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Osaka vs Tokyo cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money · Updated September 2026
🇯🇵 Osaka
🇯🇵 TokyoOsaka is 25% cheaper than Tokyo
Living on $2,726 a month in Osaka feels like about $3,667 in Tokyo — same standard of living, compared by feel rather than exchange rate.
Per day
$173 vs $201
Per month
$2,726 vs $3,667
Local meal
¥ 900 vs ¥ 1,000
$6.08 vs $6.76
Taxi 5 km
¥ 2,500 vs ¥ 2,500
$16.9 vs $16.9
At a glance
FoodOsaka 11% cheaper
Cafés & drinksOsaka 10% cheaper
Transportsimilar
StayOsaka 29% cheaper
Funsimilar
- Where Osaka is clearly cheaper: Studio rent (month) (37%↓), Hotel night (20%↓)
Item by item
| Item | Osaka | Tokyo | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | ¥ 900$6.08 | ¥ 1,000$6.76 | Osaka −10% |
| Street food1 item | ¥ 410$2.77 | ¥ 450$3.04 | Osaka −9% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | ¥ 3,000$20.3 | ¥ 3,500$23.6 | Osaka −14% |
| Coffeeone cup | ¥ 500$3.38 | ¥ 550$3.72 | Osaka −9% |
| Beerone bottle | ¥ 550$3.72 | ¥ 600$4.05 | Osaka −8% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | ¥ 1,400$9.46 | ¥ 1,600$10.8 | Osaka −12% |
| Bottled water | ¥ 120$0.81 | ¥ 120$0.81 | similar |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | ¥ 300$2.03 | ¥ 300$2.03 | similar |
| Taxi5 km in town | ¥ 2,500$16.9 | ¥ 2,500$16.9 | similar |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | ¥ 1,400$9.46 | ¥ 1,500$10.1 | Osaka −7% |
| Transitone ride | ¥ 210$1.42 | ¥ 210$1.42 | similar |
| Scooter rentalper day | ¥ 4,200$28.4 | ¥ 4,400$29.7 | similar |
| Hotel night3-star | ¥ 12,000$81.1 | ¥ 15,000$101 | Osaka −20% |
| Studio rent (month) | ¥ 95,000$642 | ¥ 150,000$1,014 | Osaka −37% |
| Laundry | ¥ 700$4.73 | ¥ 740$5 | Osaka −5% |
| SIM card1 week data | ¥ 2,800$18.9 | ¥ 3,000$20.3 | Osaka −7% |
| Haircutcut | ¥ 2,900$19.6 | ¥ 3,100$20.9 | Osaka −6% |
| Massage1 hour | ¥ 8,400$56.8 | ¥ 8,900$60.1 | Osaka −6% |
| Half-day tourper person | ¥ 9,800$66.2 | ¥ 10,000$67.6 | similar |
| Entry ticketTourist town | ¥ 1,700$11.5 | ¥ 1,800$12.2 | Osaka −6% |
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 Tokyo?
Osaka is 25% cheaper than Tokyo. Daily budget $173 vs $201; a month $2,726 vs $3,667.
How do monthly costs compare between Osaka and Tokyo?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Osaka is about $2,726 and Tokyo about $3,667 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.