Cost of Living Comparison Between Osaka and Kashiwa Cost of Living Comparison Between Osaka and Kashiwa

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,371 per month in Osaka vs $1,325 in Kashiwa, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,038 per month in Osaka vs $1,836 in Kashiwa, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,705 per month in Osaka vs $2,347 in Kashiwa, rent included.

Osaka costs about 3% more than Kashiwa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Osaka sits 2% above the global median, while Kashiwa is 1% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.95 ¥1,112

$6.99 ¥1,118

-0.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.58 ¥5,531

$27.94 ¥4,469

23.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.98 ¥797

$5.67 ¥907

-12.17%

Cappuccino

$3.33 ¥532

$3.09 ¥494

7.77%

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

$1.08 ¥173

$0.84 ¥135

28.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 ¥122

$0.78 ¥124

-2.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.74 ¥438

$2.14 ¥342

28.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.35 ¥695

$2.72 ¥435

59.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 ¥257

$1.23 ¥197

30.89%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ¥229

$1.13 ¥181

26.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.86 ¥778

$5.06 ¥809

-3.95%

Eggs

$2.46 ¥393

$2.03 ¥325

21.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.43 ¥1,669

$7.04 ¥1,126

48.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.38 ¥1,021

$6.39 ¥1,023

-0.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.61 ¥2,977

$10.32 ¥1,651

80.33%

Apples (1kg)

$3.53 ¥564

$4.97 ¥794

-28.97%

Banana (1kg)

$2.19 ¥350

$2.83 ¥452

-22.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.48 ¥397

$4.03 ¥645

-38.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.31 ¥689

$6.10 ¥975

-29.34%

Potato (1kg)

$1.69 ¥271

$2.75 ¥439

-38.55%

Onion (1kg)

$1.28 ¥205

$2.23 ¥357

-42.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.39 ¥222

$0.70 ¥112

98.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 ¥136

$0.57 ¥90.4

49.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.93 ¥629

$4.06 ¥650

-3.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.27 ¥1,482

$9.38 ¥1,501

-1.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.13 ¥340

$1.84 ¥295

15.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.99 ¥479

$2.03 ¥325

47.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.61 ¥258

$1.56 ¥250

3.21%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$36.32 ¥5,810

$54.4 ¥8,699

-33.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.56 ¥729

$3.37 ¥539

35.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.31 ¥530

$2.38 ¥380

39.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.95 ¥3,830

$22.04 ¥3,525

8.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 ¥191

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

$23.6K ¥3.8M

$23.1K ¥3.7M

1.94%

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

$16.9K ¥2.7M

$18.2K ¥2.9M

-6.89%

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

$135 ¥21.6K

$143 ¥22.9K

-5.82%

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

$27.60 ¥4,415

$27.74 ¥4,437

-0.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.37 ¥4,858

$33.75 ¥5,398

-10.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$59.1 ¥9,460

$55.6 ¥8,893

6.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.39 ¥3,262

$14.14 ¥2,261

44.20%

Cinema Ticket

$12.36 ¥1,978

$13.57 ¥2,171

-8.92%

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

$68.1 ¥10.9K

$281 ¥45.0K

-75.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K ¥1.7M

$13.9K ¥2.2M

-24.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.08 ¥7,050

$41.98 ¥6,715

5.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.47 ¥4,713

$28.95 ¥4,631

1.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$67.2 ¥10.8K

$60.6 ¥9,684

11.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$94.8 ¥15.2K

$111 ¥17.7K

-14.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$717 ¥114.7K

$636 ¥101.7K

12.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$483 ¥77.2K

$436 ¥69.8K

10.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,311 ¥209.6K

$838 ¥134.0K

56.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$807 ¥129.0K

$525 ¥84.0K

53.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,951 ¥951.8K

$4,667 ¥746.4K

27.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,055 ¥328.6K

$2,247 ¥359.4K

-8.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,944 ¥310.9K

$2,486 ¥397.6K

-21.81%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.81

2.05

-11.71%

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

Last update for Osaka: May 30, 2026

Last update for Kashiwa: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $717 in Osaka versus $636 in Kashiwa. 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 28% higher in Kashiwa, 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 $28.00 in Kashiwa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $299 vs $279 – making Kashiwa 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 Kashiwa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,371 in Osaka, $1,325 in Kashiwa – roughly 3% apart. Osaka costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,057 per month in Osaka and $1,987 in Kashiwa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $68.1 per month in Osaka and $281 in Kashiwa. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 7% more in Osaka, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Kashiwa, where all-in costs run around $1,325, than in Osaka at $1,371. In Kashiwa 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 $1,325 in Kashiwa to $1,371 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 Kashiwa. 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.