Cost of Living

Osaka, Japan

Live cost-of-living data for Osaka — rent, groceries, transport, healthcare and more, sourced and cross-checked by AI and refreshed regularly.

CheapestNew York = 100
22/ 10078% cheaper than New York
-11% rent since Jul 2026
$1,929/mo
Median Income
72/100
Safety
20%
Income Tax
humid subtropical
Climate

Cost Breakdown by Category

Each score runs 0–100, where higher means pricier. Representative prices shown per category.

Housing
55/100
1-Bed Apartment (City Center)$600/month
1-Bed Apartment (Outside Center)$430/month
3-Bed Apartment (City Center)$1,050/month
Food & Groceries
50/100
Milk (1 liter)$1.7/liter
Bread (500g loaf)$1.2/loaf
Rice (1 kg)$2.5/kg
Transportation
48/100
Monthly Transit Pass$48/month
One-Way Ticket$1.5/trip
Taxi (1 km)$1.2/km
Utilities
42/100
Basic (Elec, Heat, Water, Garbage) 85m2$110/month
Internet (60+ Mbps)$35/month
Mobile Plan (10GB+)$25/month
Healthcare
70/100
Doctor Visit (15 min)$50/visit
Dentist Visit$65/visit
Prescription Medicine (avg)$12/course
Education
58/100
Preschool/Kindergarten (monthly)$450/month
International Primary School (yearly)$11,000/year
Language Course (12 weeks)$350/course
Entertainment
48/100
Cinema Ticket (1 seat)$10/ticket
Theater Ticket$35/ticket
Museum Entry$12/ticket
Clothing
52/100
Jeans (Levi's or similar)$55/pair
Summer Dress (Zara/H&M)$35/piece
Running Shoes (Nike/Adidas)$80/pair
Personal Care
42/100
Haircut (Men)$18/cut
Haircut (Women)$35/cut
Shampoo (400ml)$4.5/bottle
Dining Out
52/100
Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant$10/meal
Meal for 2 (Mid-Range)$45/meal
McMeal at McDonald's$7.5/meal
Childcare
55/100
Full-Day Daycare (monthly)$700/month
Babysitter (per hour)$12/hour
Pack of Diapers (60 ct)$18/pack
Fitness & Sports
48/100
Gym Membership (monthly)$40/month
Tennis Court Rent (1 hr)$18/hour
Swimming Pool (adult entry)$7/entry

Digital Nomad Profile

74 Mbps
Internet Speed
$180
Coworking/Month
good
Café WiFi
moderate
English Level
growing
Nomad Community
72/100
Walkability

Best neighborhoods: Umeda, Namba, Honmachi

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Osaka cheap to live in?

Osaka has a cost of living index of 22/100, where New York = 100. It is 78% cheaper than New York. A single person can live comfortably for approximately $780–$1,092 per month.

How much does rent cost in Osaka?

A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center of Osaka costs approximately $600/month. Outside the center, expect to pay around $430/month.

Is Osaka good for digital nomads?

Osaka has a growing digital nomad community. Average internet speed is 74 Mbps, café wifi reliability is good, and coworking spaces run about $180/month. English proficiency is moderate.

What is the average salary in Osaka?

The median net monthly salary in Osaka is approximately $1,929 USD. The income tax rate is around 20%.

How does Osaka compare to New York for cost of living?

Osaka (cost index 22) is 78% cheaper than New York (cost index 100). You could save roughly $1,950/month by moving from New York to Osaka.

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