.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.04 ¥3,045

$18.61 ¥2,977

2.31%

Apples (1kg)

$3.64 ¥582

$3.53 ¥564

3.12%

Banana (1kg)

$2.19 ¥351

$2.19 ¥350

Oranges (1kg)

$2.58 ¥412

$2.48 ¥397

4.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.45 ¥711

$4.31 ¥689

3.25%

Potato (1kg)

$1.66 ¥265

$1.69 ¥271

-1.78%

Onion (1kg)

$1.24 ¥198

$1.28 ¥205

-3.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.39 ¥222

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.89 ¥142

$0.85 ¥136

4.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.84 ¥614

$3.93 ¥629

-2.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.13 ¥1,461

$9.27 ¥1,482

-1.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.07 ¥331

$2.13 ¥340

-2.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 ¥480

$2.99 ¥479

0.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.61 ¥258

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.8 ¥8,767

$36.32 ¥5,810

50.91%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.54 ¥725

$4.56 ¥729

-0.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.36 ¥537

$3.31 ¥530

1.51%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.66 ¥3,785

$23.95 ¥3,830

-1.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 ¥188

$1.19 ¥191

-0.84%

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

$23.5K ¥3.8M

$23.6K ¥3.8M

-0.35%

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

$17.0K ¥2.7M

$16.9K ¥2.7M

0.29%

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

$130 ¥20.8K

$135 ¥21.6K

-3.36%

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

$27.51 ¥4,400

$27.60 ¥4,415

-0.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.22 ¥4,833

$30.37 ¥4,858

-0.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.01 ¥7,680

$59.1 ¥9,460

-18.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.76 ¥2,201

$20.39 ¥3,262

-32.52%

Cinema Ticket

$12.65 ¥2,023

$12.36 ¥1,978

2.35%

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

$70.4 ¥11.3K

$68.1 ¥10.9K

3.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.4K ¥1.7M

$10.5K ¥1.7M

-1.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$43.98 ¥7,034

$44.08 ¥7,050

-0.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.19 ¥4,669

$29.47 ¥4,713

-0.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.6 ¥10.7K

$67.2 ¥10.8K

-0.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$94.4 ¥15.1K

$94.8 ¥15.2K

-0.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 ¥76.1K

$717 ¥114.7K

-33.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$332 ¥53.1K

$483 ¥77.2K

-31.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$867 ¥138.6K

$1,311 ¥209.6K

-33.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$658 ¥105.2K

$807 ¥129.0K

-18.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,365 ¥698.2K

$5,951 ¥951.8K

-26.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,655 ¥424.7K

$2,055 ¥328.6K

29.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,846 ¥295.2K

$1,944 ¥310.9K

-5.03%

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 Kanazawa: June 2, 2026

Last update for Osaka: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Kanazawa 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.

Salaries run about 5% higher in Osaka, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Kanazawa versus $35.00 in Osaka. Groceries tell a different story – $302 in Kanazawa 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

Kanazawa vs Osaka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,196 in Kanazawa, $1,371 in Osaka – roughly 15% apart. Osaka costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,794 per month in Kanazawa 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 Kanazawa, 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 $1,196 in Kanazawa and $1,371 in Osaka. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 51% less in Kanazawa. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Kanazawa, where all-in costs run around $1,196, than in Osaka at $1,371. In Kanazawa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Osaka it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Osaka has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,196 in Kanazawa to $1,371 in Osaka. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Kanazawa. 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.