Cost of Living Comparison Between Osaka and Nishinomiya Cost of Living Comparison Between Osaka and Nishinomiya

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,371 per month in Osaka vs $1,299 in Nishinomiya, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,038 per month in Osaka vs $2,016 in Nishinomiya, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,705 per month in Osaka vs $2,732 in Nishinomiya, rent included.

Osaka costs about 6% more than Nishinomiya, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Osaka sits 2% above the global median, while Nishinomiya is 3% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.95 ¥1,112

$6.98 ¥1,116

-0.43%

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

$4.78 ¥764

4.18%

Cappuccino

$3.33 ¥532

$3.00 ¥480

11.00%

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

$1.08 ¥173

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 ¥122

$0.70 ¥112

8.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.74 ¥438

$2.84 ¥454

-3.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.35 ¥695

$3.03 ¥485

43.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 ¥257

$1.52 ¥243

5.92%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ¥229

$1.72 ¥275

-16.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.86 ¥778

$4.79 ¥766

1.46%

Eggs

$2.46 ¥393

$2.41 ¥385

2.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.43 ¥1,669

$10.57 ¥1,691

-1.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.38 ¥1,021

$7.56 ¥1,209

-15.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.61 ¥2,977

$32.07 ¥5,130

-41.97%

Apples (1kg)

$3.53 ¥564

$5.42 ¥867

-34.87%

Banana (1kg)

$2.19 ¥350

Oranges (1kg)

$2.48 ¥397

$3.38 ¥541

-26.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.31 ¥689

$6.89 ¥1,102

-37.45%

Potato (1kg)

$1.69 ¥271

$1.77 ¥283

-4.52%

Onion (1kg)

$1.28 ¥205

$2.65 ¥423

-51.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.39 ¥222

$1.32 ¥211

5.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 ¥136

$0.84 ¥135

1.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.93 ¥629

$3.38 ¥540

16.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.27 ¥1,482

$9.31 ¥1,489

-0.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.13 ¥340

$2.77 ¥444

-23.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.99 ¥479

$2.28 ¥365

31.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.61 ¥258

$1.28 ¥205

25.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$36.32 ¥5,810

$54.5 ¥8,712

-33.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.56 ¥729

$3.44 ¥550

32.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.31 ¥530

$2.92 ¥467

13.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.95 ¥3,830

$17.26 ¥2,761

38.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 ¥191

$1.23 ¥196

-3.25%

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

$23.6K ¥3.8M

$23.4K ¥3.7M

0.53%

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

$16.9K ¥2.7M

$17.3K ¥2.8M

-2.00%

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

$135 ¥21.6K

$133 ¥21.3K

1.16%

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

$27.60 ¥4,415

$27.10 ¥4,335

1.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.37 ¥4,858

$30.40 ¥4,863

-0.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$59.1 ¥9,460

$52.8 ¥8,441

12.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.39 ¥3,262

$13.65 ¥2,183

49.38%

Cinema Ticket

$12.36 ¥1,978

$12.23 ¥1,957

1.06%

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

$68.1 ¥10.9K

$69.8 ¥11.2K

-2.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K ¥1.7M

0.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.08 ¥7,050

$44.38 ¥7,098

-0.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.47 ¥4,713

$28.99 ¥4,636

1.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$67.2 ¥10.8K

$57.2 ¥9,144

17.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$94.8 ¥15.2K

$92.5 ¥14.8K

2.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$717 ¥114.7K

$461 ¥73.8K

55.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$483 ¥77.2K

$335 ¥53.5K

44.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,311 ¥209.6K

$860 ¥137.5K

52.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$807 ¥129.0K

$657 ¥105.0K

22.82%

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

$1,959 ¥313.4K

-0.80%

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 Nishinomiya: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $717 in Osaka versus $461 in Nishinomiya. 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 1% higher in Nishinomiya, 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 $35.00 in Nishinomiya. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $299 vs $378 – 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 Nishinomiya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Osaka is pricier by about 6%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,057 per month in Osaka and $1,949 in Nishinomiya. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Nishinomiya, 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 Nishinomiya. 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 $1,299 in Nishinomiya. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Nishinomiya, where all-in costs run around $1,299, than in Osaka at $1,371. In Nishinomiya it covers expenses comfortably, while in Osaka it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Nishinomiya – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Nishinomiya. 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.