😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,347 in Osaka versus $1,103 in Hamamatsu.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,036 in Osaka versus $1,819 in Hamamatsu.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,725 in Osaka versus $2,536 in Hamamatsu.
🌍Living in Osaka is roughly 22% more expensive than in Hamamatsu, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Osaka is 1% above, Hamamatsu is 17% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Osaka
Hamamatsu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.75¥1,064
$4.92¥775
37.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.24¥5,553
$41.90¥6,603
-15.89%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.75¥749
$3.39¥534
40.12%
Cappuccino
$3.29¥518
$3.03¥477
8.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10¥173
$0.66¥104
66.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76¥120
$0.77¥121
-1.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.82¥445
$2.05¥324
37.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41¥695
$2.85¥449
54.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Osaka
Hamamatsu
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.59¥250
$1.47¥232
8.16%
White Bread(500g)
$1.44¥227
$1.70¥267
-15.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.78¥753
$5.01¥790
-4.59%
Eggs
$2.33¥367
$1.83¥288
27.32%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.61¥1,671
$10.11¥1,592
4.95%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.39¥1,007
$6.19¥975
3.23%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.87¥2,973
$15.69¥2,472
20.27%
Apples(1kg)
$3.66¥577
$4.06¥640
-9.85%
Banana(1kg)
$2.12¥334
$2.11¥332
0.47%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.52¥396
$3.39¥534
-25.66%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.44¥699
$4.13¥650
7.51%
Potato(1kg)
$1.67¥262
$3.39¥535
-50.74%
Onion(1kg)
$1.26¥199
$4.36¥687
-71.10%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.33¥209
$1.39¥219
-4.32%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.87¥138
$0.88¥139
-1.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96¥625
$3.45¥544
14.78%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.05¥1,426
$8.92¥1,406
1.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.03¥320
$1.74¥274
16.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90¥458
$2.07¥325
40.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Osaka
Hamamatsu
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.59¥250
$1.06¥166
50.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$35.37¥5,574
$56.2¥8,851
-37.03%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.45¥700
$3.52¥555
26.42%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.35¥528
$2.96¥467
13.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$23.70¥3,734
$21.75¥3,427
8.97%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.19¥188
$1.20¥188
-0.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.1K¥3.6M
$21.0K¥3.3M
9.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.9K¥2.7M
$14.1K¥2.2M
19.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Osaka
Hamamatsu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$135¥21.3K
$109¥17.2K
23.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.52¥4,336
$9.66¥1,522
184.89%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.63¥4,826
$20.96¥3,303
46.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Osaka
Hamamatsu
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.2¥9,020
$103¥16.3K
-44.67%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.14¥3,331
$18.56¥2,925
13.90%
Cinema Ticket
$12.25¥1,930
$13.56¥2,137
-9.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Osaka
Hamamatsu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$68.0¥10.7K
$279¥43.9K
-75.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5K¥1.6M
$13.8K¥2.2M
-24.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Osaka
Hamamatsu
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.66¥7,037
$41.66¥6,564
7.20%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.96¥4,563
$27.43¥4,322
5.58%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$68.6¥10.8K
$55.1¥8,688
24.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.6¥15.2K
$104¥16.3K
-6.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Osaka
Hamamatsu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$721¥113.6K
$384¥60.5K
87.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$474¥74.6K
$247¥39.0K
91.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,298¥204.5K
$869¥136.9K
49.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$818¥128.9K
$597¥94.1K
36.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,971¥940.9K
$4,252¥670.1K
40.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,029¥319.7K
$2,051¥323.1K
-1.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Osaka
Hamamatsu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,868¥294.3K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
1.81
0.95
90.53%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Osaka: July 27, 2026
Last update for Hamamatsu: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $721 in Osaka and $384 in Hamamatsu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $35.00 in Osaka vs $42.00 in Hamamatsu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $300 vs $300 per month, with Osaka cheaper across the board.
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 22% in total monthly costs ($1,347 vs $1,103 including rent). Hamamatsu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Osaka compared to Hamamatsu?
You'd need roughly $2,020 in Osaka and $1,654 in Hamamatsu to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Osaka and in Hamamatsu?
Rent for a central apartment: $721 in Osaka versus $384 in Hamamatsu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Osaka pay roughly 0% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Hamamatsu – a meal for two runs $42.00 versus $35.00 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 $1,103 in Hamamatsu versus $1,347 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 22% less than in Osaka. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.