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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,371 per month in Osaka vs $1,176 in Nagano, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,038 per month in Osaka vs $1,896 in Nagano, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,705 per month in Osaka vs $2,616 in Nagano, rent included.

Osaka costs about 17% more than Nagano, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Osaka sits 2% above the global median, while Nagano is 12% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.95 ¥1,112

$6.76 ¥1,082

2.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.58 ¥5,531

$35.32 ¥5,650

-2.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.98 ¥797

$4.09 ¥655

21.76%

Cappuccino

$3.33 ¥532

$3.51 ¥562

-5.13%

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

$1.08 ¥173

$1.09 ¥174

-0.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 ¥122

$0.64 ¥102

18.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.74 ¥438

$2.10 ¥336

30.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.35 ¥695

$2.06 ¥330

111.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 ¥257

$1.25 ¥200

28.80%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ¥229

$1.22 ¥194

17.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.86 ¥778

$4.67 ¥748

4.07%

Eggs

$2.46 ¥393

$1.52 ¥243

61.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.43 ¥1,669

$12.24 ¥1,957

-14.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.38 ¥1,021

$12.25 ¥1,959

-47.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.61 ¥2,977

$16.89 ¥2,702

10.18%

Apples (1kg)

$3.53 ¥564

$7.52 ¥1,202

-53.06%

Banana (1kg)

$2.19 ¥350

$2.57 ¥412

-14.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.48 ¥397

$4.55 ¥729

-45.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.31 ¥689

$4.44 ¥710

-2.93%

Potato (1kg)

$1.69 ¥271

$3.73 ¥597

-54.69%

Onion (1kg)

$1.28 ¥205

$3.60 ¥575

-64.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.39 ¥222

$1.07 ¥171

29.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 ¥136

$0.66 ¥106

28.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.93 ¥629

$5.58 ¥892

-29.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.27 ¥1,482

$9.13 ¥1,460

1.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.13 ¥340

$2.50 ¥399

-14.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.99 ¥479

$3.56 ¥570

-16.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.61 ¥258

$1.49 ¥238

8.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$36.32 ¥5,810

$56.0 ¥8,960

-35.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.56 ¥729

$3.14 ¥502

45.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.31 ¥530

$3.00 ¥480

10.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.95 ¥3,830

$20.41 ¥3,265

17.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 ¥191

$1.16 ¥185

2.59%

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

$23.6K ¥3.8M

$23.8K ¥3.8M

-1.06%

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

$16.9K ¥2.7M

$17.4K ¥2.8M

-2.66%

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

$135 ¥21.6K

$82.9 ¥13.3K

62.67%

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

$27.60 ¥4,415

$29.54 ¥4,724

-6.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.37 ¥4,858

$17.05 ¥2,728

78.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$59.1 ¥9,460

$56.0 ¥8,949

5.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.39 ¥3,262

$14.08 ¥2,253

44.82%

Cinema Ticket

$12.36 ¥1,978

$11.51 ¥1,841

7.38%

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

$68.1 ¥10.9K

$281 ¥45.0K

-75.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K ¥1.7M

$13.3K ¥2.1M

-20.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.08 ¥7,050

$44.14 ¥7,060

-0.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.47 ¥4,713

$29.58 ¥4,731

-0.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$67.2 ¥10.8K

$60.2 ¥9,630

11.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$94.8 ¥15.2K

$96.0 ¥15.3K

-1.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$717 ¥114.7K

$483 ¥77.2K

48.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$483 ¥77.2K

$275 ¥43.9K

75.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,311 ¥209.6K

$854 ¥136.6K

53.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$807 ¥129.0K

$665 ¥106.4K

21.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,951 ¥951.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,055 ¥328.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,944 ¥310.9K

$633 ¥101.3K

206.90%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Nagano: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $717 in Osaka versus $483 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 207% 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 $35.00 in Nagano. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $299 vs $360 – 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 Nagano: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Osaka costs about 17% 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 $2,057 per month in Osaka and $1,764 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 $35.00 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 $1,371 in Osaka and $1,176 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 $1,176, than in Osaka at $1,371. 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 $1,176 versus $1,371 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.