Cost of Living Comparison Between Osaka and Budapest Cost of Living Comparison Between Osaka and Budapest

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,352 per month in Osaka vs $1,438 in Budapest, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,031 per month in Osaka vs $2,208 in Budapest, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,710 per month in Osaka vs $2,979 in Budapest, rent included.

Osaka is about 6% cheaper than Budapest, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Osaka and Budapest sit above the global median – Osaka by 1%, Budapest by 7%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.95 ¥1,113

$11.49 Ft 3,584

-39.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.82 ¥5,574

$58.2 Ft 18.2K

-40.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 ¥792

$8.61 Ft 2,688

-42.51%

Cappuccino

$3.32 ¥532

$2.78 Ft 866

19.42%

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

$1.09 ¥174

$1.73 Ft 540

-36.99%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 ¥116

$1.34 Ft 417

-46.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.79 ¥447

$2.82 Ft 879

-1.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.37 ¥699

$2.86 Ft 891

52.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.58 ¥254

$1.23 Ft 383

28.46%

White Bread (500g)

$1.47 ¥236

$1.67 Ft 521

-11.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.65 ¥744

$2.04 Ft 636

127.94%

Eggs

$2.36 ¥378

$3.06 Ft 955

-22.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.40 ¥1,665

$10.23 Ft 3,191

1.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.50 ¥1,040

$6.35 Ft 1,980

2.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.26 ¥3,083

$13.39 Ft 4,179

43.84%

Apples (1kg)

$3.63 ¥582

$1.91 Ft 595

90.05%

Banana (1kg)

$2.09 ¥335

$1.92 Ft 599

8.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.47 ¥395

$2.18 Ft 680

13.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.35 ¥696

$3.62 Ft 1,130

20.17%

Potato (1kg)

$1.65 ¥264

$1.12 Ft 351

47.32%

Onion (1kg)

$1.30 ¥208

$1.21 Ft 377

7.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.34 ¥214

$1.48 Ft 462

-9.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 ¥135

$0.58 Ft 180

44.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.81 ¥609

$6.56 Ft 2,046

-41.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.20 ¥1,473

$5.74 Ft 1,791

60.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.08 ¥332

$1.15 Ft 357

80.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 ¥477

$1.66 Ft 517

79.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.58 ¥253

$1.27 Ft 397

24.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.89 ¥5,746

$26.28 Ft 8,201

36.57%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.49 ¥718

$3.13 Ft 977

43.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.39 ¥542

$1.11 Ft 346

205.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.90 ¥3,826

$18.94 Ft 5,910

26.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ¥197

$1.78 Ft 556

-30.90%

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

$23.4K ¥3.7M

$25.7K Ft 8.0M

-8.92%

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

$17.2K ¥2.8M

$30.4K Ft 9.5M

-43.35%

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

$130 ¥20.9K

$148 Ft 46.2K

-11.93%

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

$27.23 ¥4,358

$26.66 Ft 8,317

2.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.85 ¥4,938

$19.96 Ft 6,229

54.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$58.6 ¥9,374

$63.9 Ft 19.9K

-8.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.43 ¥3,271

$21.92 Ft 6,840

-6.80%

Cinema Ticket

$12.38 ¥1,981

$8.74 Ft 2,726

41.65%

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

$69.4 ¥11.1K

$463 Ft 144.6K

-85.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.4K ¥1.7M

$12.2K Ft 3.8M

-14.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$43.94 ¥7,034

$85.9 Ft 26.8K

-48.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.63 ¥4,743

$43.25 Ft 13.5K

-31.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.8 ¥11.0K

$95.7 Ft 29.9K

-28.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$94.8 ¥15.2K

$104 Ft 32.4K

-8.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$733 ¥117.3K

$736 Ft 229.5K

-0.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$467 ¥74.8K

$560 Ft 174.6K

-16.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,275 ¥204.1K

$1,355 Ft 422.7K

-5.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$822 ¥131.7K

$972 Ft 303.4K

-15.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,986 ¥958.2K

$5,938 Ft 1.9M

0.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,086 ¥333.9K

$4,194 Ft 1.3M

-50.27%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,989 ¥318.4K

$1,737 Ft 541.8K

14.53%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.81

7.03

-74.25%

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

Last update for Osaka: April 27, 2026

Last update for Budapest: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $733 in Osaka versus $736 in Budapest. 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 15% higher in Osaka, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Osaka versus $58.0 in Budapest. Groceries tell a different story – $300 in Osaka vs $239 in Budapest – so Budapest 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

Osaka vs Budapest: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Budapest is pricier by about 6%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,027 per month in Osaka and $2,157 in Budapest. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Osaka, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 37% less in Osaka. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $69.4 per month in Osaka and $463 in Budapest. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Osaka, where all-in costs run around $1,352, than in Budapest at $1,438. In Osaka it covers expenses comfortably, while in Budapest it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Osaka – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Osaka. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Budapest makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.