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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,352 per month in Osaka vs $1,306 in Fukuoka, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,031 per month in Osaka vs $2,041 in Fukuoka, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,710 per month in Osaka vs $2,777 in Fukuoka, rent included.

Osaka costs about 3% more than Fukuoka, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Osaka sits 1% above the global median, while Fukuoka is 2% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.95 ¥1,113

$8.24 ¥1,319

-15.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.82 ¥5,574

$42.19 ¥6,753

-17.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 ¥792

$6.24 ¥999

-20.67%

Cappuccino

$3.32 ¥532

$3.13 ¥501

6.07%

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

$1.09 ¥174

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 ¥116

$0.78 ¥125

-7.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.79 ¥447

$1.68 ¥270

66.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.37 ¥699

$2.07 ¥331

111.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.58 ¥254

$1.71 ¥274

-7.60%

White Bread (500g)

$1.47 ¥236

$1.60 ¥256

-8.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.65 ¥744

$4.10 ¥656

13.41%

Eggs

$2.36 ¥378

$2.60 ¥416

-9.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.40 ¥1,665

$21.07 ¥3,373

-50.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.50 ¥1,040

$6.11 ¥979

6.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.26 ¥3,083

$20.91 ¥3,347

-7.89%

Apples (1kg)

$3.63 ¥582

$3.13 ¥501

15.97%

Banana (1kg)

$2.09 ¥335

$1.41 ¥225

48.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.47 ¥395

$1.35 ¥216

82.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.35 ¥696

$5.93 ¥949

-26.64%

Potato (1kg)

$1.65 ¥264

$2.80 ¥449

-41.07%

Onion (1kg)

$1.30 ¥208

$3.25 ¥521

-60.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.34 ¥214

$0.97 ¥155

38.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 ¥135

$0.77 ¥123

9.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.81 ¥609

$3.94 ¥631

-3.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.20 ¥1,473

$6.40 ¥1,024

43.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.08 ¥332

$2.00 ¥321

4.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 ¥477

$2.12 ¥340

40.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.58 ¥253

$1.81 ¥290

-12.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.89 ¥5,746

$42.35 ¥6,780

-15.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.49 ¥718

$4.63 ¥741

-3.02%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.39 ¥542

$4.51 ¥722

-24.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.90 ¥3,826

$19.43 ¥3,110

23.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ¥197

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

$23.4K ¥3.7M

$22.8K ¥3.6M

2.83%

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

$17.2K ¥2.8M

$20.1K ¥3.2M

-14.37%

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

$130 ¥20.9K

$215 ¥34.5K

-39.44%

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

$27.23 ¥4,358

$27.08 ¥4,335

0.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.85 ¥4,938

$35.39 ¥5,664

-12.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$58.6 ¥9,374

$58.6 ¥9,386

-0.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.43 ¥3,271

$3.39 ¥543

502.65%

Cinema Ticket

$12.38 ¥1,981

$13.91 ¥2,227

-11.00%

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

$69.4 ¥11.1K

$424 ¥67.8K

-83.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.4K ¥1.7M

$13.3K ¥2.1M

-21.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$43.94 ¥7,034

$43.07 ¥6,894

2.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.63 ¥4,743

$30.05 ¥4,811

-1.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.8 ¥11.0K

$64.6 ¥10.3K

6.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$94.8 ¥15.2K

$60.5 ¥9,679

56.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$733 ¥117.3K

$537 ¥86.0K

36.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$467 ¥74.8K

$293 ¥46.9K

59.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,275 ¥204.1K

$1,038 ¥166.2K

22.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$822 ¥131.7K

$699 ¥111.9K

17.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,986 ¥958.2K

$6,288 ¥1.0M

-4.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,086 ¥333.9K

$2,673 ¥427.9K

-21.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,989 ¥318.4K

$1,547 ¥247.7K

28.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.81

1.67

8.38%

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

Last update for Osaka: April 27, 2026

Last update for Fukuoka: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $733 in Osaka versus $537 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 29% 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 $35.00 in Osaka versus $42.00 in Fukuoka. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $300 vs $331 – 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: $1,352 in Osaka, $1,306 in Fukuoka – roughly 3% apart. Osaka costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,027 per month in Osaka and $1,960 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 $69.4 per month in Osaka and $424 in Fukuoka. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 10% 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 $1,306, than in Osaka at $1,352. 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 $1,306 in Fukuoka to $1,352 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.