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Osaka vs Taipei cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money · Updated September 2026
🇯🇵 Osaka
🇹🇼 TaipeiTaipei is 16% cheaper than Osaka
Living on $2,726 a month in Osaka feels like about $2,365 in Taipei — same standard of living, compared by feel rather than exchange rate.
Per day
$173 vs $141
Per month
$2,726 vs $2,365
Local meal
¥ 900 vs NT$ 130
$6.08 vs $4.13
Taxi 5 km
¥ 2,500 vs NT$ 160
$16.9 vs $5.08
At a glance
FoodTaipei 29% cheaper
Cafés & drinksOsaka 6% cheaper
TransportTaipei 57% cheaper
StayOsaka 8% cheaper
FunTaipei 24% cheaper
- Where Taipei is clearly cheaper: Taxi (70%↓), Scooter rental (57%↓), Transit (55%↓)
Item by item
| Item | Osaka | Taipei | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | ¥ 900$6.08 | NT$ 130$4.13 | Taipei −32% |
| Street food1 item | ¥ 410$2.77 | NT$ 59$1.87 | Taipei −32% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | ¥ 3,000$20.3 | NT$ 500$15.9 | Taipei −22% |
| Coffeeone cup | ¥ 500$3.38 | NT$ 120$3.81 | Osaka −11% |
| Beerone bottle | ¥ 550$3.72 | NT$ 120$3.81 | similar |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | ¥ 1,400$9.46 | NT$ 310$9.84 | similar |
| Bottled water | ¥ 120$0.81 | NT$ 25$0.79 | similar |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | ¥ 300$2.03 | NT$ 63$2 | similar |
| Taxi5 km in town | ¥ 2,500$16.9 | NT$ 160$5.08 | Taipei −70% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | ¥ 1,400$9.46 | NT$ 160$5.08 | Taipei −46% |
| Transitone ride | ¥ 210$1.42 | NT$ 20$0.63 | Taipei −55% |
| Scooter rentalper day | ¥ 4,200$28.4 | NT$ 380$12.1 | Taipei −57% |
| Hotel night3-star | ¥ 12,000$81.1 | NT$ 2,800$88.9 | Osaka −9% |
| Studio rent (month) | ¥ 95,000$642 | NT$ 22,000$698 | Osaka −8% |
| Laundry | ¥ 700$4.73 | NT$ 94$2.98 | Taipei −37% |
| SIM card1 week data | ¥ 2,800$18.9 | NT$ 320$10.2 | Taipei −46% |
| Haircutcut | ¥ 2,900$19.6 | NT$ 390$12.4 | Taipei −37% |
| Massage1 hour | ¥ 8,400$56.8 | NT$ 1,100$34.9 | Taipei −38% |
| Half-day tourper person | ¥ 9,800$66.2 | NT$ 1,600$50.8 | Taipei −23% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | ¥ 1,700$11.5 | NT$ 320$10.2 | Taipei −12% |
Reference prices start as estimates from published price levels; items with 3+ traveler reports use the median of real reports. Hostels and local eateries cut both by 30%+.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Osaka or Taipei?
Taipei is 16% cheaper than Osaka. Daily budget $173 vs $141; a month $2,726 vs $2,365.
How do monthly costs compare between Osaka and Taipei?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Osaka is about $2,726 and Taipei about $2,365 per month.
Where do the numbers come from?
They start as estimates informed by published price levels; any item with 3+ traveler reports switches to the median of real reports. Live reports are in the app.