Cost of Living Comparison Between Osaka and Hamamatsu Cost of Living Comparison Between Osaka and Hamamatsu

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,393 in Osaka versus $784 in Hamamatsu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,070 in Osaka versus $1,297 in Hamamatsu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,747 in Osaka versus $1,810 in Hamamatsu.

Living in Osaka is roughly 78% more expensive than in Hamamatsu, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Osaka is 2% above, Hamamatsu is 43% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Osaka
Hamamatsu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.65 ¥1,038
$3.91 ¥610
70.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.08 ¥5,006
$42.33 ¥6,605
-24.21%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.25 ¥818
$5.15 ¥804
1.94%
Cappuccino
$3.05 ¥476
$3.46 ¥539
-11.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41 ¥220
$1.12 ¥175
25.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 ¥109
$0.76 ¥118
-7.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.79 ¥435
$2.61 ¥407
6.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88 ¥605
$3.30 ¥515
17.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Osaka
Hamamatsu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.48 ¥231
$1.06 ¥165
39.62%
White Bread (500g)
$1.31 ¥205
$1.73 ¥270
-24.28%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.49 ¥857
$3.81 ¥595
44.09%
Eggs
$2.07 ¥323
$1.69 ¥263
22.49%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.84 ¥1,535
$12.23 ¥1,908
-19.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.68 ¥1,510
$6.19 ¥965
56.38%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.58 ¥2,900
$14.72 ¥2,296
26.22%
Apples (1kg)
$3.43 ¥535
$5.71 ¥892
-39.93%
Banana (1kg)
$2.04 ¥319
$2.87 ¥449
-28.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.13 ¥332
$2.87 ¥448
-25.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.18 ¥651
$4.21 ¥657
-0.71%
Potato (1kg)
$1.60 ¥250
$2.62 ¥408
-38.93%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 ¥189
$2.70 ¥422
-55.19%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.36 ¥212
$1.32 ¥206
3.03%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80 ¥125
$0.67 ¥105
19.40%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.00 ¥625
$3.81 ¥595
4.99%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.49 ¥1,481
$6.34 ¥989
49.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.00 ¥313
$1.86 ¥290
7.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20 ¥499
$2.05 ¥320
56.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Osaka
Hamamatsu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.41 ¥220
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$32.84 ¥5,124
$51.7 ¥8,062
-36.44%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.93 ¥614
$3.25 ¥508
20.92%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.20 ¥499
$2.57 ¥402
24.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$22.17 ¥3,459
$20.64 ¥3,221
7.41%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.13 ¥176
$1.09 ¥170
3.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.4K ¥3.5M
$21.9K ¥3.4M
2.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.6K ¥2.4M
$18.4K ¥2.9M
-15.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Osaka
Hamamatsu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$140 ¥21.8K
$134 ¥20.9K
4.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.68 ¥3,851
$9.28 ¥1,448
165.95%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.03 ¥4,842
$32.89 ¥5,131
-5.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Osaka
Hamamatsu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.1 ¥8,282
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04 ¥2,970
$17.35 ¥2,706
9.74%
Cinema Ticket
$12.30 ¥1,918
$13.07 ¥2,040
-5.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Osaka
Hamamatsu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$529 ¥82.5K
$652 ¥101.7K
-18.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.3K ¥2.1M
$15.3K ¥2.4M
-13.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Osaka
Hamamatsu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.93 ¥7,635
$63.7 ¥9,934
-23.15%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.85 ¥4,969
$32.90 ¥5,133
-3.19%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.1 ¥11.9K
$63.8 ¥9,957
19.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.3 ¥14.7K
$103 ¥16.1K
-8.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Osaka
Hamamatsu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$728 ¥113.6K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$512 ¥79.8K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,753 ¥273.5K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$778 ¥121.4K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,376 ¥994.8K
$8,047 ¥1.3M
-20.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,959 ¥305.6K
$5,552 ¥866.2K
-64.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Osaka
Hamamatsu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,342 ¥365.4K
$1,614 ¥251.8K
45.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.21
2.12
4.25%

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

Last update for Osaka: September 13, 2026

Last update for Hamamatsu: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Osaka pays 45% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $32.00 in Osaka vs $42.00 in Hamamatsu. Groceries flip the comparison at $308 vs $293, with Hamamatsu cheaper for home cooking.

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 Hamamatsu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Osaka and in Hamamatsu?
Osaka and Hamamatsu differ by about 78% in total monthly costs ($1,393 vs $784 including rent). Hamamatsu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Osaka or Hamamatsu?
Average pay runs 45% higher in Osaka, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 5% higher in Osaka. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Hamamatsu – a meal for two runs $42.00 versus $32.00 in Osaka. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $784 in Hamamatsu versus $1,393 in Osaka, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Hamamatsu but tight or insufficient in Osaka. The gap between the two cities makes Hamamatsu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Osaka and Hamamatsu?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Osaka or Hamamatsu safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Osaka and Hamamatsu are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Osaka or Hamamatsu?
Expats usually find Hamamatsu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 78% less than in Osaka. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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