Cost of Living Comparison Between Osaka and Morioka Cost of Living Comparison Between Osaka and Morioka

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,371 per month in Osaka vs $1,250 in Morioka, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,038 per month in Osaka vs $1,953 in Morioka, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,705 per month in Osaka vs $2,656 in Morioka, rent included.

Osaka costs about 10% more than Morioka, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Osaka sits 2% above the global median, while Morioka is 7% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.95 ¥1,115

$7.12 ¥1,142

-2.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.58 ¥5,543

$34.20 ¥5,482

1.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.98 ¥798

$5.51 ¥883

-9.62%

Cappuccino

$3.33 ¥533

$3.05 ¥489

9.18%

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

$1.08 ¥173

$1.07 ¥171

0.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 ¥122

$0.74 ¥119

2.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.74 ¥439

$2.55 ¥409

7.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.35 ¥697

$3.05 ¥488

42.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 ¥257

$1.60 ¥257

0.63%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ¥229

$1.53 ¥245

-6.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.86 ¥779

$4.84 ¥775

0.41%

Eggs

$2.46 ¥394

$2.31 ¥370

6.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.43 ¥1,672

$9.97 ¥1,599

4.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.38 ¥1,023

$6.43 ¥1,031

-0.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.61 ¥2,984

$15.43 ¥2,474

20.61%

Apples (1kg)

$3.53 ¥565

$5.52 ¥885

-36.05%

Banana (1kg)

$2.19 ¥350

$2.51 ¥403

-12.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.48 ¥398

$4.01 ¥642

-38.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.31 ¥691

$5.93 ¥951

-27.32%

Potato (1kg)

$1.69 ¥272

$3.14 ¥503

-46.18%

Onion (1kg)

$1.28 ¥206

$2.54 ¥408

-49.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.39 ¥222

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 ¥136

$0.82 ¥132

3.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.93 ¥631

$4.21 ¥676

-6.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.27 ¥1,486

$8.72 ¥1,397

6.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.13 ¥341

$1.85 ¥296

15.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.99 ¥480

$2.16 ¥346

38.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.61 ¥258

$1.60 ¥256

0.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$36.32 ¥5,823

$55.0 ¥8,811

-33.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.56 ¥731

$3.39 ¥543

34.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.31 ¥531

$3.02 ¥484

9.60%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.95 ¥3,839

$20.42 ¥3,273

17.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 ¥191

$1.24 ¥198

-4.03%

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

$23.6K ¥3.8M

$23.0K ¥3.7M

2.28%

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

$16.9K ¥2.7M

$17.6K ¥2.8M

-3.85%

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

$135 ¥21.6K

$143 ¥22.9K

-5.66%

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

$27.60 ¥4,424

$26.96 ¥4,321

2.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.37 ¥4,868

$33.48 ¥5,367

-9.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$59.1 ¥9,480

$56.9 ¥9,116

3.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.39 ¥3,269

$14.06 ¥2,253

45.02%

Cinema Ticket

$12.36 ¥1,982

$12.39 ¥1,986

-0.24%

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

$68.1 ¥10.9K

$286 ¥45.9K

-76.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K ¥1.7M

$13.6K ¥2.2M

-22.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.08 ¥7,065

$42.69 ¥6,842

3.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.47 ¥4,723

$29.36 ¥4,707

0.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$67.2 ¥10.8K

$60.6 ¥9,715

10.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$94.8 ¥15.2K

$92.1 ¥14.8K

2.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$717 ¥115.0K

$475 ¥76.1K

51.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$483 ¥77.4K

$334 ¥53.5K

44.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,311 ¥210.1K

$872 ¥139.7K

50.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$807 ¥129.3K

$668 ¥107.1K

20.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,951 ¥953.9K

$5,253 ¥842.1K

13.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,055 ¥329.3K

$2,121 ¥339.9K

-3.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,944 ¥311.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.81

1.78

1.69%

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

Last update for Osaka: May 30, 2026

Last update for Morioka: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $717 in Osaka versus $475 in Morioka. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Osaka versus $34.00 in Morioka. Groceries tell a different story – $299 in Osaka vs $318 in Morioka – so Osaka 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 Morioka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,371 in Osaka, $1,250 in Morioka – roughly 10% apart. Osaka costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,057 per month in Osaka and $1,875 in Morioka. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Interestingly, groceries are about 6% cheaper in Osaka – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Osaka and $34.00 in Morioka. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Morioka, where all-in costs run around $1,250, than in Osaka at $1,371. In Morioka it covers expenses comfortably, while in Osaka 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 $1,250 in Morioka to $1,371 in Osaka. 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 Morioka. 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.