Cost of Living Comparison Between Nagano and Osaka Cost of Living Comparison Between Nagano and Osaka

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,176 per month in Nagano vs $1,371 in Osaka, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,896 per month in Nagano vs $2,038 in Osaka, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,616 per month in Nagano vs $2,705 in Osaka, rent included.

Nagano is about 14% cheaper than Osaka, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Nagano sits 12% below the global median, while Osaka is 2% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.76 ¥1,082

$6.95 ¥1,112

-2.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.32 ¥5,650

$34.58 ¥5,531

2.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.09 ¥655

$4.98 ¥797

-17.87%

Cappuccino

$3.51 ¥562

$3.33 ¥532

5.41%

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

$1.09 ¥174

$1.08 ¥173

0.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.64 ¥102

$0.76 ¥122

-15.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.10 ¥336

$2.74 ¥438

-23.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 ¥330

$4.35 ¥695

-52.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 ¥200

$1.61 ¥257

-22.36%

White Bread (500g)

$1.22 ¥194

$1.43 ¥229

-14.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.67 ¥748

$4.86 ¥778

-3.91%

Eggs

$1.52 ¥243

$2.46 ¥393

-38.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.24 ¥1,957

$10.43 ¥1,669

17.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.25 ¥1,959

$6.38 ¥1,021

92.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.89 ¥2,702

$18.61 ¥2,977

-9.24%

Apples (1kg)

$7.52 ¥1,202

$3.53 ¥564

113.03%

Banana (1kg)

$2.57 ¥412

$2.19 ¥350

17.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.55 ¥729

$2.48 ¥397

83.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.44 ¥710

$4.31 ¥689

3.02%

Potato (1kg)

$3.73 ¥597

$1.69 ¥271

120.71%

Onion (1kg)

$3.60 ¥575

$1.28 ¥205

181.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 ¥171

$1.39 ¥222

-23.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 ¥106

$0.85 ¥136

-22.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.58 ¥892

$3.93 ¥629

41.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.13 ¥1,460

$9.27 ¥1,482

-1.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.50 ¥399

$2.13 ¥340

17.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.56 ¥570

$2.99 ¥479

19.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.49 ¥238

$1.61 ¥258

-7.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$56.0 ¥8,960

$36.32 ¥5,810

54.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.14 ¥502

$4.56 ¥729

-31.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.00 ¥480

$3.31 ¥530

-9.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$20.41 ¥3,265

$23.95 ¥3,830

-14.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ¥185

$1.19 ¥191

-2.52%

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

$23.8K ¥3.8M

$23.6K ¥3.8M

1.07%

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

$17.4K ¥2.8M

$16.9K ¥2.7M

2.73%

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

$82.9 ¥13.3K

$135 ¥21.6K

-38.53%

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

$29.54 ¥4,724

$27.60 ¥4,415

7.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.05 ¥2,728

$30.37 ¥4,858

-43.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.0 ¥8,949

$59.1 ¥9,460

-5.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.08 ¥2,253

$20.39 ¥3,262

-30.95%

Cinema Ticket

$11.51 ¥1,841

$12.36 ¥1,978

-6.88%

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

$281 ¥45.0K

$68.1 ¥10.9K

313.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.3K ¥2.1M

$10.5K ¥1.7M

26.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.14 ¥7,060

$44.08 ¥7,050

0.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.58 ¥4,731

$29.47 ¥4,713

0.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.2 ¥9,630

$67.2 ¥10.8K

-10.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.0 ¥15.3K

$94.8 ¥15.2K

1.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$483 ¥77.2K

$717 ¥114.7K

-32.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$275 ¥43.9K

$483 ¥77.2K

-43.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$854 ¥136.6K

$1,311 ¥209.6K

-34.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$665 ¥106.4K

$807 ¥129.0K

-17.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,951 ¥951.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,055 ¥328.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$633 ¥101.3K

$1,944 ¥310.9K

-67.42%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.81

10.50%

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

Last update for Nagano: May 31, 2026

Last update for Osaka: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $483 in Nagano 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 207% 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 Nagano versus $35.00 in Osaka. Groceries tell a different story – $360 in Nagano 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

Nagano vs Osaka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Osaka costs about 17% more than Nagano, 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 $1,764 per month in Nagano 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 Nagano, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,176 in Nagano and $1,371 in Osaka. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Nagano, where all-in costs run around $1,176, than in Osaka at $1,371. In Nagano it covers expenses comfortably, while in Osaka it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Nagano costs $1,176 versus $1,371 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 Nagano. 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.