🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,163 in Takamatsu versus $1,346 in Osaka.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,855 in Takamatsu versus $1,976 in Osaka.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,548 in Takamatsu versus $2,606 in Osaka.
🌍Living in Takamatsu costs roughly 14% less than in Osaka, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Takamatsu15% lower, Osaka2% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Takamatsu
Osaka
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.23¥973
$6.13¥957
1.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.01¥5,313
$30.75¥4,804
10.60%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.14¥803
$4.81¥751
6.86%
Cappuccino
$3.28¥512
$2.93¥458
11.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09¥170
$1.43¥224
-23.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67¥104
$0.69¥108
-2.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.66¥416
$2.63¥411
1.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06¥477
$3.64¥569
-15.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Takamatsu
Osaka
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.41¥220
$1.43¥223
-1.40%
White Bread(500g)
$1.46¥228
$1.28¥200
14.06%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.69¥264
$5.25¥820
-67.81%
Eggs
$2.20¥344
$2.10¥329
4.76%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.40¥1,780
$9.80¥1,531
16.33%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.11¥955
$9.18¥1,435
-33.44%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.84¥2,630
$18.09¥2,827
-6.91%
Apples(1kg)
$5.09¥795
$3.38¥528
50.59%
Banana(1kg)
$2.26¥353
$1.91¥299
18.32%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.14¥491
$1.98¥309
58.59%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.21¥658
$3.89¥608
8.23%
Potato(1kg)
$2.56¥400
$1.54¥240
66.23%
Onion(1kg)
$2.25¥352
$1.17¥183
92.31%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.27¥198
$1.29¥201
-1.55%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83¥129
$0.81¥127
2.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.78¥590
$3.84¥600
-1.56%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.41¥1,158
$9.50¥1,484
-22.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86¥291
$1.87¥292
-0.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14¥334
$3.22¥504
-33.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Takamatsu
Osaka
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.45¥227
$1.36¥213
6.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$54.0¥8,441
$31.99¥4,998
68.93%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.99¥467
$3.77¥589
-20.69%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.76¥431
$3.04¥475
-9.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$19.29¥3,014
$21.01¥3,282
-8.19%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.06¥165
$1.09¥171
-2.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.9K¥3.1M
$21.4K¥3.3M
-7.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$12.9K¥2.0M
$15.1K¥2.4M
-14.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Takamatsu
Osaka
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$131¥20.5K
$136¥21.3K
-3.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.19¥3,780
$23.92¥3,736
1.13%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.52¥4,768
$30.63¥4,785
-0.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Takamatsu
Osaka
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.3¥8,009
$48.60¥7,592
5.47%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.18¥497
$17.90¥2,797
-82.23%
Cinema Ticket
$11.84¥1,850
$12.04¥1,881
-1.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Takamatsu
Osaka
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$572¥89.4K
$520¥81.2K
10.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.2K¥1.9M
$13.2K¥2.1M
-7.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Takamatsu
Osaka
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.1¥8,604
$44.15¥6,898
24.76%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.12¥4,862
$29.71¥4,641
4.75%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$55.4¥8,651
$72.6¥11.3K
-23.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.0¥14.7K
$88.8¥13.9K
5.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Takamatsu
Osaka
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$411¥64.3K
$699¥109.2K
-41.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$296¥46.2K
$507¥79.2K
-41.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,005¥157.0K
$1,682¥262.7K
-40.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$774¥120.9K
$761¥118.9K
1.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,272¥667.4K
$5,636¥880.4K
-24.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,920¥300.0K
$1,822¥284.6K
5.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Takamatsu
Osaka
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,731¥270.4K
$2,245¥350.7K
-22.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.06
2.21
-6.79%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Takamatsu: August 31, 2026
Last update for Osaka: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $411 in Takamatsu and $699 in Osaka. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Osaka pays 30% 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: $34.00 in Takamatsu vs $31.00 in Osaka. Groceries flip the comparison at $288 vs $298, with Takamatsu 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
Takamatsu vs Osaka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Takamatsu and in Osaka?
Takamatsu and Osaka differ by about 16% in total monthly costs ($1,163 vs $1,346 including rent). Takamatsu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 30% lower in Osaka. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Takamatsu and in Osaka?
Rent for a central apartment: $411 in Takamatsu 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 Takamatsu and in Osaka?
A monthly transit pass in Takamatsu runs roughly 69% 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 Takamatsu and Osaka?
Childcare runs $572 in Takamatsu 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 $2,000 per month?
At $1,163 in Takamatsu versus $1,346 in Osaka, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Takamatsu but tight or insufficient in Osaka. The gap between the two cities makes Takamatsu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Takamatsu 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 Takamatsu or Osaka safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Takamatsu 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: Takamatsu or Osaka?
Expats usually find Takamatsu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16% less than in Osaka. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.