Cost of Living Comparison Between Osaka and MaebashiCost of Living Comparison Between Osaka and Maebashi
Monthly Cost of Living
😐A single person spends $1,393 per month in Osaka vs $1,231 in Maebashi, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,070 per month in Osaka vs $1,977 in Maebashi, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,747 per month in Osaka vs $2,724 in Maebashi, rent included.
😐Osaka costs about 13% more than Maebashi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Osaka sits 2% above the global median, while Maebashi is 10% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Osaka
Maebashi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.65¥1,039
$4.62¥722
43.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.08¥5,010
$32.93¥5,142
-2.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.25¥819
$5.09¥795
3.14%
Cappuccino
$3.05¥476
$2.54¥396
20.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41¥220
$0.80¥124
76.25%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70¥109
$0.62¥97.3
12.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.79¥436
$2.32¥363
20.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88¥605
$3.21¥501
20.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Osaka
Maebashi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.48¥231
$1.25¥196
18.40%
White Bread(500g)
$1.31¥205
$1.58¥248
-17.09%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.49¥858
$1.34¥209
309.70%
Eggs
$2.07¥323
$1.74¥271
18.97%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.84¥1,536
$15.98¥2,495
-38.42%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.68¥1,511
$4.73¥739
104.65%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.58¥2,902
$17.92¥2,799
3.68%
Apples(1kg)
$3.43¥536
$8.39¥1,310
-59.12%
Banana(1kg)
$2.04¥319
$3.09¥483
-33.98%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.13¥332
$5.17¥807
-58.80%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.18¥652
$8.13¥1,269
-48.59%
Potato(1kg)
$1.60¥250
$4.12¥643
-61.17%
Onion(1kg)
$1.21¥189
$4.81¥751
-74.84%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.36¥212
$1.20¥188
13.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80¥126
$0.47¥73.7
70.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.00¥625
$4.00¥625
-
Wine(Bottle)
$9.49¥1,482
$9.45¥1,476
0.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.00¥313
$2.57¥401
-22.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20¥500
$2.15¥336
48.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Osaka
Maebashi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.41¥220
$1.52¥238
-7.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$32.84¥5,129
$57.5¥8,982
-42.90%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.93¥614
$3.26¥510
20.55%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.20¥500
$2.88¥449
11.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$22.17¥3,462
$32.52¥5,079
-31.83%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.13¥176
$1.08¥168
4.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.4K¥3.5M
$22.6K¥3.5M
-0.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.6K¥2.4M
$15.8K¥2.5M
-1.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Osaka
Maebashi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$140¥21.8K
$121¥18.9K
15.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.68¥3,855
$24.14¥3,770
2.24%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.03¥4,847
$32.52¥5,078
-4.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Osaka
Maebashi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.1¥8,290
$52.9¥8,267
0.26%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04¥2,973
$32.80¥5,123
-41.95%
Cinema Ticket
$12.30¥1,920
$11.57¥1,807
6.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Osaka
Maebashi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$529¥82.6K
$594¥92.7K
-10.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.3K¥2.1M
$14.8K¥2.3M
-10.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Osaka
Maebashi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.93¥7,642
$51.6¥8,060
-5.19%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.85¥4,974
$36.55¥5,708
-12.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.1¥11.9K
$63.1¥9,850
20.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.3¥14.7K
$99.1¥15.5K
-4.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Osaka
Maebashi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$728¥113.7K
$518¥81.0K
40.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$512¥79.9K
$333¥51.9K
53.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,753¥273.7K
$1,041¥162.6K
68.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$778¥121.5K
$745¥116.4K
4.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,376¥995.7K
$3,352¥523.5K
90.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,959¥305.9K
$1,861¥290.7K
5.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Osaka
Maebashi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,342¥365.7K
$1,757¥274.3K
33.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.21
1.66
33.13%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Osaka: September 13, 2026
Last update for Maebashi: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $728 in Osaka versus $518 in Maebashi. 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 33% 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 $32.00 in Osaka versus $33.00 in Maebashi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $308 vs $356 – 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 Maebashi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Maebashi cheaper than Osaka?
Yes – Osaka is pricier by about 13%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,089 per month in Osaka and $1,846 in Maebashi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Maebashi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Osaka or in Maebashi?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Osaka and $33.00 in Maebashi. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Osaka and in Maebashi?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,393 in Osaka and $1,231 in Maebashi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Osaka or in Maebashi?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Maebashi, where all-in costs run around $1,231, than in Osaka at $1,393. In Maebashi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Osaka it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Osaka or Maebashi more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Maebashi – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Osaka or Maebashi?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Maebashi. 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.