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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Living in Wakayama is roughly 2% more expensive than in Osaka, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.05 ¥1,146

$7.07 ¥1,149

-0.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.04 ¥5,530

$34.92 ¥5,674

-2.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.40 ¥1,041

$4.76 ¥773

34.45%

Cappuccino

$3.12 ¥508

$3.22 ¥523

-3.11%

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

$1.20 ¥195

$1.10 ¥179

9.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 ¥113

$0.71 ¥115

-1.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.38 ¥550

$2.84 ¥462

19.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 ¥341

$4.21 ¥683

-50.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 ¥261

$1.54 ¥250

4.55%

White Bread (500g)

$1.78 ¥289

$1.43 ¥232

24.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.10 ¥828

$4.62 ¥751

10.39%

Eggs

$2.45 ¥399

$2.44 ¥396

0.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.43 ¥2,832

$10.56 ¥1,716

65.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.69 ¥1,249

$6.57 ¥1,068

17.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.75 ¥2,559

$18.71 ¥3,041

-15.82%

Apples (1kg)

$9.04 ¥1,469

$3.69 ¥599

144.99%

Banana (1kg)

$2.81 ¥457

$2.11 ¥343

33.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.78 ¥777

$2.47 ¥401

93.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$9.67 ¥1,571

$4.54 ¥738

113.00%

Potato (1kg)

$3.86 ¥627

$1.64 ¥267

135.37%

Onion (1kg)

$2.56 ¥416

$1.30 ¥212

96.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.32 ¥214

$1.37 ¥223

-3.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 ¥235

$0.87 ¥142

66.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.39 ¥552

$3.87 ¥629

-12.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.02 ¥1,465

$9.15 ¥1,487

-1.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.74 ¥445

$2.10 ¥342

30.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 ¥375

$2.87 ¥466

-19.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.65 ¥268

$1.67 ¥271

-1.20%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.9 ¥9,089

$35.74 ¥5,807

56.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.46 ¥562

$4.62 ¥751

-25.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.89 ¥469

$3.27 ¥532

-11.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.65 ¥2,869

$23.47 ¥3,814

-24.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 ¥194

$1.18 ¥191

0.85%

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

$22.9K ¥3.7M

$22.8K ¥3.7M

0.36%

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

$16.7K ¥2.7M

$17.3K ¥2.8M

-3.49%

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

$138 ¥22.4K

$134 ¥21.8K

2.85%

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

$27.61 ¥4,485

$27.44 ¥4,458

0.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.19 ¥5,555

$30.41 ¥4,941

12.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.3 ¥9,139

$57.8 ¥9,396

-2.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.96 ¥2,269

$21.18 ¥3,441

-34.09%

Cinema Ticket

$12.64 ¥2,053

$12.32 ¥2,002

2.60%

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

$478 ¥77.6K

$68.2 ¥11.1K

600.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.4K ¥1.9M

$10.6K ¥1.7M

8.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.82 ¥7,607

$44.49 ¥7,229

5.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.60 ¥5,297

$29.52 ¥4,796

10.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$56.9 ¥9,245

$66.7 ¥10.8K

-14.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.9 ¥15.1K

$96.8 ¥15.7K

-4.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$470 ¥76.3K

$727 ¥118.1K

-35.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$330 ¥53.7K

$476 ¥77.3K

-30.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$850 ¥138.0K

$1,301 ¥211.3K

-34.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$670 ¥108.9K

$827 ¥134.3K

-18.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,081 ¥663.1K

$5,911 ¥960.3K

-30.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,175 ¥353.3K

$2,051 ¥333.2K

6.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,832 ¥622.6K

$1,865 ¥303.0K

105.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.67

1.81

-7.73%

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

Last update for Wakayama: July 14, 2026

Last update for Osaka: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $470 in Wakayama and $727 in Osaka. 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: $34.00 in Wakayama vs $35.00 in Osaka. Groceries flip the comparison at $407 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

Wakayama vs Osaka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Wakayama and Osaka differ by about 2% in total monthly costs ($1,362 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 105% higher in Wakayama, 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: $470 in Wakayama 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 57% less than in Wakayama. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $478 in Wakayama 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 $1,362 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, Wakayama 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 2% less than in Wakayama. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.