😐A single person spends $1,346 per month in Osaka vs $1,175 in Ichinomiya, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,976 per month in Osaka vs $1,883 in Ichinomiya, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,606 per month in Osaka vs $2,591 in Ichinomiya, rent included.
😐Osaka costs about 15% more than Ichinomiya, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Osaka and Ichinomiya are more affordable than the global median – Osaka2% lower, Ichinomiya15% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Osaka
Ichinomiya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.13¥957
$6.87¥1,073
-10.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.75¥4,804
$33.42¥5,221
-7.99%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.81¥751
$5.58¥871
-13.80%
Cappuccino
$2.93¥458
$2.83¥443
3.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43¥224
$1.12¥174
27.68%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69¥108
$0.81¥127
-14.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.63¥411
$2.87¥448
-8.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.64¥569
$2.78¥435
30.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Osaka
Ichinomiya
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43¥223
$1.32¥207
8.33%
White Bread(500g)
$1.28¥200
$1.69¥264
-24.26%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.25¥820
$3.86¥603
36.01%
Eggs
$2.10¥329
$2.24¥350
-6.25%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.80¥1,531
$11.02¥1,722
-11.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.18¥1,435
$6.28¥981
46.18%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.09¥2,827
$14.81¥2,313
22.15%
Apples(1kg)
$3.38¥528
$4.37¥682
-22.65%
Banana(1kg)
$1.91¥299
$2.14¥334
-10.75%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.98¥309
$3.19¥498
-37.93%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.89¥608
$3.67¥573
5.99%
Potato(1kg)
$1.54¥240
$2.41¥377
-36.10%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17¥183
$2.60¥406
-55.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.29¥201
$1.21¥189
6.61%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81¥127
$0.87¥136
-6.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.84¥600
$4.37¥683
-12.13%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.50¥1,484
$7.49¥1,170
26.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.87¥292
$1.77¥276
5.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.22¥504
$2.30¥360
40.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Osaka
Ichinomiya
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.36¥213
$1.26¥197
7.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$31.99¥4,998
$48.36¥7,555
-33.85%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.77¥589
$2.83¥443
33.22%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.04¥475
$2.90¥453
4.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$21.01¥3,282
$20.54¥3,208
2.29%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.09¥171
$1.22¥191
-10.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K¥3.3M
$22.1K¥3.5M
-3.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.1K¥2.4M
$16.5K¥2.6M
-8.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Osaka
Ichinomiya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$136¥21.3K
$129¥20.2K
5.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.92¥3,736
$22.19¥3,466
7.80%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.63¥4,785
$33.71¥5,267
-9.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Osaka
Ichinomiya
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.60¥7,592
$55.0¥8,598
-11.70%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.90¥2,797
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.04¥1,881
$13.66¥2,134
-11.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Osaka
Ichinomiya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$520¥81.2K
$513¥80.1K
1.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.2K¥2.1M
$11.5K¥1.8M
14.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Osaka
Ichinomiya
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.15¥6,898
$43.38¥6,777
1.78%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.71¥4,641
$28.26¥4,414
5.13%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$72.6¥11.3K
$52.8¥8,252
37.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.8¥13.9K
$87.5¥13.7K
1.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Osaka
Ichinomiya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$699¥109.2K
$400¥62.5K
74.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$507¥79.2K
$316¥49.3K
60.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,682¥262.7K
$1,070¥167.1K
57.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$761¥118.9K
$764¥119.3K
-0.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,636¥880.4K
$4,835¥755.4K
16.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,822¥284.6K
$2,162¥337.7K
-15.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Osaka
Ichinomiya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,245¥350.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.21
2.06
7.28%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Osaka: August 30, 2026
Last update for Ichinomiya: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $699 in Osaka versus $400 in Ichinomiya. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $31.00 in Osaka versus $33.00 in Ichinomiya. Groceries tell a different story – $298 in Osaka vs $285 in Ichinomiya – so Ichinomiya wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Ichinomiya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ichinomiya cheaper than Osaka?
Yes – Osaka is pricier by about 15%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,019 per month in Osaka and $1,762 in Ichinomiya. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ichinomiya, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Osaka or in Ichinomiya?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $31.00 in Osaka and $33.00 in Ichinomiya. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Osaka and in Ichinomiya?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,346 in Osaka and $1,175 in Ichinomiya. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Osaka or in Ichinomiya?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ichinomiya, where all-in costs run around $1,175, than in Osaka at $1,346. In Ichinomiya it covers expenses comfortably, while in Osaka it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Osaka or Ichinomiya more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Ichinomiya – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Osaka or Ichinomiya?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Ichinomiya. 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.