Cost of Living Comparison Between Osaka and Kagoshima Cost of Living Comparison Between Osaka and Kagoshima

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,352 per month in Osaka vs $1,172 in Kagoshima, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,031 per month in Osaka vs $1,911 in Kagoshima, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,710 per month in Osaka vs $2,650 in Kagoshima, rent included.

Osaka costs about 15% more than Kagoshima, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Osaka sits 1% above the global median, while Kagoshima is 12% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.95 ¥1,113

$8.08 ¥1,294

-13.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.82 ¥5,574

$41.84 ¥6,697

-16.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 ¥792

$5.67 ¥908

-12.70%

Cappuccino

$3.32 ¥532

$3.16 ¥505

5.06%

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

$1.09 ¥174

$1.04 ¥166

4.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 ¥116

$0.77 ¥123

-6.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.79 ¥447

$1.67 ¥268

67.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.37 ¥699

$2.05 ¥328

113.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.58 ¥254

$1.38 ¥222

14.49%

White Bread (500g)

$1.47 ¥236

$1.24 ¥199

18.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.65 ¥744

$4.29 ¥686

8.39%

Eggs

$2.36 ¥378

$2.42 ¥388

-2.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.40 ¥1,665

$9.96 ¥1,595

4.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.50 ¥1,040

$6.10 ¥977

6.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.26 ¥3,083

$20.44 ¥3,272

-5.77%

Apples (1kg)

$3.63 ¥582

$3.03 ¥486

19.80%

Banana (1kg)

$2.09 ¥335

$1.41 ¥225

48.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.47 ¥395

$1.35 ¥217

82.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.35 ¥696

$5.85 ¥936

-25.64%

Potato (1kg)

$1.65 ¥264

$2.34 ¥375

-29.49%

Onion (1kg)

$1.30 ¥208

$2.11 ¥337

-38.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.34 ¥214

$0.96 ¥154

39.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 ¥135

$0.80 ¥128

5.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.81 ¥609

$3.79 ¥606

0.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.20 ¥1,473

$6.06 ¥971

51.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.08 ¥332

$1.26 ¥202

65.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 ¥477

$2.10 ¥337

41.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.58 ¥253

$1.52 ¥243

3.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.89 ¥5,746

$55.0 ¥8,804

-34.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.49 ¥718

$4.67 ¥747

-3.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.39 ¥542

$2.89 ¥462

17.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.90 ¥3,826

$12.29 ¥1,968

94.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ¥197

$1.25 ¥201

-1.60%

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

$23.4K ¥3.7M

$23.5K ¥3.8M

-0.62%

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

$17.2K ¥2.8M

$19.7K ¥3.2M

-12.69%

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

$130 ¥20.9K

$204 ¥32.6K

-36.05%

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

$27.23 ¥4,358

$27.40 ¥4,386

-0.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.85 ¥4,938

$35.80 ¥5,732

-13.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$58.6 ¥9,374

$55.6 ¥8,896

5.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.43 ¥3,271

$13.64 ¥2,183

49.78%

Cinema Ticket

$12.38 ¥1,981

$13.82 ¥2,213

-10.42%

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

$69.4 ¥11.1K

$418 ¥66.9K

-83.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.4K ¥1.7M

$13.4K ¥2.1M

-22.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$43.94 ¥7,034

$43.22 ¥6,918

1.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.63 ¥4,743

$29.99 ¥4,801

-1.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.8 ¥11.0K

$65.3 ¥10.4K

5.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$94.8 ¥15.2K

$60.0 ¥9,605

57.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$733 ¥117.3K

$472 ¥75.5K

55.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$467 ¥74.8K

$246 ¥39.4K

89.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,275 ¥204.1K

$883 ¥141.3K

44.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$822 ¥131.7K

$669 ¥107.1K

22.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,986 ¥958.2K

$4,137 ¥662.3K

44.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,086 ¥333.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,989 ¥318.4K

$1,864 ¥298.3K

6.72%

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 Kagoshima: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $733 in Osaka versus $472 in Kagoshima. 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 7% 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 Kagoshima. Groceries tell a different story – $300 in Osaka vs $280 in Kagoshima – so Kagoshima 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 Kagoshima: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Osaka costs about 15% more than Kagoshima, 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 $2,027 per month in Osaka and $1,758 in Kagoshima. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 53% less in Kagoshima. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $69.4 per month in Osaka and $418 in Kagoshima. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kagoshima, where all-in costs run around $1,172, than in Osaka at $1,352. In Kagoshima it covers expenses comfortably, while in Osaka it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kagoshima costs $1,172 versus $1,352 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 Kagoshima. 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.