🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,371 in Osaka versus $1,372 in Sagamihara.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,038 in Osaka versus $2,148 in Sagamihara.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,705 in Osaka versus $2,924 in Sagamihara.
🙂Monthly costs are close between Osaka and Sagamihara; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Osaka2% above, Sagamihara2% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Osaka
Sagamihara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.95¥1,112
$8.55¥1,368
-18.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.58¥5,531
$35.14¥5,620
-1.59%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.98¥797
$6.13¥981
-18.76%
Cappuccino
$3.33¥532
$3.06¥489
8.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08¥173
$1.15¥184
-6.09%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76¥122
$0.71¥113
7.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.74¥438
$3.47¥556
-21.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.35¥695
$3.21¥513
35.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Osaka
Sagamihara
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.61¥257
$1.63¥261
-1.23%
White Bread(500g)
$1.43¥229
$1.80¥288
-20.56%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.86¥778
$4.88¥780
-0.41%
Eggs
$2.46¥393
$2.43¥388
1.23%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.43¥1,669
$17.19¥2,750
-39.33%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.38¥1,021
$7.69¥1,230
-17.04%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.61¥2,977
$15.19¥2,429
22.51%
Apples(1kg)
$3.53¥564
$9.09¥1,455
-61.17%
Banana(1kg)
$2.19¥350
$2.82¥451
-22.34%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.48¥397
$4.92¥787
-49.59%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.31¥689
$9.83¥1,573
-56.15%
Potato(1kg)
$1.69¥271
$3.88¥621
-56.44%
Onion(1kg)
$1.28¥205
$2.60¥417
-50.77%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39¥222
$1.32¥211
5.30%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85¥136
$1.42¥227
-40.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.93¥629
$3.43¥549
14.58%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.27¥1,482
$9.30¥1,487
-0.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.13¥340
$2.79¥447
-23.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99¥479
$2.30¥368
30.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Osaka
Sagamihara
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.61¥258
$1.59¥255
1.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$36.32¥5,810
$56.3¥9,001
-35.45%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.56¥729
$3.37¥539
35.31%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.31¥530
$2.92¥467
13.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$23.95¥3,830
$17.06¥2,729
40.39%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.19¥191
$1.18¥188
0.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.6K¥3.8M
$23.0K¥3.7M
2.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.9K¥2.7M
$17.1K¥2.7M
-1.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Osaka
Sagamihara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$135¥21.6K
$138¥22.1K
-2.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.60¥4,415
$27.49¥4,398
0.40%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.37¥4,858
$33.85¥5,414
-10.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Osaka
Sagamihara
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$59.1¥9,460
$55.1¥8,816
7.29%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.39¥3,262
$13.93¥2,228
46.37%
Cinema Ticket
$12.36¥1,978
$12.35¥1,975
0.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Osaka
Sagamihara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$68.1¥10.9K
$466¥74.5K
-85.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5K¥1.7M
$11.2K¥1.8M
-5.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Osaka
Sagamihara
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.08¥7,050
$46.03¥7,362
-4.24%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.47¥4,713
$31.49¥5,037
-6.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$67.2¥10.8K
$55.4¥8,861
21.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.8¥15.2K
$91.9¥14.7K
3.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Osaka
Sagamihara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$717¥114.7K
$471¥75.4K
52.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$483¥77.2K
$334¥53.5K
44.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,311¥209.6K
$861¥137.8K
52.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$807¥129.0K
$661¥105.8K
21.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,951¥951.8K
$4,862¥777.7K
22.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,055¥328.6K
$2,132¥341.0K
-3.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Osaka
Sagamihara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,944¥310.9K
-
-
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 Sagamihara: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $717 in Osaka and $471 in Sagamihara. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $35.00 in Osaka vs $35.00 in Sagamihara for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $299 vs $407 per month, with Osaka cheaper across the board.
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 Sagamihara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What salary covers living expenses in Osaka compared to Sagamihara?
You'd need roughly $2,057 in Osaka and $2,058 in Sagamihara to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Osaka and Sagamihara?
Rent for a central apartment: $717 in Osaka versus $471 in Sagamihara. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Osaka and Sagamihara?
Childcare runs $68.1 in Osaka versus $466 in Sagamihara. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Osaka – a meal for two runs $35.00 versus $35.00 in Sagamihara. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,371 in Osaka versus $1,372 in Sagamihara, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Osaka but tight or insufficient in Sagamihara. The gap between the two cities makes Osaka the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Osaka and Sagamihara?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Osaka or Sagamihara safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Osaka and Sagamihara are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
How do I decide between Osaka and Sagamihara?
It comes down to priorities – Osaka wins on affordability, Sagamihara on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.