Cost of Living Comparison Between Osaka and Wakayama Cost of Living Comparison Between Osaka and Wakayama

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,330 in Osaka versus $1,362 in Wakayama.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,038 in Osaka versus $2,105 in Wakayama.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,746 in Osaka versus $2,848 in Wakayama.

Living in Osaka costs roughly 2% less than in Wakayama, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Osaka 0% above, Wakayama 2% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.07 ¥1,149

$7.05 ¥1,146

0.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.92 ¥5,674

$34.04 ¥5,530

2.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.76 ¥773

$6.40 ¥1,041

-25.63%

Cappuccino

$3.22 ¥523

$3.12 ¥508

3.21%

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

$1.10 ¥179

$1.20 ¥195

-8.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 ¥115

$0.70 ¥113

1.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.84 ¥462

$3.38 ¥550

-15.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.21 ¥683

$2.10 ¥341

100.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.54 ¥250

$1.61 ¥261

-4.35%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ¥232

$1.78 ¥289

-19.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.62 ¥751

$5.10 ¥828

-9.41%

Eggs

$2.44 ¥396

$2.45 ¥399

-0.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.56 ¥1,716

$17.43 ¥2,832

-39.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.57 ¥1,068

$7.69 ¥1,249

-14.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.71 ¥3,041

$15.75 ¥2,559

18.79%

Apples (1kg)

$3.69 ¥599

$9.04 ¥1,469

-59.18%

Banana (1kg)

$2.11 ¥343

$2.81 ¥457

-24.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.47 ¥401

$4.78 ¥777

-48.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.54 ¥738

$9.67 ¥1,571

-53.05%

Potato (1kg)

$1.64 ¥267

$3.86 ¥627

-57.51%

Onion (1kg)

$1.30 ¥212

$2.56 ¥416

-49.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.37 ¥223

$1.32 ¥214

3.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 ¥142

$1.45 ¥235

-40.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.87 ¥629

$3.39 ¥552

14.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.15 ¥1,487

$9.02 ¥1,465

1.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.10 ¥342

$2.74 ¥445

-23.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 ¥466

$2.31 ¥375

24.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.67 ¥271

$1.65 ¥268

1.21%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.74 ¥5,807

$55.9 ¥9,089

-36.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.62 ¥751

$3.46 ¥562

33.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.27 ¥532

$2.89 ¥469

13.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.47 ¥3,814

$17.65 ¥2,869

32.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 ¥191

$1.19 ¥194

-0.84%

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

$22.8K ¥3.7M

$22.9K ¥3.7M

-0.36%

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

$17.3K ¥2.8M

$16.7K ¥2.7M

3.62%

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

$134 ¥21.8K

$138 ¥22.4K

-2.77%

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

$27.44 ¥4,458

$27.61 ¥4,485

-0.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.41 ¥4,941

$34.19 ¥5,555

-11.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.8 ¥9,396

$56.3 ¥9,139

2.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.18 ¥3,441

$13.96 ¥2,269

51.72%

Cinema Ticket

$12.32 ¥2,002

$12.64 ¥2,053

-2.53%

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

$68.2 ¥11.1K

$478 ¥77.6K

-85.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.6K ¥1.7M

$11.4K ¥1.9M

-7.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.49 ¥7,229

$46.82 ¥7,607

-4.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.52 ¥4,796

$32.60 ¥5,297

-9.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.7 ¥10.8K

$56.9 ¥9,245

17.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.8 ¥15.7K

$92.9 ¥15.1K

4.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$727 ¥118.1K

$470 ¥76.3K

54.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$476 ¥77.3K

$330 ¥53.7K

44.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,301 ¥211.3K

$850 ¥138.0K

53.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$827 ¥134.3K

$670 ¥108.9K

23.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,911 ¥960.3K

$4,081 ¥663.1K

44.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,051 ¥333.2K

$2,175 ¥353.3K

-5.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,865 ¥303.0K

$3,832 ¥622.6K

-51.33%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.81

1.67

8.38%

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

Last update for Osaka: July 12, 2026

Last update for Wakayama: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $727 in Osaka and $470 in Wakayama. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Wakayama pays 105% 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 $34.00 in Wakayama. Groceries flip the comparison at $300 vs $407, with Osaka cheaper for home cooking.

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 Wakayama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Osaka and Wakayama differ by about 2% in total monthly costs ($1,330 vs $1,362 including rent). Osaka is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 105% lower in Wakayama. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $727 in Osaka versus $470 in Wakayama. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Osaka runs roughly 57% less than in Wakayama. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $68.2 in Osaka versus $478 in Wakayama. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,330 in Osaka versus $1,362 in Wakayama, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Osaka but tight or insufficient in Wakayama. The gap between the two cities makes Osaka the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Osaka and Wakayama are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Osaka gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Wakayama. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.