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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,172 per month in Nagano vs $1,330 in Osaka, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,938 per month in Nagano vs $2,038 in Osaka, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,704 per month in Nagano vs $2,746 in Osaka, rent included.

Nagano is about 12% cheaper than Osaka, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Nagano sits 12% below the global median, while Osaka is 0% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.78 ¥1,101

$7.07 ¥1,149

-4.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.31 ¥5,575

$34.92 ¥5,674

-1.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.06 ¥660

$4.76 ¥773

-14.71%

Cappuccino

$3.56 ¥579

$3.22 ¥523

10.56%

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

$1.14 ¥185

$1.10 ¥179

3.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.64 ¥104

$0.71 ¥115

-9.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.04 ¥332

$2.84 ¥462

-28.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 ¥340

$4.21 ¥683

-50.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 ¥205

$1.54 ¥250

-18.18%

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 ¥207

$1.43 ¥232

-11.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.74 ¥771

$4.62 ¥751

2.60%

Eggs

$1.58 ¥257

$2.44 ¥396

-35.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.22 ¥1,986

$10.56 ¥1,716

15.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.22 ¥1,986

$6.57 ¥1,068

86.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.77 ¥2,724

$18.71 ¥3,041

-10.37%

Apples (1kg)

$7.83 ¥1,273

$3.69 ¥599

112.20%

Banana (1kg)

$2.54 ¥412

$2.11 ¥343

20.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.62 ¥750

$2.47 ¥401

87.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.64 ¥754

$4.54 ¥738

2.20%

Potato (1kg)

$3.62 ¥588

$1.64 ¥267

120.73%

Onion (1kg)

$3.59 ¥584

$1.30 ¥212

176.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 ¥167

$1.37 ¥223

-24.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 ¥117

$0.87 ¥142

-17.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.46 ¥887

$3.87 ¥629

41.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.13 ¥1,484

$9.15 ¥1,487

-0.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.50 ¥407

$2.10 ¥342

19.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.50 ¥568

$2.87 ¥466

21.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.44 ¥234

$1.67 ¥271

-13.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.2 ¥8,961

$35.74 ¥5,807

54.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.04 ¥493

$4.62 ¥751

-34.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.03 ¥492

$3.27 ¥532

-7.34%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.20 ¥3,444

$23.47 ¥3,814

-9.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 ¥194

$1.18 ¥191

1.69%

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

$24.3K ¥3.9M

$22.8K ¥3.7M

6.57%

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

$17.4K ¥2.8M

$17.3K ¥2.8M

0.42%

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

$84.1 ¥13.7K

$134 ¥21.8K

-37.35%

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

$29.98 ¥4,872

$27.44 ¥4,458

9.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.64 ¥2,866

$30.41 ¥4,941

-41.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.5 ¥8,858

$57.8 ¥9,396

-5.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.83 ¥2,248

$21.18 ¥3,441

-34.70%

Cinema Ticket

$11.35 ¥1,845

$12.32 ¥2,002

-7.87%

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

$279 ¥45.3K

$68.2 ¥11.1K

309.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.6K ¥2.2M

$10.6K ¥1.7M

28.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.59 ¥7,245

$44.49 ¥7,229

0.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.09 ¥4,726

$29.52 ¥4,796

-1.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$58.9 ¥9,576

$66.7 ¥10.8K

-11.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.3 ¥15.5K

$96.8 ¥15.7K

-1.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$481 ¥78.2K

$727 ¥118.1K

-33.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$279 ¥45.3K

$476 ¥77.3K

-41.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$853 ¥138.6K

$1,301 ¥211.3K

-34.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$661 ¥107.5K

$827 ¥134.3K

-20.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,911 ¥960.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,051 ¥333.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$621 ¥101.0K

$1,865 ¥303.0K

-66.68%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Osaka: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $481 in Nagano 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 200% 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 $34.00 in Nagano versus $35.00 in Osaka. Groceries tell a different story – $363 in Nagano vs $300 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 13% 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 $1,759 per month in Nagano 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 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 $34.00 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 $1,172 in Nagano and $1,330 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 $1,172, than in Osaka at $1,330. 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 $1,172 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 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.