Cost of Living Comparison Between Osaka and Nagano Cost of Living Comparison Between Osaka and Nagano

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,330 per month in Osaka vs $1,172 in Nagano, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,038 per month in Osaka vs $1,938 in Nagano, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,746 per month in Osaka vs $2,704 in Nagano, rent included.

Osaka costs about 13% more than Nagano, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Osaka sits 0% above the global median, while Nagano is 12% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.07 ¥1,149

$6.78 ¥1,101

4.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.92 ¥5,674

$34.31 ¥5,575

1.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.76 ¥773

$4.06 ¥660

17.24%

Cappuccino

$3.22 ¥523

$3.56 ¥579

-9.55%

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

$1.10 ¥179

$1.14 ¥185

-3.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 ¥115

$0.64 ¥104

10.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.84 ¥462

$2.04 ¥332

39.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.21 ¥683

$2.09 ¥340

101.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.54 ¥250

$1.26 ¥205

22.22%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ¥232

$1.27 ¥207

12.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.62 ¥751

$4.74 ¥771

-2.53%

Eggs

$2.44 ¥396

$1.58 ¥257

54.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.56 ¥1,716

$12.22 ¥1,986

-13.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.57 ¥1,068

$12.22 ¥1,986

-46.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.71 ¥3,041

$16.77 ¥2,724

11.57%

Apples (1kg)

$3.69 ¥599

$7.83 ¥1,273

-52.87%

Banana (1kg)

$2.11 ¥343

$2.54 ¥412

-16.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.47 ¥401

$4.62 ¥750

-46.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.54 ¥738

$4.64 ¥754

-2.16%

Potato (1kg)

$1.64 ¥267

$3.62 ¥588

-54.70%

Onion (1kg)

$1.30 ¥212

$3.59 ¥584

-63.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.37 ¥223

$1.03 ¥167

33.01%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 ¥142

$0.72 ¥117

20.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.87 ¥629

$5.46 ¥887

-29.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.15 ¥1,487

$9.13 ¥1,484

0.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.10 ¥342

$2.50 ¥407

-16.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 ¥466

$3.50 ¥568

-18.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.67 ¥271

$1.44 ¥234

15.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.74 ¥5,807

$55.2 ¥8,961

-35.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.62 ¥751

$3.04 ¥493

51.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.27 ¥532

$3.03 ¥492

7.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.47 ¥3,814

$21.20 ¥3,444

10.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 ¥191

$1.20 ¥194

-1.67%

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

$22.8K ¥3.7M

$24.3K ¥3.9M

-6.16%

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

$17.3K ¥2.8M

$17.4K ¥2.8M

-0.42%

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

$134 ¥21.8K

$84.1 ¥13.7K

59.62%

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

$27.44 ¥4,458

$29.98 ¥4,872

-8.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.41 ¥4,941

$17.64 ¥2,866

72.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.8 ¥9,396

$54.5 ¥8,858

6.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.18 ¥3,441

$13.83 ¥2,248

53.15%

Cinema Ticket

$12.32 ¥2,002

$11.35 ¥1,845

8.55%

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

$68.2 ¥11.1K

$279 ¥45.3K

-75.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.6K ¥1.7M

$13.6K ¥2.2M

-22.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.49 ¥7,229

$44.59 ¥7,245

-0.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.52 ¥4,796

$29.09 ¥4,726

1.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.7 ¥10.8K

$58.9 ¥9,576

13.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.8 ¥15.7K

$95.3 ¥15.5K

1.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$727 ¥118.1K

$481 ¥78.2K

51.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$476 ¥77.3K

$279 ¥45.3K

70.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,301 ¥211.3K

$853 ¥138.6K

52.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$827 ¥134.3K

$661 ¥107.5K

25.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,911 ¥960.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,051 ¥333.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,865 ¥303.0K

$621 ¥101.0K

200.09%

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 Nagano: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $727 in Osaka versus $481 in Nagano. 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 200% 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 $35.00 in Osaka versus $34.00 in Nagano. Groceries tell a different story – $300 in Osaka vs $363 in Nagano – 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 Nagano: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Osaka costs about 13% more than Nagano, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,994 per month in Osaka and $1,759 in Nagano. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,330 in Osaka and $1,172 in Nagano. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Nagano, where all-in costs run around $1,172, than in Osaka at $1,330. In Nagano it covers expenses comfortably, while in Osaka it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Nagano costs $1,172 versus $1,330 in Osaka. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Nagano. 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.