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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,330 per month in Osaka vs $1,332 in Kashiwa, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,038 per month in Osaka vs $1,855 in Kashiwa, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,746 per month in Osaka vs $2,378 in Kashiwa, rent included.

Osaka and Kashiwa have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

Both Osaka and Kashiwa sit above the global median – Osaka by 0%, Kashiwa by 0%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.07 ¥1,149

$7.00 ¥1,138

1.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.92 ¥5,674

$27.50 ¥4,469

26.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.76 ¥773

$5.68 ¥923

-16.20%

Cappuccino

$3.22 ¥523

$3.08 ¥500

4.55%

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

$1.10 ¥179

$0.82 ¥133

34.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 ¥115

$0.74 ¥121

-4.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.84 ¥462

$2.03 ¥330

39.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.21 ¥683

$2.69 ¥437

56.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.54 ¥250

$1.27 ¥206

21.26%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ¥232

$1.08 ¥176

32.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.62 ¥751

$4.98 ¥809

-7.23%

Eggs

$2.44 ¥396

$2.03 ¥330

20.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.56 ¥1,716

$6.91 ¥1,123

52.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.57 ¥1,068

$6.22 ¥1,011

5.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.71 ¥3,041

$10.45 ¥1,698

79.04%

Apples (1kg)

$3.69 ¥599

$4.91 ¥798

-24.85%

Banana (1kg)

$2.11 ¥343

$2.72 ¥442

-22.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.47 ¥401

$4.11 ¥668

-39.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.54 ¥738

$6.12 ¥995

-25.82%

Potato (1kg)

$1.64 ¥267

$2.74 ¥444

-40.15%

Onion (1kg)

$1.30 ¥212

$2.31 ¥376

-43.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.37 ¥223

$0.67 ¥110

104.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 ¥142

$0.53 ¥85.6

64.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.87 ¥629

$4.04 ¥656

-4.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.15 ¥1,487

$9.02 ¥1,466

1.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.10 ¥342

$1.76 ¥286

19.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 ¥466

$2.07 ¥336

38.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.67 ¥271

$1.57 ¥255

6.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.74 ¥5,807

$56.4 ¥9,157

-36.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.62 ¥751

$3.51 ¥570

31.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.27 ¥532

$2.27 ¥369

44.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.47 ¥3,814

$22.36 ¥3,632

4.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 ¥191

$1.19 ¥194

-0.84%

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

$22.8K ¥3.7M

$23.6K ¥3.8M

-3.28%

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

$17.3K ¥2.8M

$18.3K ¥3.0M

-5.79%

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

$134 ¥21.8K

$144 ¥23.4K

-6.74%

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

$27.44 ¥4,458

$27.82 ¥4,521

-1.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.41 ¥4,941

$34.22 ¥5,560

-11.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.8 ¥9,396

$54.9 ¥8,915

5.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.18 ¥3,441

$14.08 ¥2,288

50.43%

Cinema Ticket

$12.32 ¥2,002

$13.53 ¥2,198

-8.94%

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

$68.2 ¥11.1K

$281 ¥45.7K

-75.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.6K ¥1.7M

$14.1K ¥2.3M

-24.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.49 ¥7,229

$40.93 ¥6,651

8.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.52 ¥4,796

$29.62 ¥4,813

-0.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.7 ¥10.8K

$58.9 ¥9,569

13.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.8 ¥15.7K

$112 ¥18.2K

-13.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$727 ¥118.1K

$637 ¥103.5K

14.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$476 ¥77.3K

$446 ¥72.4K

6.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,301 ¥211.3K

$841 ¥136.6K

54.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$827 ¥134.3K

$524 ¥85.1K

57.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,911 ¥960.3K

$4,375 ¥710.8K

35.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,051 ¥333.2K

$2,349 ¥381.6K

-12.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,865 ¥303.0K

$2,402 ¥390.3K

-22.37%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Kashiwa: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $727 in Osaka versus $637 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 29% higher in Kashiwa. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Osaka versus $28.00 in Kashiwa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $300 vs $276 – 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

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,994 per month in Osaka and $1,998 in Kashiwa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Interestingly, groceries are about 9% cheaper in Kashiwa – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

Kindergarten costs $68.2 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.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Osaka, where all-in costs run around $1,330, than in Kashiwa at $1,332. In Osaka it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kashiwa 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 $1,330 in Osaka to $1,332 in Kashiwa. 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 Osaka. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kashiwa makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.