Cost of Living Comparison Between Niigata and Osaka Cost of Living Comparison Between Niigata and Osaka

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,122 in Niigata versus $1,371 in Osaka.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,852 in Niigata versus $2,038 in Osaka.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,581 in Niigata versus $2,705 in Osaka.

Living in Niigata costs roughly 18% less than in Osaka, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

The two cities straddle the global median: Niigata is 16% below, Osaka is 2% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.65 ¥904

$6.95 ¥1,112

-18.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.78 ¥7,803

$34.58 ¥5,531

41.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.49 ¥878

$4.98 ¥797

10.24%

Cappuccino

$2.06 ¥330

$3.33 ¥532

-38.14%

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

$1.21 ¥193

$1.08 ¥173

12.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.79 ¥126

$0.76 ¥122

3.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.82 ¥451

$2.74 ¥438

2.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 ¥551

$4.35 ¥695

-20.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 ¥210

$1.61 ¥257

-18.63%

White Bread (500g)

$1.20 ¥192

$1.43 ¥229

-16.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.35 ¥536

$4.86 ¥778

-31.07%

Eggs

$2.42 ¥387

$2.46 ¥393

-1.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.76 ¥1,241

$10.43 ¥1,669

-25.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.94 ¥950

$6.38 ¥1,021

-6.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.94 ¥3,670

$18.61 ¥2,977

23.27%

Apples (1kg)

$4.06 ¥649

$3.53 ¥564

15.01%

Banana (1kg)

$2.57 ¥411

$2.19 ¥350

17.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.16 ¥506

$2.48 ¥397

27.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.98 ¥477

$4.31 ¥689

-30.86%

Potato (1kg)

$2.27 ¥363

$1.69 ¥271

34.32%

Onion (1kg)

$2.26 ¥362

$1.28 ¥205

76.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 ¥166

$1.39 ¥222

-25.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.83 ¥133

$0.85 ¥136

-2.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.01 ¥642

$3.93 ¥629

2.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.27 ¥682

$9.27 ¥1,482

-53.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 ¥306

$2.13 ¥340

-10.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 ¥436

$2.99 ¥479

-9.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.84 ¥294

$1.61 ¥258

14.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.0 ¥8,798

$36.32 ¥5,810

51.46%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.89 ¥462

$4.56 ¥729

-36.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.77 ¥443

$3.31 ¥530

-16.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$20.54 ¥3,285

$23.95 ¥3,830

-14.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ¥194

$1.19 ¥191

2.52%

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

$16.2K ¥2.6M

$23.6K ¥3.8M

-31.34%

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

$15.9K ¥2.5M

$16.9K ¥2.7M

-6.02%

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

$162 ¥26.0K

$135 ¥21.6K

20.49%

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

$26.95 ¥4,310

$27.60 ¥4,415

-2.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.37 ¥5,337

$30.37 ¥4,858

9.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.1 ¥9,609

$59.1 ¥9,460

1.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.25 ¥1,640

$20.39 ¥3,262

-49.73%

Cinema Ticket

$13.02 ¥2,082

$12.36 ¥1,978

5.34%

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

$86.1 ¥13.8K

$68.1 ¥10.9K

26.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.5K ¥2.5M

$10.5K ¥1.7M

46.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.76 ¥6,679

$44.08 ¥7,050

-5.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.15 ¥3,384

$29.47 ¥4,713

-28.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$37.60 ¥6,014

$67.2 ¥10.8K

-44.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.9 ¥9,097

$94.8 ¥15.2K

-40.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$388 ¥62.1K

$717 ¥114.7K

-45.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$279 ¥44.7K

$483 ¥77.2K

-42.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$851 ¥136.0K

$1,311 ¥209.6K

-35.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$665 ¥106.4K

$807 ¥129.0K

-17.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,514 ¥722.1K

$5,951 ¥951.8K

-24.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,332 ¥373.0K

$2,055 ¥328.6K

13.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,234 ¥197.5K

$1,944 ¥310.9K

-36.48%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.24

1.81

-31.49%

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

Last update for Niigata: June 1, 2026

Last update for Osaka: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $388 in Niigata and $717 in Osaka. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Osaka pays 57% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $49.00 in Niigata vs $35.00 in Osaka. Groceries flip the comparison at $282 vs $299, with Niigata cheaper for home cooking.

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

Niigata vs Osaka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Niigata and Osaka differ by about 22% in total monthly costs ($1,122 vs $1,371 including rent). Niigata is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Osaka earns 57% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $388 in Niigata versus $717 in Osaka. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,122 per month in Niigata versus $1,371 in Osaka – a 22% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Niigata runs roughly 51% less than in Osaka. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,122 in Niigata versus $1,371 in Osaka, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Niigata but tight or insufficient in Osaka. The gap between the two cities makes Niigata the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Niigata and Osaka are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Niigata gentler on the wallet – expenses run 22% less than in Osaka. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.