Cost of Living Comparison Between Osaka and Hiroshima Cost of Living Comparison Between Osaka and Hiroshima

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,371 per month in Osaka vs $1,033 in Hiroshima, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,038 per month in Osaka vs $1,639 in Hiroshima, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,705 per month in Osaka vs $2,244 in Hiroshima, rent included.

Osaka costs about 33% more than Hiroshima, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Osaka sits 2% above the global median, while Hiroshima is 23% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.95 ¥1,112

$6.10 ¥976

13.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.58 ¥5,531

$34.44 ¥5,508

0.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.98 ¥797

$4.76 ¥762

4.62%

Cappuccino

$3.33 ¥532

$2.98 ¥477

11.74%

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

$1.08 ¥173

$1.11 ¥177

-2.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 ¥122

$0.75 ¥120

1.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.74 ¥438

$2.78 ¥445

-1.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.35 ¥695

$4.21 ¥673

3.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 ¥257

$1.51 ¥242

6.62%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ¥229

$1.42 ¥227

0.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.86 ¥778

$4.65 ¥745

4.52%

Eggs

$2.46 ¥393

$2.18 ¥349

12.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.43 ¥1,669

$5.57 ¥890

87.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.38 ¥1,021

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.61 ¥2,977

$12.10 ¥1,935

53.80%

Apples (1kg)

$3.53 ¥564

$3.55 ¥568

-0.56%

Banana (1kg)

$2.19 ¥350

$2.16 ¥346

1.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.48 ¥397

$4.18 ¥669

-40.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.31 ¥689

$4.24 ¥679

1.65%

Potato (1kg)

$1.69 ¥271

$1.65 ¥264

2.42%

Onion (1kg)

$1.28 ¥205

$3.97 ¥635

-67.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.39 ¥222

$1.34 ¥214

3.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 ¥136

$0.82 ¥132

3.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.93 ¥629

$3.84 ¥614

2.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.27 ¥1,482

$7.66 ¥1,225

21.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.13 ¥340

$2.03 ¥325

4.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.99 ¥479

$2.60 ¥417

15.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.61 ¥258

$2.12 ¥339

-24.06%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$36.32 ¥5,810

$24.20 ¥3,871

50.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.56 ¥729

$4.60 ¥736

-0.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.31 ¥530

$1.28 ¥205

158.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.95 ¥3,830

$23.22 ¥3,714

3.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 ¥191

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

$23.6K ¥3.8M

$23.3K ¥3.7M

0.97%

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

$16.9K ¥2.7M

$17.1K ¥2.7M

-0.85%

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

$135 ¥21.6K

$132 ¥21.2K

1.94%

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

$27.60 ¥4,415

$26.82 ¥4,290

2.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.37 ¥4,858

$30.18 ¥4,828

0.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$59.1 ¥9,460

$55.2 ¥8,821

7.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.39 ¥3,262

$5.61 ¥898

263.46%

Cinema Ticket

$12.36 ¥1,978

$12.29 ¥1,966

0.57%

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

$68.1 ¥10.9K

$175 ¥28.0K

-61.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K ¥1.7M

$3,684 ¥589.3K

186.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.08 ¥7,050

$30.65 ¥4,902

43.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.47 ¥4,713

$27.85 ¥4,454

5.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$67.2 ¥10.8K

$52.4 ¥8,387

28.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$94.8 ¥15.2K

$67.9 ¥10.9K

39.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$717 ¥114.7K

$352 ¥56.3K

103.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$483 ¥77.2K

$243 ¥38.9K

98.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,311 ¥209.6K

$768 ¥122.8K

70.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$807 ¥129.0K

$541 ¥86.5K

49.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,951 ¥951.8K

$1,959 ¥313.4K

203.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,055 ¥328.6K

$1,643 ¥262.7K

25.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,944 ¥310.9K

$2,415 ¥386.3K

-19.52%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.81

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

Last update for Osaka: May 30, 2026

Last update for Hiroshima: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $717 in Osaka versus $352 in Hiroshima. 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 24% higher in Hiroshima, 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 $35.00 in Osaka versus $34.00 in Hiroshima. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $299 vs $269 – making Hiroshima 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 Hiroshima: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Osaka costs about 33% more than Hiroshima, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,057 per month in Osaka and $1,550 in Hiroshima. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,371 in Osaka and $1,033 in Hiroshima. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 50% less in Hiroshima. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Hiroshima, where all-in costs run around $1,033, than in Osaka at $1,371. In Hiroshima it covers expenses comfortably, while in Osaka it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Hiroshima costs $1,033 versus $1,371 in Osaka. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Hiroshima. 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.