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
26/ 10074% cheaper than New York
-21% rent since Jul 2026
$2,760/mo
Median Income
86/100
Safety
20%
Income Tax
temperate
Climate

Cost Breakdown by Category

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

Housing
45/100
1-Bed Apartment (City Center)$533/month
1-Bed Apartment (Outside Center)$353/month
3-Bed Apartment (City Center)$1,200/month
Food & Groceries
48/100
Milk (1 liter)$0.8/liter
Bread (500g loaf)$1.5/loaf
Rice (1 kg)$1.2/kg
Transportation
40/100
Monthly Transit Pass$47/month
One-Way Ticket$1.7/trip
Taxi (1 km)$1/km
Utilities
42/100
Basic (Elec, Heat, Water, Garbage) 85m2$100/month
Internet (60+ Mbps)$35/month
Mobile Plan (10GB+)$25/month
Healthcare
65/100
Doctor Visit (15 min)$50/visit
Dentist Visit$70/visit
Prescription Medicine (avg)$10/course
Education
58/100
Preschool/Kindergarten (monthly)$350/month
International Primary School (yearly)$8,000/year
Language Course (12 weeks)$350/course
Entertainment
48/100
Cinema Ticket (1 seat)$8/ticket
Theater Ticket$30/ticket
Museum Entry$10/ticket
Clothing
50/100
Jeans (Levi's or similar)$45/pair
Summer Dress (Zara/H&M)$28/piece
Running Shoes (Nike/Adidas)$65/pair
Personal Care
42/100
Haircut (Men)$12/cut
Haircut (Women)$28/cut
Shampoo (400ml)$3.2/bottle
Dining Out
45/100
Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant$10/meal
Meal for 2 (Mid-Range)$40/meal
McMeal at McDonald's$6/meal
Childcare
55/100
Full-Day Daycare (monthly)$550/month
Babysitter (per hour)$10/hour
Pack of Diapers (60 ct)$13/pack
Fitness & Sports
45/100
Gym Membership (monthly)$30/month
Tennis Court Rent (1 hr)$13/hour
Swimming Pool (adult entry)$5/entry

Digital Nomad Profile

200 Mbps
Internet Speed
$170
Coworking/Month
good
Café WiFi
moderate
English Level
growing
Nomad Community
72/100
Walkability

Best neighborhoods: Umeda, Namba, Kita

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Osaka cheap to live in?

Osaka has a cost of living index of 26/100, where New York = 100. It is 74% cheaper than New York. A single person can live comfortably for approximately $920–$1,288 per month.

How much does rent cost in Osaka?

A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center of Osaka costs approximately $533/month. Outside the center, expect to pay around $353/month.

Is Osaka good for digital nomads?

Osaka has a growing digital nomad community. Average internet speed is 200 Mbps, café wifi reliability is good, and coworking spaces run about $170/month. English proficiency is moderate.

What is the average salary in Osaka?

The median net monthly salary in Osaka is approximately $2,760 USD. The income tax rate is around 20%.

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

Osaka (cost index 26) is 74% cheaper than New York (cost index 100). You could save roughly $1,850/month by moving from New York to Osaka.

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