😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,352 in Sagamihara versus $1,330 in Osaka.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,119 in Sagamihara versus $2,038 in Osaka.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,886 in Sagamihara versus $2,746 in Osaka.
🌍Living in Sagamihara is roughly 2% more expensive than in Osaka, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Sagamihara1% above, Osaka0% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sagamihara
Osaka
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.09¥1,315
$7.07¥1,149
14.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.09¥5,540
$34.92¥5,676
-2.38%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.27¥1,019
$4.76¥773
31.72%
Cappuccino
$3.03¥492
$3.22¥523
-5.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15¥187
$1.10¥179
4.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72¥117
$0.71¥115
1.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.38¥549
$2.84¥462
19.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.15¥511
$4.21¥683
-25.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sagamihara
Osaka
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68¥273
$1.54¥250
9.09%
White Bread(500g)
$1.71¥279
$1.43¥232
19.58%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.06¥822
$4.62¥751
9.52%
Eggs
$2.53¥411
$2.44¥396
3.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.04¥2,770
$10.56¥1,717
61.36%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.73¥1,256
$6.57¥1,068
17.66%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.51¥2,520
$18.71¥3,041
-17.10%
Apples(1kg)
$9.20¥1,495
$3.69¥599
149.32%
Banana(1kg)
$2.87¥466
$2.11¥343
36.02%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.94¥803
$2.47¥401
100.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$9.65¥1,569
$4.54¥738
112.56%
Potato(1kg)
$3.83¥622
$1.64¥267
133.54%
Onion(1kg)
$2.63¥428
$1.30¥212
102.31%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.31¥213
$1.37¥223
-4.38%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.38¥225
$0.87¥142
58.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.37¥547
$3.87¥629
-12.92%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.18¥1,491
$9.15¥1,487
0.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.88¥468
$2.10¥342
37.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26¥367
$2.87¥466
-21.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Sagamihara
Osaka
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.67¥271
$1.67¥271
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$55.9¥9,078
$35.74¥5,808
56.30%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.43¥558
$4.62¥751
-25.76%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.96¥480
$3.27¥532
-9.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.54¥2,851
$23.47¥3,815
-25.27%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.23¥199
$1.18¥192
4.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.0K¥3.7M
$22.8K¥3.7M
0.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.0K¥2.8M
$17.3K¥2.8M
-1.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sagamihara
Osaka
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$138¥22.4K
$134¥21.8K
2.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.56¥4,479
$27.44¥4,459
0.44%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.19¥5,556
$30.41¥4,942
12.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sagamihara
Osaka
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$56.9¥9,241
$57.8¥9,399
-1.68%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.98¥2,272
$21.18¥3,442
-33.99%
Cinema Ticket
$12.40¥2,016
$12.32¥2,002
0.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sagamihara
Osaka
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$477¥77.5K
$68.2¥11.1K
599.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.4K¥1.9M
$10.6K¥1.7M
8.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sagamihara
Osaka
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.61¥7,576
$44.49¥7,231
4.77%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.46¥5,113
$29.52¥4,798
6.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$55.4¥8,995
$66.7¥10.8K
-16.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.1¥14.6K
$96.8¥15.7K
-6.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sagamihara
Osaka
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$466¥75.8K
$727¥118.1K
-35.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$335¥54.5K
$476¥77.4K
-29.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$869¥141.2K
$1,301¥211.4K
-33.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$657¥106.7K
$827¥134.4K
-20.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,797¥617.1K
$5,911¥960.6K
-35.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,876¥304.9K
$2,051¥333.3K
-8.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sagamihara
Osaka
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,865¥303.1K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
1.78
1.81
-1.66%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sagamihara: July 11, 2026
Last update for Osaka: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $466 in Sagamihara and $727 in Osaka. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $34.00 in Sagamihara vs $35.00 in Osaka. Groceries flip the comparison at $408 vs $300, 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
Sagamihara vs Osaka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Sagamihara and in Osaka?
Sagamihara and Osaka differ by about 2% in total monthly costs ($1,352 vs $1,330 including rent). Osaka is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Sagamihara compared to Osaka?
You'd need roughly $2,028 in Sagamihara and $1,994 in Osaka 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 Sagamihara and in Osaka?
Rent for a central apartment: $466 in Sagamihara versus $727 in Osaka. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Sagamihara and in Osaka?
A monthly transit pass in Osaka runs roughly 56% less than in Sagamihara. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Sagamihara and Osaka?
Childcare runs $477 in Sagamihara versus $68.2 in Osaka. 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 $1,330 in Osaka versus $1,352 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 Sagamihara and Osaka?
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 Sagamihara or Osaka safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Sagamihara and Osaka 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: Sagamihara or Osaka?
Expats usually find Osaka gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Sagamihara. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Sagamihara vs other spots: cost of living compared