😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,371 in Osaka versus $1,243 in Tsushima Island.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,038 in Osaka versus $1,932 in Tsushima Island.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,705 in Osaka versus $2,621 in Tsushima Island.
😐Living in Osaka is roughly 10% more expensive than Tsushima Island, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Osaka is 2% above, Tsushima Island is 7% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Osaka
Tsushima Island
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.95¥1,112
$6.83¥1,092
1.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.58¥5,531
$34.63¥5,539
-0.14%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.98¥797
$5.61¥897
-11.23%
Cappuccino
$3.33¥532
$3.09¥494
7.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08¥173
$1.13¥181
-4.42%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76¥122
$0.79¥127
-3.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.74¥438
$2.09¥335
31.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.35¥695
$3.16¥505
37.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Osaka
Tsushima Island
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.61¥257
$1.58¥253
1.90%
White Bread(500g)
$1.43¥229
$1.60¥257
-10.63%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.86¥778
$4.89¥781
-0.61%
Eggs
$2.46¥393
$2.23¥357
10.31%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.43¥1,669
$10.24¥1,638
1.86%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.38¥1,021
$6.14¥981
3.91%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.61¥2,977
$15.42¥2,466
20.69%
Apples(1kg)
$3.53¥564
$5.43¥868
-34.99%
Banana(1kg)
$2.19¥350
$2.68¥429
-18.28%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.48¥397
$4.00¥640
-38.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.31¥689
$4.56¥729
-5.48%
Potato(1kg)
$1.69¥271
$3.25¥519
-48.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.28¥205
$2.66¥425
-51.88%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39¥222
$1.40¥223
-0.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85¥136
$0.87¥139
-2.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.93¥629
$4.11¥658
-4.38%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.27¥1,482
$6.52¥1,042
42.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.13¥340
$1.97¥315
8.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99¥479
$2.27¥364
31.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Osaka
Tsushima Island
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.61¥258
$1.60¥255
0.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$36.32¥5,810
$54.5¥8,723
-33.39%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.56¥729
$3.39¥542
34.51%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.31¥530
$2.96¥474
11.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$23.95¥3,830
$20.49¥3,277
16.89%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.19¥191
$1.23¥197
-3.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.6K¥3.8M
$22.9K¥3.7M
2.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.9K¥2.7M
$17.0K¥2.7M
-0.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Osaka
Tsushima Island
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$135¥21.6K
$141¥22.6K
-4.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.60¥4,415
$27.21¥4,352
1.43%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.37¥4,858
$33.73¥5,394
-9.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Osaka
Tsushima Island
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$59.1¥9,460
$57.3¥9,164
3.23%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.39¥3,262
$13.76¥2,201
48.18%
Cinema Ticket
$12.36¥1,978
$13.09¥2,094
-5.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Osaka
Tsushima Island
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$68.1¥10.9K
$283¥45.3K
-75.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5K¥1.7M
$13.3K¥2.1M
-20.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Osaka
Tsushima Island
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.08¥7,050
$44.05¥7,046
0.07%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.47¥4,713
$29.77¥4,762
-1.01%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$67.2¥10.8K
$59.3¥9,478
13.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.8¥15.2K
$91.6¥14.7K
3.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Osaka
Tsushima Island
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$717¥114.7K
$467¥74.7K
53.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$483¥77.2K
$332¥53.2K
45.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,311¥209.6K
$873¥139.6K
50.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$807¥129.0K
$663¥106.1K
21.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,951¥951.8K
$2,828¥452.3K
110.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,055¥328.6K
$1,857¥297.1K
10.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Osaka
Tsushima Island
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,944¥310.9K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
1.81
1.81
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Osaka: May 30, 2026
Last update for Tsushima Island: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $717 in Osaka and $467 in Tsushima Island. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $35.00 in Osaka vs $35.00 in Tsushima Island for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $299 vs $309 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 Tsushima Island: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Osaka and Tsushima Island?
Osaka and Tsushima Island differ by about 10% in total monthly costs ($1,371 vs $1,243 including rent). Tsushima Island is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Osaka compared to Tsushima Island?
You'd need roughly $2,057 in Osaka and $1,865 in Tsushima Island 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 Tsushima Island?
Rent for a central apartment: $717 in Osaka versus $467 in Tsushima Island. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Osaka and Tsushima Island?
A monthly transit pass in Tsushima Island runs roughly 50% 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 Tsushima Island?
Childcare runs $68.1 in Osaka versus $283 in Tsushima Island. 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 $1,243 in Tsushima Island versus $1,371 in Osaka, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tsushima Island but tight or insufficient in Osaka. The gap between the two cities makes Tsushima Island the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Osaka and Tsushima Island?
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 Tsushima Island safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Osaka and Tsushima Island 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 Tsushima Island?
Expats usually find Tsushima Island gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Osaka. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.