Cost of Living Comparison Between Nishinomiya and Osaka Cost of Living Comparison Between Nishinomiya and Osaka

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,237 per month in Nishinomiya vs $1,346 in Osaka, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,938 per month in Nishinomiya vs $1,976 in Osaka, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,640 per month in Nishinomiya vs $2,606 in Osaka, rent included.

Nishinomiya is about 8% cheaper than Osaka, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Nishinomiya and Osaka are more affordable than the global median – Nishinomiya 10% lower, Osaka 2% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nishinomiya
Osaka
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.54 ¥1,333
$6.13 ¥957
39.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.27 ¥4,885
$30.75 ¥4,804
1.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.90 ¥766
$4.81 ¥751
1.87%
Cappuccino
$2.42 ¥377
$2.93 ¥458
-17.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.22 ¥191
$1.43 ¥224
-14.69%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 ¥113
$0.69 ¥108
4.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.71 ¥424
$2.63 ¥411
3.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10 ¥485
$3.64 ¥569
-14.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nishinomiya
Osaka
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.48 ¥231
$1.43 ¥223
3.50%
White Bread (500g)
$1.51 ¥236
$1.28 ¥200
17.97%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.19 ¥810
$5.25 ¥820
-1.14%
Eggs
$2.11 ¥330
$2.10 ¥329
0.48%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.40 ¥1,469
$9.80 ¥1,531
-4.08%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.50 ¥1,484
$9.18 ¥1,435
3.49%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.29 ¥2,858
$18.09 ¥2,827
1.11%
Apples (1kg)
$4.90 ¥765
$3.38 ¥528
44.97%
Banana (1kg)
$1.91 ¥298
$1.91 ¥299
-
Oranges (1kg)
$3.07 ¥480
$1.98 ¥309
55.05%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.23 ¥973
$3.89 ¥608
60.15%
Potato (1kg)
$1.54 ¥241
$1.54 ¥240
-
Onion (1kg)
$2.43 ¥380
$1.17 ¥183
107.69%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.26 ¥197
$1.29 ¥201
-2.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83 ¥130
$0.81 ¥127
2.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.87 ¥604
$3.84 ¥600
0.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.66 ¥1,509
$9.50 ¥1,484
1.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.36 ¥368
$1.87 ¥292
26.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 ¥333
$3.22 ¥504
-33.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Nishinomiya
Osaka
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.49 ¥232
$1.36 ¥213
9.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$48.37 ¥7,556
$31.99 ¥4,998
51.20%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.08 ¥482
$3.77 ¥589
-18.30%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.88 ¥450
$3.04 ¥475
-5.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$15.79 ¥2,467
$21.01 ¥3,282
-24.85%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.10 ¥172
$1.09 ¥171
0.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K ¥3.4M
$21.4K ¥3.3M
0.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.0K ¥2.4M
$15.1K ¥2.4M
-0.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nishinomiya
Osaka
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$117 ¥18.2K
$136 ¥21.3K
-14.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.45 ¥3,663
$23.92 ¥3,736
-1.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.12 ¥4,705
$30.63 ¥4,785
-1.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nishinomiya
Osaka
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$63.4 ¥9,905
$48.60 ¥7,592
30.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.90 ¥2,797
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.48 ¥1,794
$12.04 ¥1,881
-4.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nishinomiya
Osaka
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$501 ¥78.2K
$520 ¥81.2K
-3.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.7K ¥2.0M
$13.2K ¥2.1M
-3.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nishinomiya
Osaka
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.28 ¥6,918
$44.15 ¥6,898
0.29%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.37 ¥4,744
$29.71 ¥4,641
2.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$60.3 ¥9,420
$72.6 ¥11.3K
-16.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.5 ¥14.1K
$88.8 ¥13.9K
1.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nishinomiya
Osaka
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$435 ¥67.9K
$699 ¥109.2K
-37.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$297 ¥46.4K
$507 ¥79.2K
-41.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$909 ¥142.0K
$1,682 ¥262.7K
-45.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$783 ¥122.3K
$761 ¥118.9K
2.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,053 ¥633.2K
$5,636 ¥880.4K
-28.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,818 ¥284.0K
$1,822 ¥284.6K
-0.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nishinomiya
Osaka
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,966 ¥307.1K
$2,245 ¥350.7K
-12.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
1.66
2.21
-24.89%

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

Last update for Nishinomiya: August 29, 2026

Last update for Osaka: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $435 in Nishinomiya versus $699 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 14% 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 $31.00 in Nishinomiya versus $31.00 in Osaka. Groceries tell a different story – $329 in Nishinomiya vs $298 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
Nishinomiya vs Osaka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Osaka cheaper than Nishinomiya?
Yes – Osaka is pricier by about 9%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,855 per month in Nishinomiya and $2,019 in Osaka. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Nishinomiya, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Nishinomiya or in Osaka?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $31.00 in Nishinomiya and $31.00 in Osaka. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Nishinomiya and in Osaka?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,237 in Nishinomiya and $1,346 in Osaka. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Nishinomiya or in Osaka?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Nishinomiya, where all-in costs run around $1,237, than in Osaka at $1,346. In Nishinomiya it covers expenses comfortably, while in Osaka it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Nishinomiya or Osaka more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Nishinomiya – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Nishinomiya or Osaka?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Nishinomiya. 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.

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