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 $1,451 in Budapest, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,044 per month in Osaka vs $2,210 in Budapest, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,737 per month in Osaka vs $2,969 in Budapest, rent included.

Osaka is about 7% 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

$6.95 ¥1,112

$11.64 Ft 3,521

-40.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.23 ¥5,475

$58.5 Ft 17.7K

-41.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.87 ¥778

$8.61 Ft 2,604

-43.44%

Cappuccino

$3.29 ¥527

$2.83 Ft 857

16.25%

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

$1.08 ¥174

$1.81 Ft 547

-40.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 ¥121

$1.35 Ft 410

-44.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.82 ¥450

$2.96 Ft 897

-4.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.30 ¥687

$2.92 Ft 884

47.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.59 ¥254

$1.27 Ft 385

25.20%

White Bread (500g)

$1.49 ¥238

$1.66 Ft 504

-10.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.68 ¥749

$2.04 Ft 618

129.41%

Eggs

$2.41 ¥386

$3.16 Ft 955

-23.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.49 ¥1,679

$9.88 Ft 2,988

6.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.33 ¥1,013

$6.17 Ft 1,868

2.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.18 ¥3,068

$13.46 Ft 4,072

42.50%

Apples (1kg)

$3.69 ¥590

$1.86 Ft 562

98.39%

Banana (1kg)

$2.11 ¥338

$1.91 Ft 578

10.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.60 ¥416

$2.08 Ft 628

25.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.55 ¥727

$3.61 Ft 1,092

26.04%

Potato (1kg)

$1.71 ¥274

$1.14 Ft 344

50.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.25 ¥200

$1.22 Ft 368

2.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.36 ¥218

$1.54 Ft 467

-11.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 ¥135

$0.53 Ft 162

58.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.85 ¥615

$6.88 Ft 2,081

-44.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.13 ¥1,460

$5.98 Ft 1,808

52.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.05 ¥328

$1.20 Ft 362

70.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 ¥469

$1.65 Ft 501

77.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.60 ¥256

$1.31 Ft 398

22.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$36.06 ¥5,768

$25.92 Ft 7,843

39.12%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.56 ¥729

$3.23 Ft 978

41.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.38 ¥540

$1.13 Ft 341

199.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.20 ¥3,710

$18.91 Ft 5,722

22.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ¥196

$1.75 Ft 528

-30.29%

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

$23.6K ¥3.8M

$25.5K Ft 7.7M

-7.40%

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

$17.3K ¥2.8M

$31.6K Ft 9.6M

-45.41%

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

$132 ¥21.0K

$145 Ft 44.0K

-9.51%

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

$27.19 ¥4,349

$26.44 Ft 8,001

2.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.52 ¥4,881

$19.87 Ft 6,012

53.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.3 ¥9,170

$63.7 Ft 19.3K

-9.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.19 ¥3,390

$22.23 Ft 6,724

-4.68%

Cinema Ticket

$12.24 ¥1,957

$9.09 Ft 2,750

34.65%

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

$68.3 ¥10.9K

$460 Ft 139.3K

-85.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.6K ¥1.7M

$12.2K Ft 3.7M

-13.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.66 ¥7,144

$87.3 Ft 26.4K

-48.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.63 ¥4,740

$42.04 Ft 12.7K

-29.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.4 ¥10.9K

$97.7 Ft 29.6K

-30.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.4 ¥15.4K

$104 Ft 31.4K

-7.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$732 ¥117.0K

$743 Ft 224.8K

-1.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$466 ¥74.6K

$543 Ft 164.3K

-14.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,284 ¥205.4K

$1,353 Ft 409.4K

-5.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$813 ¥130.1K

$977 Ft 295.5K

-16.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,119 ¥978.7K

$6,134 Ft 1.9M

-0.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,098 ¥335.5K

$4,404 Ft 1.3M

-52.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,968 ¥314.7K

$1,800 Ft 544.5K

9.33%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Budapest: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $732 in Osaka versus $743 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 9% 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 $34.00 in Osaka versus $59.0 in Budapest. Groceries tell a different story – $302 in Osaka vs $238 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 $2,028 per month in Osaka and $2,177 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 39% less in Osaka. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $68.3 per month in Osaka and $460 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 $1,451. 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.