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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,371 per month in Osaka vs $2,407 in Maia, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,038 per month in Osaka vs $2,840 in Maia, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,705 per month in Osaka vs $3,274 in Maia, rent included.

Osaka is about 43% cheaper than Maia, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Osaka and Maia sit above the global median – Osaka by 2%, Maia by 80%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Osaka
Maia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.95 ¥1,115
$11.41 €9.90
-39.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.58 ¥5,543
$45.38 €39.36
-23.80%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.98 ¥798
$9.01 €7.82
-44.73%
Cappuccino
$3.33 ¥533
$2.09 €1.81
59.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08 ¥173
$1.98 €1.72
-45.45%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 ¥122
$1.42 €1.23
-46.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.74 ¥439
$2.34 €2.03
17.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.35 ¥697
$3.37 €2.92
29.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Osaka
Maia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.61 ¥257
$1.11 €0.96
45.05%
White Bread (500g)
$1.43 ¥229
$1.44 €1.25
-0.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.86 ¥779
$1.72 €1.49
182.56%
Eggs
$2.46 ¥394
$3.02 €2.62
-18.54%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.43 ¥1,672
$11.42 €9.91
-8.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.38 ¥1,023
$7.42 €6.44
-14.02%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.61 ¥2,984
$13.89 €12.05
33.98%
Apples (1kg)
$3.53 ¥565
$2.26 €1.96
56.19%
Banana (1kg)
$2.19 ¥350
$1.55 €1.34
41.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.48 ¥398
$1.95 €1.69
27.18%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.31 ¥691
$2.37 €2.05
81.86%
Potato (1kg)
$1.69 ¥272
$1.65 €1.43
2.42%
Onion (1kg)
$1.28 ¥206
$1.83 €1.59
-30.05%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.39 ¥222
$1.49 €1.29
-6.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85 ¥136
$0.85 €0.74
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.93 ¥631
$6.15 €5.33
-36.10%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.27 ¥1,486
$5.83 €5.06
59.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.13 ¥341
$1.15 €1.00
85.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99 ¥480
$2.29 €1.98
30.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Osaka
Maia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.61 ¥258
$2.61 €2.26
-38.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$36.32 ¥5,823
$45.49 €39.46
-20.16%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.56 ¥731
$4.10 €3.56
11.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.31 ¥531
$0.75 €0.65
341.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$23.95 ¥3,839
$14.72 €12.77
62.70%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.19 ¥191
$1.93 €1.68
-38.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.6K ¥3.8M
$34.1K €29.6K
-30.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.9K ¥2.7M
$39.9K €34.6K
-57.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Osaka
Maia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$135 ¥21.6K
$138 €120
-2.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.60 ¥4,424
$22.20 €19.26
24.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.37 ¥4,868
$39.26 €34.06
-22.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Osaka
Maia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$59.1 ¥9,480
$46.77 €40.58
26.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.39 ¥3,269
$35.33 €30.65
-42.29%
Cinema Ticket
$12.36 ¥1,982
$8.90 €7.72
38.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Osaka
Maia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$68.1 ¥10.9K
$287 €249
-76.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.5K ¥1.7M
$8,256 €7,162
27.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Osaka
Maia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.08 ¥7,065
$73.4 €63.7
-39.96%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.47 ¥4,723
$34.24 €29.70
-13.93%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$67.2 ¥10.8K
$92.9 €80.6
-27.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.8 ¥15.2K
$110 €95.4
-13.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Osaka
Maia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$717 ¥115.0K
$1,113 €965
-35.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$483 ¥77.4K
$1,507 €1,307
-67.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,311 ¥210.1K
$1,764 €1,530
-25.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$807 ¥129.3K
$1,254 €1,088
-35.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,951 ¥953.9K
$3,164 €2,745
88.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,055 ¥329.3K
$1,714 €1,487
19.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Osaka
Maia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,944 ¥311.5K
$1,484 €1,287
30.97%
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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Maia: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $717 in Osaka versus $1,113 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 31% 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 $45.00 in Maia. Groceries tell a different story – $299 in Osaka vs $244 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 76% 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 vs Maia?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,057 per month in Osaka and $3,610 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 vs Maia?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Osaka and $45.00 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 $1,371 in Osaka and $2,407 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 Maia?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Osaka, where all-in costs run around $1,371, than in Maia at $2,407. 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 $1,371 versus $2,407 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 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.

Osaka vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities