Cost of Living Comparison Between Tokyo and Osaka Cost of Living Comparison Between Tokyo and Osaka

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,701 in Tokyo versus $1,330 in Osaka.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,691 in Tokyo versus $2,038 in Osaka.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,682 in Tokyo versus $2,746 in Osaka.

Living in Tokyo is roughly 28% more expensive than in Osaka, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Tokyo 27% above, Osaka 0% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.09 ¥1,315

$7.07 ¥1,149

14.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.77 ¥7,926

$34.92 ¥5,676

39.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.48 ¥891

$4.76 ¥773

15.13%

Cappuccino

$3.60 ¥584

$3.22 ¥523

11.80%

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

$1.27 ¥206

$1.10 ¥179

15.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 ¥140

$0.71 ¥115

21.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.08 ¥662

$2.84 ¥462

43.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.44 ¥883

$4.21 ¥683

29.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 ¥264

$1.54 ¥250

5.19%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ¥245

$1.43 ¥232

5.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.34 ¥868

$4.62 ¥751

15.58%

Eggs

$2.32 ¥377

$2.44 ¥396

-4.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.96 ¥2,594

$10.56 ¥1,717

51.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.12 ¥1,319

$6.57 ¥1,068

23.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.55 ¥3,665

$18.71 ¥3,041

20.52%

Apples (1kg)

$5.52 ¥897

$3.69 ¥599

49.59%

Banana (1kg)

$2.59 ¥421

$2.11 ¥343

22.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.92 ¥962

$2.47 ¥401

139.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.07 ¥987

$4.54 ¥738

33.70%

Potato (1kg)

$3.24 ¥527

$1.64 ¥267

97.56%

Onion (1kg)

$3.39 ¥551

$1.30 ¥212

160.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.45 ¥235

$1.37 ¥223

5.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 ¥142

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.25 ¥691

$3.87 ¥629

9.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.31 ¥1,514

$9.15 ¥1,487

1.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.05 ¥334

$2.10 ¥342

-2.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 ¥466

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.48 ¥241

$1.67 ¥271

-11.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$84.6 ¥13.8K

$35.74 ¥5,808

136.74%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.38 ¥549

$4.62 ¥751

-26.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.91 ¥473

$3.27 ¥532

-11.01%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.24 ¥4,265

$23.47 ¥3,815

11.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 ¥195

$1.18 ¥192

1.69%

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

$23.6K ¥3.8M

$22.8K ¥3.7M

3.32%

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

$17.2K ¥2.8M

$17.3K ¥2.8M

-0.48%

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

$168 ¥27.2K

$134 ¥21.8K

24.87%

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

$25.82 ¥4,196

$27.44 ¥4,459

-5.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.50 ¥5,445

$30.41 ¥4,942

10.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$70.9 ¥11.5K

$57.8 ¥9,399

22.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.25 ¥3,290

$21.18 ¥3,442

-4.39%

Cinema Ticket

$13.07 ¥2,125

$12.32 ¥2,002

6.09%

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

$495 ¥80.4K

$68.2 ¥11.1K

625.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K ¥2.6M

$10.6K ¥1.7M

48.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.5 ¥10.0K

$44.49 ¥7,231

38.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.66 ¥6,771

$29.52 ¥4,798

41.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.9 ¥10.7K

$66.7 ¥10.8K

-1.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.1 ¥14.8K

$96.8 ¥15.7K

-5.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,120 ¥182.0K

$727 ¥118.1K

54.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$606 ¥98.6K

$476 ¥77.4K

27.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,680 ¥435.6K

$1,301 ¥211.4K

106.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,342 ¥218.0K

$827 ¥134.4K

62.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.4K ¥1.7M

$5,911 ¥960.6K

75.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,986 ¥810.3K

$2,051 ¥333.3K

143.10%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,330 ¥378.6K

$1,865 ¥303.1K

24.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.72

1.81

-4.97%

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

Last update for Tokyo: July 12, 2026

Last update for Osaka: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,120 in Tokyo and $727 in Osaka. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tokyo pays 25% 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: $49.00 in Tokyo vs $35.00 in Osaka for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $383 vs $300 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

Tokyo vs Osaka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tokyo and Osaka differ by about 28% in total monthly costs ($1,701 vs $1,330 including rent). Osaka is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 25% higher in Tokyo, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,120 in Tokyo versus $727 in Osaka. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Osaka runs roughly 137% less than in Tokyo. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $495 in Tokyo versus $68.2 in Osaka. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,330 in Osaka versus $1,701 in Tokyo, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Osaka but tight or insufficient in Tokyo. 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, Tokyo 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.

Expats usually find Osaka gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% less than in Tokyo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.