Cost of Living Comparison Between Osaka and Takamatsu Cost of Living Comparison Between Osaka and Takamatsu

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,371 in Osaka versus $1,231 in Takamatsu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,038 in Osaka versus $1,907 in Takamatsu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,705 in Osaka versus $2,583 in Takamatsu.

Living in Osaka is roughly 11% more expensive than Takamatsu, driven mainly by Getting Around.

The two cities straddle the global median: Osaka is 2% above, Takamatsu is 8% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Osaka
Takamatsu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.95 ¥1,112
$7.09 ¥1,134
-1.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.58 ¥5,531
$35.03 ¥5,603
-1.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.98 ¥797
$5.35 ¥856
-6.92%
Cappuccino
$3.33 ¥532
$3.06 ¥489
8.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08 ¥173
$1.11 ¥177
-2.70%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 ¥122
$0.81 ¥130
-6.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.74 ¥438
$2.53 ¥405
8.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.35 ¥695
$3.17 ¥507
37.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Osaka
Takamatsu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.61 ¥257
$1.56 ¥250
3.21%
White Bread (500g)
$1.43 ¥229
$1.58 ¥253
-9.49%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.86 ¥778
$1.95 ¥311
149.23%
Eggs
$2.46 ¥393
$2.54 ¥407
-3.15%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.43 ¥1,669
$10.03 ¥1,605
3.99%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.38 ¥1,021
$6.34 ¥1,015
0.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.61 ¥2,977
$15.58 ¥2,491
19.45%
Apples (1kg)
$3.53 ¥564
$5.48 ¥877
-35.58%
Banana (1kg)
$2.19 ¥350
$2.62 ¥419
-16.41%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.48 ¥397
$3.93 ¥629
-36.90%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.31 ¥689
$5.76 ¥921
-25.17%
Potato (1kg)
$1.69 ¥271
$3.00 ¥480
-43.67%
Onion (1kg)
$1.28 ¥205
$2.56 ¥410
-50.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.39 ¥222
$1.37 ¥220
1.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85 ¥136
$0.82 ¥131
3.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.93 ¥629
$4.27 ¥682
-7.96%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.27 ¥1,482
$8.49 ¥1,358
9.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.13 ¥340
$1.92 ¥308
10.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99 ¥479
$2.18 ¥348
37.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Osaka
Takamatsu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.61 ¥258
$1.64 ¥263
-1.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$36.32 ¥5,810
$54.8 ¥8,757
-33.66%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.56 ¥729
$3.43 ¥549
32.94%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.31 ¥530
$2.98 ¥477
11.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$23.95 ¥3,830
$21.03 ¥3,363
13.88%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.19 ¥191
$1.18 ¥189
0.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.6K ¥3.8M
$23.0K ¥3.7M
2.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.9K ¥2.7M
$17.3K ¥2.8M
-2.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Osaka
Takamatsu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$135 ¥21.6K
$143 ¥22.9K
-5.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.60 ¥4,415
$27.19 ¥4,348
1.51%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.37 ¥4,858
$34.37 ¥5,497
-11.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Osaka
Takamatsu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$59.1 ¥9,460
$56.5 ¥9,043
4.60%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.39 ¥3,262
$13.79 ¥2,205
47.86%
Cinema Ticket
$12.36 ¥1,978
$12.50 ¥2,000
-1.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Osaka
Takamatsu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$68.1 ¥10.9K
$279 ¥44.6K
-75.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.5K ¥1.7M
$13.5K ¥2.2M
-21.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Osaka
Takamatsu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.08 ¥7,050
$42.61 ¥6,816
3.45%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.47 ¥4,713
$29.64 ¥4,741
-0.57%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$67.2 ¥10.8K
$60.3 ¥9,640
11.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.8 ¥15.2K
$90.8 ¥14.5K
4.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Osaka
Takamatsu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$717 ¥114.7K
$461 ¥73.8K
55.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$483 ¥77.2K
$335 ¥53.6K
44.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,311 ¥209.6K
$854 ¥136.5K
53.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$807 ¥129.0K
$671 ¥107.3K
20.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,951 ¥951.8K
$4,176 ¥668.0K
42.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,055 ¥328.6K
$2,406 ¥384.9K
-14.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Osaka
Takamatsu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,944 ¥310.9K
$1,717 ¥274.7K
13.18%
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 Takamatsu: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $717 in Osaka and $461 in Takamatsu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Osaka pays 13% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $35.00 in Osaka vs $35.00 in Takamatsu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $299 vs $306 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 Takamatsu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Osaka and Takamatsu?
Osaka and Takamatsu differ by about 11% in total monthly costs ($1,371 vs $1,231 including rent). Takamatsu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Osaka or Takamatsu?
Osaka pays 13% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Osaka and Takamatsu?
Rent for a central apartment: $717 in Osaka versus $461 in Takamatsu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Osaka and Takamatsu?
A monthly transit pass in Takamatsu runs roughly 51% less than in Osaka. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Osaka and Takamatsu?
Childcare runs $68.1 in Osaka versus $279 in Takamatsu. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,231 in Takamatsu versus $1,371 in Osaka, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Takamatsu but tight or insufficient in Osaka. The gap between the two cities makes Takamatsu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Osaka and Takamatsu?
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 Takamatsu safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Osaka and Takamatsu are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Osaka or Takamatsu?
Expats usually find Takamatsu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Osaka. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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