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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,347 per month in Osaka vs $1,435 in Budapest, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,036 per month in Osaka vs $2,204 in Budapest, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,725 per month in Osaka vs $2,972 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 8%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.75 ¥1,103

$11.54 Ft 3,651

-41.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.24 ¥5,755

$58.0 Ft 18.3K

-39.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.75 ¥776

$8.89 Ft 2,812

-46.57%

Cappuccino

$3.29 ¥537

$2.73 Ft 863

20.51%

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

$1.10 ¥179

$1.71 Ft 541

-35.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 ¥124

$1.28 Ft 405

-40.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.82 ¥461

$2.93 Ft 927

-3.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.41 ¥720

$2.87 Ft 906

53.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.59 ¥260

$1.21 Ft 382

31.40%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ¥235

$1.76 Ft 557

-18.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.78 ¥781

$2.08 Ft 657

129.81%

Eggs

$2.33 ¥381

$3.06 Ft 969

-23.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.61 ¥1,732

$10.19 Ft 3,225

4.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.39 ¥1,043

$6.06 Ft 1,917

5.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.87 ¥3,081

$13.38 Ft 4,233

41.03%

Apples (1kg)

$3.66 ¥598

$1.92 Ft 608

90.63%

Banana (1kg)

$2.12 ¥346

$1.90 Ft 600

11.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.52 ¥411

$2.18 Ft 691

15.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.44 ¥724

$3.47 Ft 1,098

27.95%

Potato (1kg)

$1.67 ¥272

$1.12 Ft 354

49.11%

Onion (1kg)

$1.26 ¥206

$1.25 Ft 395

0.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.33 ¥217

$1.56 Ft 495

-14.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 ¥143

$0.58 Ft 183

50.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.96 ¥647

$6.81 Ft 2,155

-41.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.05 ¥1,478

$6.26 Ft 1,981

44.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.03 ¥331

$1.21 Ft 381

67.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ¥474

$1.67 Ft 529

73.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.59 ¥259

$1.33 Ft 420

19.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.37 ¥5,776

$25.93 Ft 8,205

36.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.45 ¥726

$3.08 Ft 976

44.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.35 ¥547

$1.11 Ft 352

201.80%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.70 ¥3,869

$18.67 Ft 5,906

26.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 ¥195

$1.85 Ft 586

-35.68%

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

$23.1K ¥3.8M

$25.4K Ft 8.1M

-9.22%

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

$16.9K ¥2.8M

$31.5K Ft 10.0M

-46.41%

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

$135 ¥22.0K

$148 Ft 46.8K

-8.65%

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

$27.52 ¥4,493

$25.98 Ft 8,220

5.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.63 ¥5,001

$20.22 Ft 6,398

51.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.2 ¥9,347

$63.0 Ft 19.9K

-9.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.14 ¥3,452

$22.23 Ft 7,034

-4.90%

Cinema Ticket

$12.25 ¥2,000

$8.90 Ft 2,815

37.64%

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

$68.0 ¥11.1K

$464 Ft 146.8K

-85.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K ¥1.7M

$12.4K Ft 3.9M

-15.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.66 ¥7,292

$85.1 Ft 26.9K

-47.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.96 ¥4,729

$43.25 Ft 13.7K

-33.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.6 ¥11.2K

$95.6 Ft 30.2K

-28.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.6 ¥15.8K

$104 Ft 32.9K

-7.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$721 ¥117.7K

$738 Ft 233.5K

-2.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$474 ¥77.3K

$559 Ft 176.7K

-15.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,298 ¥211.9K

$1,337 Ft 423.0K

-2.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$818 ¥133.6K

$965 Ft 305.4K

-15.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,971 ¥975.1K

$5,941 Ft 1.9M

0.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,029 ¥331.3K

$4,265 Ft 1.3M

-52.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,868 ¥305.0K

$1,732 Ft 547.9K

7.84%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Budapest: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $721 in Osaka versus $738 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 8% 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 7%, 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 $2,020 per month in Osaka and $2,152 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 36% less in Osaka. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $68.0 per month in Osaka and $464 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 $1,347, than in Budapest at $1,435. 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.