😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,371 in Osaka versus $1,226 in Amagasaki.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,038 in Osaka versus $1,908 in Amagasaki.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,705 in Osaka versus $2,589 in Amagasaki.
😐Living in Osaka is roughly 12% more expensive than Amagasaki, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Osaka is 2% above, Amagasaki is 8% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Osaka
Amagasaki
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.95¥1,112
$7.12¥1,139
-2.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.58¥5,531
$34.50¥5,518
0.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.98¥797
$5.33¥853
-6.57%
Cappuccino
$3.33¥532
$3.15¥504
5.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08¥173
$1.09¥175
-0.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76¥122
$0.79¥127
-3.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.74¥438
$2.55¥407
7.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.35¥695
$3.13¥501
38.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Osaka
Amagasaki
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.61¥257
$1.60¥256
0.63%
White Bread(500g)
$1.43¥229
$1.51¥242
-5.30%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.86¥778
$4.81¥769
1.04%
Eggs
$2.46¥393
$2.27¥364
8.37%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.43¥1,669
$9.97¥1,595
4.61%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.38¥1,021
$6.30¥1,008
1.27%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.61¥2,977
$15.19¥2,430
22.51%
Apples(1kg)
$3.53¥564
$5.31¥849
-33.52%
Banana(1kg)
$2.19¥350
$2.56¥410
-14.45%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.48¥397
$4.05¥648
-38.77%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.31¥689
$5.97¥954
-27.81%
Potato(1kg)
$1.69¥271
$3.14¥502
-46.18%
Onion(1kg)
$1.28¥205
$2.55¥408
-49.80%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39¥222
$1.33¥212
4.51%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85¥136
$0.82¥131
3.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.93¥629
$4.20¥672
-6.43%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.27¥1,482
$8.27¥1,323
12.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.13¥340
$1.83¥293
16.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99¥479
$2.25¥359
32.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Osaka
Amagasaki
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.61¥258
$1.65¥263
-2.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$36.32¥5,810
$54.9¥8,780
-33.83%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.56¥729
$3.53¥564
29.18%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.31¥530
$2.91¥466
13.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$23.95¥3,830
$21.12¥3,378
13.40%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.19¥191
$1.18¥188
0.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.6K¥3.8M
$23.4K¥3.7M
0.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.9K¥2.7M
$17.2K¥2.8M
-1.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Osaka
Amagasaki
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$135¥21.6K
$146¥23.3K
-7.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.60¥4,415
$27.40¥4,382
0.73%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.37¥4,858
$34.42¥5,506
-11.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Osaka
Amagasaki
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$59.1¥9,460
$56.5¥9,030
4.77%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.39¥3,262
$14.06¥2,249
45.02%
Cinema Ticket
$12.36¥1,978
$12.65¥2,023
-2.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Osaka
Amagasaki
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$68.1¥10.9K
$279¥44.6K
-75.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5K¥1.7M
$13.2K¥2.1M
-20.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Osaka
Amagasaki
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.08¥7,050
$44.17¥7,065
-0.20%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.47¥4,713
$30.02¥4,801
-1.83%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$67.2¥10.8K
$59.5¥9,510
13.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.8¥15.2K
$93.5¥14.9K
1.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Osaka
Amagasaki
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$717¥114.7K
$459¥73.4K
56.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$483¥77.2K
$334¥53.5K
44.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,311¥209.6K
$879¥140.5K
49.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$807¥129.0K
$659¥105.4K
22.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,951¥951.8K
$4,550¥727.8K
30.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,055¥328.6K
$2,382¥381.0K
-13.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Osaka
Amagasaki
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,944¥310.9K
$3,001¥479.9K
-35.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
1.81
1.78
1.69%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Osaka: May 30, 2026
Last update for Amagasaki: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $717 in Osaka and $459 in Amagasaki. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Amagasaki pays 54% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $35.00 in Osaka vs $35.00 in Amagasaki for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $299 vs $314 per month, with Osaka cheaper across the board.
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
Osaka vs Amagasaki: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Osaka and Amagasaki?
Osaka and Amagasaki differ by about 12% in total monthly costs ($1,371 vs $1,226 including rent). Amagasaki is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Amagasaki earns 54% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Osaka and Amagasaki?
Rent for a central apartment: $717 in Osaka versus $459 in Amagasaki. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Osaka pay roughly 5% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Amagasaki – a meal for two runs $35.00 versus $35.00 in Osaka. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,226 in Amagasaki versus $1,371 in Osaka, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Amagasaki but tight or insufficient in Osaka. The gap between the two cities makes Amagasaki the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Osaka and Amagasaki?
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.
Is Osaka or Amagasaki safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Osaka and Amagasaki are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Osaka or Amagasaki?
Expats usually find Amagasaki gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Osaka. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.