Cost of Living Comparison Between Osaka and Fukuoka Cost of Living Comparison Between Osaka and Fukuoka

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,393 per month in Osaka vs $1,222 in Fukuoka, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,070 per month in Osaka vs $1,938 in Fukuoka, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,747 per month in Osaka vs $2,655 in Fukuoka, rent included.

Osaka costs about 14% more than Fukuoka, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Osaka sits 2% above the global median, while Fukuoka is 11% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.65 ¥1,038

$7.00 ¥1,093

-5.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.08 ¥5,006

$44.80 ¥6,991

-28.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.25 ¥818

$5.85 ¥913

-10.26%

Cappuccino

$3.05 ¥476

$3.34 ¥521

-8.68%

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

$1.41 ¥220

$1.04 ¥162

35.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 ¥109

$0.69 ¥108

1.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.79 ¥435

$3.85 ¥601

-27.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 ¥605

$2.33 ¥363

66.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.48 ¥231

$1.65 ¥257

-10.30%

White Bread (500g)

$1.31 ¥205

$1.87 ¥292

-29.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.49 ¥857

$6.79 ¥1,059

-19.15%

Eggs

$2.07 ¥323

$2.28 ¥356

-9.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.84 ¥1,535

$18.86 ¥2,942

-47.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.68 ¥1,510

$5.48 ¥855

76.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.58 ¥2,900

$19.38 ¥3,025

-4.13%

Apples (1kg)

$3.43 ¥535

$3.78 ¥590

-9.26%

Banana (1kg)

$2.04 ¥319

$1.85 ¥289

10.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.13 ¥332

$2.94 ¥459

-27.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.18 ¥651

$3.49 ¥544

19.77%

Potato (1kg)

$1.60 ¥250

$2.22 ¥346

-27.93%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 ¥189

$2.69 ¥419

-55.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.36 ¥212

$1.11 ¥173

22.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 ¥125

$0.99 ¥155

-19.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.00 ¥625

$4.11 ¥641

-2.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.49 ¥1,481

$6.51 ¥1,016

45.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.00 ¥313

$1.68 ¥262

19.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ¥499

$1.93 ¥301

65.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.41 ¥220

$1.58 ¥246

-10.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$32.84 ¥5,124

$42.72 ¥6,666

-23.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.93 ¥614

$3.98 ¥621

-1.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.20 ¥499

$2.09 ¥326

53.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.17 ¥3,459

$18.42 ¥2,873

20.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 ¥176

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

$22.4K ¥3.5M

$21.8K ¥3.4M

2.74%

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

$15.6K ¥2.4M

$17.6K ¥2.8M

-11.61%

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

$140 ¥21.8K

$195 ¥30.5K

-28.38%

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

$24.68 ¥3,851

$25.23 ¥3,937

-2.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.03 ¥4,842

$34.36 ¥5,361

-9.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.1 ¥8,282

$51.8 ¥8,075

2.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.04 ¥2,970

Cinema Ticket

$12.30 ¥1,918

$11.13 ¥1,737

10.51%

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

$529 ¥82.5K

$130 ¥20.3K

305.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.3K ¥2.1M

$12.8K ¥2.0M

3.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.93 ¥7,635

$39.42 ¥6,151

24.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.85 ¥4,969

$24.43 ¥3,813

30.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.1 ¥11.9K

$60.6 ¥9,462

25.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$94.3 ¥14.7K

$47.85 ¥7,466

97.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$728 ¥113.6K

$491 ¥76.5K

48.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ¥79.8K

$265 ¥41.3K

93.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,753 ¥273.5K

$1,129 ¥176.1K

55.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$778 ¥121.4K

$674 ¥105.2K

15.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,376 ¥994.8K

$6,461 ¥1.0M

-1.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,959 ¥305.6K

$2,770 ¥432.2K

-29.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,342 ¥365.4K

$1,964 ¥306.4K

19.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.21

1.85

19.46%

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

Last update for Osaka: September 13, 2026

Last update for Fukuoka: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $728 in Osaka versus $491 in Fukuoka. 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 19% 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 $32.00 in Osaka versus $45.00 in Fukuoka. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $308 vs $326 – making Osaka the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Fukuoka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,393 in Osaka, $1,222 in Fukuoka – roughly 14% apart. Osaka costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,089 per month in Osaka and $1,833 in Fukuoka. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $529 per month in Osaka and $130 in Fukuoka. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 6% cheaper in Osaka – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Fukuoka, where all-in costs run around $1,222, than in Osaka at $1,393. In Fukuoka it covers expenses comfortably, while in Osaka it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Fukuoka has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,222 in Fukuoka to $1,393 in Osaka. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Fukuoka. 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.