Cost of Living Comparison Between Osaka and Maia Cost of Living Comparison Between Osaka and Maia

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,330 per month in Osaka vs $1,636 in Maia, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,038 per month in Osaka vs $2,479 in Maia, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,746 per month in Osaka vs $3,322 in Maia, rent included.

Osaka is about 19% cheaper than Maia, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Osaka and Maia sit above the global median – Osaka by 0%, Maia by 22%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Osaka
Maia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.07 ¥1,154
$11.41 €10.00
-38.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.92 ¥5,699
$47.05 €41.25
-25.78%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.76 ¥776
$9.46 €8.30
-49.68%
Cappuccino
$3.22 ¥525
$2.10 €1.84
53.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 ¥180
$2.00 €1.75
-45.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71 ¥115
$1.38 €1.21
-48.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.84 ¥464
$2.29 €2.01
24.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.21 ¥686
$3.54 €3.11
18.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Osaka
Maia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.54 ¥252
$1.11 €0.97
38.74%
White Bread (500g)
$1.43 ¥233
$1.50 €1.32
-4.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.62 ¥754
$1.69 €1.48
173.37%
Eggs
$2.44 ¥397
$3.13 €2.74
-22.04%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.56 ¥1,724
$11.30 €9.91
-6.55%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.57 ¥1,073
$7.18 €6.30
-8.50%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.71 ¥3,054
$14.04 €12.31
33.26%
Apples (1kg)
$3.69 ¥602
$2.35 €2.06
57.02%
Banana (1kg)
$2.11 ¥344
$1.55 €1.36
36.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.47 ¥403
$2.00 €1.75
23.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.54 ¥741
$2.44 €2.14
86.07%
Potato (1kg)
$1.64 ¥268
$1.63 €1.43
0.61%
Onion (1kg)
$1.30 ¥213
$1.91 €1.68
-31.94%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.37 ¥224
$1.55 €1.36
-11.61%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.87 ¥143
$0.78 €0.68
11.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.87 ¥631
$6.16 €5.40
-37.18%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.15 ¥1,494
$4.68 €4.10
95.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.10 ¥343
$1.09 €0.96
92.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 ¥468
$2.37 €2.08
21.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Osaka
Maia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.67 ¥272
$2.63 €2.31
-36.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.74 ¥5,832
$45.68 €40.05
-21.76%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.62 ¥755
$4.08 €3.58
13.24%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.27 ¥534
$0.75 €0.65
336.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$23.47 ¥3,830
$14.31 €12.55
64.01%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.18 ¥192
$1.98 €1.73
-40.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8K ¥3.7M
$34.1K €29.9K
-33.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.3K ¥2.8M
$39.3K €34.5K
-56.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Osaka
Maia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$134 ¥21.9K
$141 €124
-4.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.44 ¥4,477
$21.96 €19.25
24.95%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.41 ¥4,963
$39.20 €34.37
-22.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Osaka
Maia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.8 ¥9,438
$46.87 €41.10
23.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.18 ¥3,457
$34.66 €30.39
-38.89%
Cinema Ticket
$12.32 ¥2,011
$8.88 €7.78
38.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Osaka
Maia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$68.2 ¥11.1K
$290 €254
-76.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.6K ¥1.7M
$8,437 €7,397
25.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Osaka
Maia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.49 ¥7,260
$74.1 €65.0
-39.97%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.52 ¥4,817
$34.50 €30.25
-14.43%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$66.7 ¥10.9K
$92.4 €81.0
-27.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.8 ¥15.8K
$112 €97.9
-13.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Osaka
Maia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$727 ¥118.6K
$1,120 €982
-35.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$476 ¥77.7K
$719 €630
-33.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,301 ¥212.3K
$1,740 €1,525
-25.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$827 ¥134.9K
$1,290 €1,131
-35.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,911 ¥964.5K
$3,119 €2,735
89.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,051 ¥334.7K
$1,740 €1,526
17.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Osaka
Maia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,865 ¥304.3K
$1,445 €1,267
29.10%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
1.81
5.43
-66.67%

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

Last update for Osaka: July 12, 2026

Last update for Maia: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $727 in Osaka versus $1,120 in Maia. 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 Osaka, 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 $47.00 in Maia. Groceries tell a different story – $300 in Osaka vs $242 in Maia – so Maia wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Maia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Osaka or Maia?
Maia costs about 23% more than Osaka, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Osaka and in Maia?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,994 per month in Osaka and $2,454 in Maia. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Osaka or Maia?
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.
How do dining costs compare in Osaka and in Maia?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Osaka and $47.00 in Maia. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Osaka compared to Maia?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,330 in Osaka and $1,636 in Maia. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Osaka or in Maia?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Osaka, where all-in costs run around $1,330, than in Maia at $1,636. In Osaka it covers expenses comfortably, while in Maia it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Osaka or Maia?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Osaka costs $1,330 versus $1,636 in Maia. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Osaka compared to Maia?
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.
Should I move to Osaka or to Maia?
If budget matters most, go with Osaka. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Maia makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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