Cost of Living Comparison Between Kashiwa and Osaka Cost of Living Comparison Between Kashiwa and Osaka

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,325 per month in Kashiwa vs $1,371 in Osaka, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,836 per month in Kashiwa vs $2,038 in Osaka, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,347 per month in Kashiwa vs $2,705 in Osaka, rent included.

Kashiwa is about 3% cheaper than Osaka, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Kashiwa sits 1% below the global median, while Osaka is 2% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.99 ¥1,118

$6.95 ¥1,112

0.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.94 ¥4,469

$34.58 ¥5,531

-19.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ¥907

$4.98 ¥797

13.86%

Cappuccino

$3.09 ¥494

$3.33 ¥532

-7.21%

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

$0.84 ¥135

$1.08 ¥173

-22.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 ¥124

$0.76 ¥122

2.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ¥342

$2.74 ¥438

-21.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 ¥435

$4.35 ¥695

-37.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 ¥197

$1.61 ¥257

-23.60%

White Bread (500g)

$1.13 ¥181

$1.43 ¥229

-20.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.06 ¥809

$4.86 ¥778

4.12%

Eggs

$2.03 ¥325

$2.46 ¥393

-17.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.04 ¥1,126

$10.43 ¥1,669

-32.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.39 ¥1,023

$6.38 ¥1,021

0.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.32 ¥1,651

$18.61 ¥2,977

-44.55%

Apples (1kg)

$4.97 ¥794

$3.53 ¥564

40.79%

Banana (1kg)

$2.83 ¥452

$2.19 ¥350

29.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.03 ¥645

$2.48 ¥397

62.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.10 ¥975

$4.31 ¥689

41.53%

Potato (1kg)

$2.75 ¥439

$1.69 ¥271

62.72%

Onion (1kg)

$2.23 ¥357

$1.28 ¥205

74.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ¥112

$1.39 ¥222

-49.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ¥90.4

$0.85 ¥136

-32.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.06 ¥650

$3.93 ¥629

3.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.38 ¥1,501

$9.27 ¥1,482

1.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 ¥295

$2.13 ¥340

-13.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 ¥325

$2.99 ¥479

-32.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.56 ¥250

$1.61 ¥258

-3.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.4 ¥8,699

$36.32 ¥5,810

49.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.37 ¥539

$4.56 ¥729

-26.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.38 ¥380

$3.31 ¥530

-28.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.04 ¥3,525

$23.95 ¥3,830

-7.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 ¥191

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

$23.1K ¥3.7M

$23.6K ¥3.8M

-1.91%

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

$18.2K ¥2.9M

$16.9K ¥2.7M

7.40%

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

$143 ¥22.9K

$135 ¥21.6K

6.18%

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

$27.74 ¥4,437

$27.60 ¥4,415

0.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.75 ¥5,398

$30.37 ¥4,858

11.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.6 ¥8,893

$59.1 ¥9,460

-5.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.14 ¥2,261

$20.39 ¥3,262

-30.65%

Cinema Ticket

$13.57 ¥2,171

$12.36 ¥1,978

9.79%

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

$281 ¥45.0K

$68.1 ¥10.9K

312.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.9K ¥2.2M

$10.5K ¥1.7M

31.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.98 ¥6,715

$44.08 ¥7,050

-4.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.95 ¥4,631

$29.47 ¥4,713

-1.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.6 ¥9,684

$67.2 ¥10.8K

-9.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 ¥17.7K

$94.8 ¥15.2K

16.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$636 ¥101.7K

$717 ¥114.7K

-11.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$436 ¥69.8K

$483 ¥77.2K

-9.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 ¥134.0K

$1,311 ¥209.6K

-36.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$525 ¥84.0K

$807 ¥129.0K

-34.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,667 ¥746.4K

$5,951 ¥951.8K

-21.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,247 ¥359.4K

$2,055 ¥328.6K

9.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,486 ¥397.6K

$1,944 ¥310.9K

27.90%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.05

1.81

13.26%

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

Last update for Kashiwa: June 1, 2026

Last update for Osaka: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $636 in Kashiwa 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 28% higher in Kashiwa, 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 $28.00 in Kashiwa versus $35.00 in Osaka. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $279 vs $299 – making Kashiwa 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

Kashiwa vs Osaka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,325 in Kashiwa, $1,371 in Osaka – roughly 3% apart. Osaka costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,987 per month in Kashiwa 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 Kashiwa, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $281 per month in Kashiwa and $68.1 in Osaka. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 7% more in Osaka, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Kashiwa, where all-in costs run around $1,325, than in Osaka at $1,371. In Kashiwa 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 $1,325 in Kashiwa 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 Kashiwa. 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.