Cost of Living Comparison Between Osaka and Kawagoe Cost of Living Comparison Between Osaka and Kawagoe

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,330 in Osaka versus $1,260 in Kawagoe.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,038 in Osaka versus $1,991 in Kawagoe.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,746 in Osaka versus $2,722 in Kawagoe.

Living in Osaka is roughly 6% more expensive than in Kawagoe, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Osaka is 0% above, Kawagoe is 6% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.07 ¥1,149

$6.88 ¥1,117

2.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.92 ¥5,674

$34.69 ¥5,636

0.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.76 ¥773

$5.09 ¥827

-6.48%

Cappuccino

$3.22 ¥523

$2.87 ¥466

12.20%

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

$1.10 ¥179

$1.01 ¥165

8.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 ¥115

$0.74 ¥120

-4.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.84 ¥462

$2.11 ¥343

34.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.21 ¥683

$2.13 ¥347

97.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.54 ¥250

$1.68 ¥272

-8.33%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ¥232

$1.97 ¥321

-27.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.62 ¥751

$7.86 ¥1,277

-41.22%

Eggs

$2.44 ¥396

$1.51 ¥245

61.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.56 ¥1,716

$12.32 ¥2,001

-14.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.57 ¥1,068

$12.25 ¥1,990

-46.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.71 ¥3,041

$16.59 ¥2,696

12.78%

Apples (1kg)

$3.69 ¥599

$7.76 ¥1,260

-52.45%

Banana (1kg)

$2.11 ¥343

$2.56 ¥417

-17.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.47 ¥401

$4.38 ¥711

-43.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.54 ¥738

$4.49 ¥729

1.11%

Potato (1kg)

$1.64 ¥267

$3.61 ¥587

-54.57%

Onion (1kg)

$1.30 ¥212

$3.67 ¥597

-64.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.37 ¥223

$1.38 ¥224

-0.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 ¥142

$1.20 ¥195

-27.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.87 ¥629

$4.31 ¥701

-10.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.15 ¥1,487

$7.84 ¥1,273

16.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.10 ¥342

$2.49 ¥404

-15.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 ¥466

$3.44 ¥560

-16.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.67 ¥271

$1.67 ¥272

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.74 ¥5,807

$56.1 ¥9,121

-36.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.62 ¥751

$3.52 ¥572

31.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.27 ¥532

$2.88 ¥468

13.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.47 ¥3,814

$20.84 ¥3,385

12.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 ¥191

$1.14 ¥185

3.51%

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

$22.8K ¥3.7M

$24.3K ¥3.9M

-6.17%

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

$17.3K ¥2.8M

$17.2K ¥2.8M

0.39%

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

$134 ¥21.8K

$82.3 ¥13.4K

63.11%

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

$27.44 ¥4,458

$10.55 ¥1,715

160.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.41 ¥4,941

$17.24 ¥2,802

76.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.8 ¥9,396

$73.5 ¥11.9K

-21.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.18 ¥3,441

$14.10 ¥2,291

50.21%

Cinema Ticket

$12.32 ¥2,002

$11.63 ¥1,890

5.93%

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

$68.2 ¥11.1K

$276 ¥44.9K

-75.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.6K ¥1.7M

$13.4K ¥2.2M

-21.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.49 ¥7,229

$42.49 ¥6,904

4.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.52 ¥4,796

$29.86 ¥4,852

-1.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.7 ¥10.8K

$59.2 ¥9,615

12.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.8 ¥15.7K

$97.7 ¥15.9K

-0.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$727 ¥118.1K

$476 ¥77.4K

52.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$476 ¥77.3K

$323 ¥52.5K

47.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,301 ¥211.3K

$872 ¥141.7K

49.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$827 ¥134.3K

$658 ¥106.8K

25.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,911 ¥960.3K

$2,500 ¥406.1K

136.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,051 ¥333.2K

$2,117 ¥343.9K

-3.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,865 ¥303.0K

$1,550 ¥251.9K

20.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.81

-9.50%

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

Last update for Osaka: July 12, 2026

Last update for Kawagoe: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $727 in Osaka and $476 in Kawagoe. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Osaka pays 20% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $35.00 in Osaka vs $35.00 in Kawagoe for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $300 vs $389 per month, with Osaka cheaper across the board.

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 Kawagoe: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Osaka and Kawagoe differ by about 6% in total monthly costs ($1,330 vs $1,260 including rent). Kawagoe is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 20% higher in Osaka, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $727 in Osaka versus $476 in Kawagoe. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Kawagoe – a meal for two runs $35.00 versus $35.00 in Osaka. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,330 per month in Osaka versus $1,260 in Kawagoe – a 6% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,260 in Kawagoe versus $1,330 in Osaka, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kawagoe but tight or insufficient in Osaka. The gap between the two cities makes Kawagoe the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Osaka and Kawagoe are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Kawagoe gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Osaka. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.