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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,421 per month in Osaka vs $1,214 in Kashiwa, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,048 per month in Osaka vs $1,842 in Kashiwa, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,675 per month in Osaka vs $2,470 in Kashiwa, rent included.

Osaka costs about 17% more than Kashiwa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Osaka sits 3% above the global median, while Kashiwa is 12% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.40 ¥983

$6.18 ¥949

3.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.97 ¥5,063

$25.29 ¥3,884

30.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.24 ¥805

$5.15 ¥791

1.75%

Cappuccino

$2.95 ¥452

$3.37 ¥518

-12.46%

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

$1.42 ¥218

$0.69 ¥105

105.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 ¥115

$0.73 ¥112

2.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.67 ¥410

$2.43 ¥373

9.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.99 ¥613

$3.21 ¥493

24.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.47 ¥226

$1.27 ¥195

15.75%

White Bread (500g)

$1.38 ¥212

$1.08 ¥166

27.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.60 ¥861

$3.70 ¥568

51.35%

Eggs

$2.10 ¥323

$1.91 ¥293

9.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.98 ¥1,532

$6.09 ¥934

63.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.54 ¥1,465

$6.16 ¥946

54.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.71 ¥2,873

$9.38 ¥1,440

99.47%

Apples (1kg)

$3.47 ¥533

$5.48 ¥841

-36.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 ¥303

$2.78 ¥428

-28.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.05 ¥315

$2.81 ¥432

-27.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.02 ¥617

$4.03 ¥620

-0.25%

Potato (1kg)

$1.60 ¥246

$2.51 ¥385

-36.25%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ¥183

$2.60 ¥400

-54.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.39 ¥214

$0.64 ¥98.9

117.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 ¥130

$0.61 ¥92.9

39.34%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.97 ¥610

$3.72 ¥571

6.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.49 ¥1,457

$6.36 ¥977

49.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 ¥293

$1.77 ¥272

7.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.28 ¥504

$1.87 ¥287

75.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.39 ¥214

$1.48 ¥228

-6.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$32.85 ¥5,044

$55.4 ¥8,503

-40.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.80 ¥583

$3.20 ¥492

18.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.34 ¥512

$1.57 ¥242

112.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.84 ¥3,354

$20.15 ¥3,094

8.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ¥168

$1.01 ¥155

8.91%

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

$22.6K ¥3.5M

$21.2K ¥3.3M

6.65%

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

$15.2K ¥2.3M

$18.2K ¥2.8M

-16.31%

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

$141 ¥21.6K

$126 ¥19.3K

12.33%

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

$25.14 ¥3,860

$24.23 ¥3,720

3.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.21 ¥4,792

$31.62 ¥4,855

-1.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.4 ¥8,347

$50.1 ¥7,686

8.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.69 ¥2,871

Cinema Ticket

$12.38 ¥1,902

$12.50 ¥1,919

-0.96%

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

$526 ¥80.8K

$621 ¥95.3K

-15.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.2K ¥2.0M

$14.6K ¥2.2M

-9.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.05 ¥7,532

$61.3 ¥9,406

-19.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.73 ¥4,873

$32.31 ¥4,961

-1.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.4 ¥11.4K

$61.2 ¥9,403

21.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.7 ¥14.1K

$102 ¥15.6K

-10.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$717 ¥110.1K

$515 ¥79.0K

39.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$524 ¥80.5K

$392 ¥60.2K

33.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,746 ¥268.1K

$1,063 ¥163.2K

64.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$798 ¥122.6K

$741 ¥113.8K

7.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,373 ¥978.6K

$4,287 ¥658.3K

48.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,960 ¥300.9K

$1,925 ¥295.6K

1.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,336 ¥358.7K

$2,626 ¥403.3K

-11.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.21

2.12

4.25%

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

Last update for Osaka: September 5, 2026

Last update for Kashiwa: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $717 in Osaka versus $515 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 12% 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 $33.00 in Osaka versus $25.00 in Kashiwa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $309 vs $247 – 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: $1,421 in Osaka, $1,214 in Kashiwa – roughly 17% apart. Osaka costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,131 per month in Osaka and $1,821 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 $526 per month in Osaka and $621 in Kashiwa. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 25% 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 $1,214, than in Osaka at $1,421. 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 $1,214 in Kashiwa to $1,421 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.