🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,196 in Sagamihara versus $1,346 in Osaka.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,912 in Sagamihara versus $1,976 in Osaka.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,629 in Sagamihara versus $2,606 in Osaka.
🌍Living in Sagamihara costs roughly 11% less than in Osaka, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Sagamihara13% lower, Osaka2% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sagamihara
Osaka
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.47¥1,318
$6.13¥954
38.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.94¥4,816
$30.75¥4,786
0.62%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.95¥771
$4.81¥748
2.91%
Cappuccino
$2.43¥379
$2.93¥456
-17.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23¥191
$1.43¥223
-13.99%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88¥137
$0.69¥108
27.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.15¥490
$2.63¥409
19.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.15¥491
$3.64¥567
-13.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sagamihara
Osaka
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.91¥141
$1.43¥222
-36.36%
White Bread(500g)
$0.65¥100
$1.28¥199
-49.22%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.08¥635
$5.25¥817
-22.29%
Eggs
$1.94¥301
$2.10¥327
-7.62%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.45¥2,404
$9.80¥1,525
57.65%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.76¥1,053
$9.18¥1,429
-26.36%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.01¥2,647
$18.09¥2,816
-5.97%
Apples(1kg)
$2.18¥339
$3.38¥526
-35.50%
Banana(1kg)
$1.60¥248
$1.91¥298
-16.23%
Oranges(1kg)
$5.02¥782
$1.98¥308
153.54%
Tomato(1kg)
$7.69¥1,197
$3.89¥605
97.69%
Potato(1kg)
$4.05¥630
$1.54¥239
162.99%
Onion(1kg)
$4.67¥727
$1.17¥182
299.15%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.16¥181
$1.29¥200
-10.08%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.46¥70.8
$0.81¥127
-43.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90¥608
$3.84¥597
1.56%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.63¥1,498
$9.50¥1,479
1.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.52¥393
$1.87¥290
34.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13¥332
$3.22¥502
-33.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Sagamihara
Osaka
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.53¥238
$1.36¥212
12.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$48.05¥7,478
$31.99¥4,979
50.20%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.17¥494
$3.77¥587
-15.92%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.87¥447
$3.04¥473
-5.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$15.78¥2,455
$21.01¥3,270
-24.89%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.06¥164
$1.09¥170
-2.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.9K¥3.4M
$21.4K¥3.3M
2.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$14.8K¥2.3M
$15.1K¥2.4M
-2.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sagamihara
Osaka
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$114¥17.8K
$136¥21.2K
-15.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.37¥3,637
$23.92¥3,722
-2.30%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.34¥4,722
$30.63¥4,767
-0.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sagamihara
Osaka
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$56.9¥8,855
$48.60¥7,563
17.06%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.90¥2,786
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.33¥1,763
$12.04¥1,874
-5.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sagamihara
Osaka
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$562¥87.5K
$520¥80.9K
8.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.4K¥2.2M
$13.2K¥2.1M
9.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sagamihara
Osaka
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.0¥7,785
$44.15¥6,872
13.30%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.12¥5,621
$29.71¥4,624
21.58%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$60.4¥9,406
$72.6¥11.3K
-16.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.7¥15.4K
$88.8¥13.8K
11.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sagamihara
Osaka
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$455¥70.7K
$699¥108.8K
-34.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$317¥49.4K
$507¥78.9K
-37.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$946¥147.2K
$1,682¥261.8K
-43.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$664¥103.4K
$761¥118.4K
-12.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,028¥626.9K
$5,636¥877.2K
-28.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,872¥291.4K
$1,822¥283.6K
2.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sagamihara
Osaka
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$2,245¥349.4K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
1.66
2.21
-24.89%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sagamihara: August 29, 2026
Last update for Osaka: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $455 in Sagamihara and $699 in Osaka. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $31.00 in Sagamihara vs $31.00 in Osaka. Groceries flip the comparison at $318 vs $298, 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 13% in total monthly costs ($1,196 vs $1,346 including rent). Sagamihara 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 $1,793 in Sagamihara and $2,019 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: $455 in Sagamihara versus $699 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 Sagamihara 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 Sagamihara and Osaka?
Childcare runs $562 in Sagamihara versus $520 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 $1,000 per month?
At $1,196 in Sagamihara versus $1,346 in Osaka, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Sagamihara but tight or insufficient in Osaka. The gap between the two cities makes Sagamihara 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 Sagamihara gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Osaka. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Sagamihara vs other spots: cost of living compared