Cost of Living Comparison Between Osaka and Kanazawa Cost of Living Comparison Between Osaka and Kanazawa

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,346 per month in Osaka vs $1,170 in Kanazawa, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,976 per month in Osaka vs $1,850 in Kanazawa, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,606 per month in Osaka vs $2,531 in Kanazawa, rent included.

Osaka costs about 15% more than Kanazawa, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Osaka and Kanazawa are more affordable than the global median – Osaka 2% lower, Kanazawa 15% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.13 ¥957

$5.15 ¥804

19.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.75 ¥4,804

$31.28 ¥4,886

-1.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.81 ¥751

$4.89 ¥764

-1.64%

Cappuccino

$2.93 ¥458

$2.97 ¥463

-1.35%

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

$1.43 ¥224

$1.42 ¥222

0.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 ¥108

$0.74 ¥115

-6.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.63 ¥411

$2.65 ¥413

-0.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.64 ¥569

$3.72 ¥580

-2.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 ¥223

$1.44 ¥225

-0.69%

White Bread (500g)

$1.28 ¥200

$1.29 ¥202

-0.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.25 ¥820

$5.17 ¥807

1.55%

Eggs

$2.10 ¥329

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.80 ¥1,531

$9.34 ¥1,459

4.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.18 ¥1,435

$9.39 ¥1,467

-2.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.09 ¥2,827

$18.24 ¥2,850

-0.82%

Apples (1kg)

$3.38 ¥528

$3.26 ¥509

3.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.91 ¥299

$1.99 ¥310

-4.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.98 ¥309

$2.00 ¥313

-1.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.89 ¥608

$3.93 ¥614

-1.02%

Potato (1kg)

$1.54 ¥240

$1.47 ¥230

4.76%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ¥183

$1.12 ¥174

4.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.29 ¥201

$1.30 ¥204

-0.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.81 ¥127

$0.76 ¥119

6.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.84 ¥600

$3.94 ¥616

-2.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.50 ¥1,484

$9.53 ¥1,489

-0.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.87 ¥292

$1.92 ¥300

-2.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.22 ¥504

$3.22 ¥503

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.36 ¥213

$1.51 ¥235

-9.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.99 ¥4,998

$54.9 ¥8,577

-41.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.77 ¥589

$3.77 ¥590

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.04 ¥475

$3.09 ¥483

-1.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.01 ¥3,282

$21.18 ¥3,309

-0.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 ¥171

$1.08 ¥168

0.93%

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

$21.4K ¥3.3M

$21.7K ¥3.4M

-1.49%

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

$15.1K ¥2.4M

$14.8K ¥2.3M

2.41%

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

$136 ¥21.3K

-0.19%

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

$23.92 ¥3,736

$24.23 ¥3,786

-1.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.63 ¥4,785

$30.87 ¥4,822

-0.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.60 ¥7,592

$42.52 ¥6,643

14.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.90 ¥2,797

Cinema Ticket

$12.04 ¥1,881

$11.45 ¥1,789

5.15%

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

$520 ¥81.2K

$507 ¥79.2K

2.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.2K ¥2.1M

$13.1K ¥2.0M

0.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.15 ¥6,898

$43.28 ¥6,762

2.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.71 ¥4,641

$30.70 ¥4,796

-3.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.6 ¥11.3K

$72.3 ¥11.3K

0.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.8 ¥13.9K

$89.3 ¥14.0K

-0.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$699 ¥109.2K

$401 ¥62.6K

74.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ¥79.2K

$332 ¥51.9K

52.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,682 ¥262.7K

$1,019 ¥159.2K

65.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$761 ¥118.9K

$638 ¥99.7K

19.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,636 ¥880.4K

$3,731 ¥582.8K

51.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,822 ¥284.6K

$1,887 ¥294.7K

-3.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,245 ¥350.7K

$1,867 ¥291.7K

20.24%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.21

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

Last update for Osaka: August 30, 2026

Last update for Kanazawa: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $699 in Osaka versus $401 in Kanazawa. 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 20% 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 $31.00 in Osaka versus $31.00 in Kanazawa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $298 vs $298 – making Osaka 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 Kanazawa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,346 in Osaka, $1,170 in Kanazawa – roughly 15% apart. Osaka costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,019 per month in Osaka and $1,754 in Kanazawa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Kanazawa, 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 $1,346 in Osaka and $1,170 in Kanazawa. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 72% less in Kanazawa. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Kanazawa, where all-in costs run around $1,170, than in Osaka at $1,346. In Kanazawa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Osaka it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Osaka has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,170 in Kanazawa to $1,346 in Osaka. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Kanazawa. 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.