Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Osaka and Tokushima

For one person, living is cheaper in Tokushima: $1,274 a month against $1,378 in Osaka, rent and utilities included – about $1,200 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Osaka outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Osaka
🇯🇵 Japan
$1,378
/mo nomad
Tokushima
🇯🇵 Japan
$1,274
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Osaka and in Tokushima

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Osaka and in Tokushima actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,378 in Osaka versus $1,274 in Tokushima.

  • Osaka $1,378
  • Tokushima $1,274

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,005 in Osaka versus $2,039 in Tokushima.

  • Osaka $2,005
  • Tokushima $2,039

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,632 in Osaka versus $2,804 in Tokushima.

  • Osaka $2,632
  • Tokushima $2,804

Living in Osaka is roughly 8% more expensive than in Tokushima, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Osaka is 2% above, Tokushima is 6% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Osaka
Tokushima
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.25 ¥987
$7.05 ¥1,115
-11.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.70 ¥5,008
$31.38 ¥4,958
1.02%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.90 ¥774
$5.08 ¥803
-3.54%
Cappuccino
$2.95 ¥466
$2.44 ¥386
20.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44 ¥228
$1.29 ¥204
11.63%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75 ¥119
$0.81 ¥128
-7.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.65 ¥419
$3.13 ¥495
-15.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.87 ¥611
$3.09 ¥489
25.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Osaka
Tokushima
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 ¥227
$1.49 ¥235
-3.36%
White Bread (500g)
$1.34 ¥211
$1.50 ¥237
-10.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.25 ¥830
$4.05 ¥641
29.63%
Eggs
$2.14 ¥338
$2.21 ¥349
-3.17%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.33 ¥1,475
$15.82 ¥2,499
-41.02%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.22 ¥1,456
$6.99 ¥1,105
31.90%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.39 ¥2,906
$17.41 ¥2,751
5.63%
Apples (1kg)
$3.43 ¥541
$8.19 ¥1,293
-58.12%
Banana (1kg)
$1.92 ¥303
$3.02 ¥477
-36.42%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.99 ¥314
$5.08 ¥803
-60.83%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.05 ¥640
$6.12 ¥967
-33.82%
Potato (1kg)
$1.56 ¥247
$3.72 ¥588
-58.06%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ¥185
$3.79 ¥599
-69.13%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.30 ¥205
$1.14 ¥179
14.04%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88 ¥139
$0.84 ¥132
4.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.00 ¥631
$3.96 ¥626
1.01%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.60 ¥1,517
$9.68 ¥1,530
-0.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.95 ¥308
$2.50 ¥395
-22.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24 ¥512
$2.07 ¥327
56.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Osaka
Tokushima
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.39 ¥219
$1.52 ¥240
-8.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$32.34 ¥5,109
$53.7 ¥8,487
-39.80%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.69 ¥583
$3.21 ¥507
14.95%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.07 ¥486
$2.90 ¥459
5.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.76 ¥3,437
$31.93 ¥5,045
-31.85%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 ¥173
$1.10 ¥174
-0.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.3K ¥3.5M
$21.8K ¥3.4M
2.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.1K ¥2.4M
$14.9K ¥2.4M
1.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Osaka
Tokushima
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$139 ¥22.0K
$114 ¥18.1K
21.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.50 ¥3,870
$23.74 ¥3,750
3.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.67 ¥4,846
$31.53 ¥4,981
-2.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Osaka
Tokushima
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.03 ¥7,746
$60.5 ¥9,559
-18.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.06 ¥2,853
$24.82 ¥3,922
-27.24%
Cinema Ticket
$12.72 ¥2,010
$11.34 ¥1,792
12.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Osaka
Tokushima
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$510 ¥80.5K
$578 ¥91.3K
-11.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.9K ¥2.0M
$14.8K ¥2.3M
-13.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Osaka
Tokushima
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.57 ¥7,673
$49.24 ¥7,779
-1.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.98 ¥4,894
$35.51 ¥5,610
-12.76%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.2 ¥11.7K
$60.6 ¥9,579
22.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.5 ¥14.5K
$98.6 ¥15.6K
-7.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Osaka
Tokushima
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$699 ¥110.5K
$522 ¥82.5K
34.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$510 ¥80.6K
$334 ¥52.8K
52.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,710 ¥270.1K
$1,083 ¥171.1K
57.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$772 ¥122.0K
$731 ¥115.4K
5.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,183 ¥976.8K
$4,217 ¥666.3K
46.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,908 ¥301.4K
$1,734 ¥274.0K
10.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Osaka
Tokushima
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,424 ¥382.9K
$1,386 ¥219.0K
74.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.21
2.02
9.41%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Osaka: October 17, 2026

Last update for Tokushima: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Osaka
$510
Tokushima
$334 34.6% $177
Groceries & Markets
Osaka
$302
Tokushima
$369 22.3% $67
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Osaka
$194
Tokushima
$170 12.7% $25
Eating Out
Osaka
$130
Tokushima
$131 1.1% $1.4
Clothing & Footwear
Osaka
$110
Tokushima
$110 0.5% $0.6
Sport & Entertainment
Osaka
$74
Tokushima
$83 11.7% $8.7
Getting Around
Osaka
$57
Tokushima
$78 36.1% $21

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $699 in Osaka and $522 in Tokushima. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Osaka pays 75% 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: $32.00 in Osaka vs $31.00 in Tokushima. Groceries flip the comparison at $302 vs $369, with Osaka cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇯🇵 Osaka
🇯🇵 Tokushima
🕒 Local time
12:18 12:18 PM
12:18 12:18 PM
Same time as Osaka
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,691,185
252,391
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to JPY – Japanese Yen Converter

Japanese Yen exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 158 JPY (1,000 JPY = 6.33 USD). 1 EUR = 178 JPY (1,000 JPY = 5.63 EUR).

On the map
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From you
  • Osaka
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Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Tokushima: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Osaka and in Tokushima?
Osaka and Tokushima differ by about 8% in total monthly costs ($1,378 vs $1,274 including rent). Tokushima is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Osaka or Tokushima?
Average pay runs 75% higher in Osaka, 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 in Tokushima?
Rent for a central apartment: $699 in Osaka versus $522 in Tokushima. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Osaka and in Tokushima?
A monthly transit pass in Tokushima runs roughly 66% 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 Tokushima?
Childcare runs $510 in Osaka versus $578 in Tokushima. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,274 in Tokushima versus $1,378 in Osaka, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Tokushima but tight or insufficient in Osaka. The gap between the two cities makes Tokushima the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Osaka and Tokushima?
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 Tokushima safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Osaka and Tokushima 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 Tokushima?
Expats usually find Tokushima gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Osaka. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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