Indicative rates as of 27 October 2026
Cost of Living in Osaka (2026)
Use the Osaka estimates to compare monthly living costs and the money needed to move in. Check actual listings near your school or workplace. Overall, a student month here runs about 14% below Tokyo.
Student · share house
¥122,000/mo
+ one-time move-in ≈ ¥240,000
Worker · private studio
¥198,000/mo
+ one-time move-in ≈ ¥550,500
Monthly budget in Osaka
| Expense | Student · shared | Worker · studio |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | ¥45,000 | ¥65,000 |
| Food & groceries | ¥35,000 | ¥45,000 |
| Utilities & internet | ¥12,000 | ¥18,000 |
| Insurance & tax | ¥5,000 | ¥15,000 |
| Leisure & pocket money | ¥25,000 | ¥55,000 |
| Total / month | ¥122,000 | ¥198,000 |
One-time move-in costs
| Item | Student · shared | Worker · studio |
|---|---|---|
| Move-in: first month + deposit & fees | ¥80,000 | ¥285,000 |
| Furniture & appliances | ¥25,000 | ¥105,500 |
| Flight | ¥100,000 | ¥120,000 |
| Visa & paperwork | ¥15,000 | ¥20,000 |
| Setup cash | ¥20,000 | ¥20,000 |
| Total one-time | ¥240,000 | ¥550,500 |
Build your own Osaka budget
Uses this city and the same living-cost assumptions. Add tuition if needed.
How other cities compare
| Tokyo | ¥142,000/mo | +16% |
| Osaka | ¥122,000/mo | this city |
| Kyoto | ¥118,538/mo | -3% |
| Nagoya | ¥115,500/mo | -5% |
| Fukuoka | ¥112,000/mo | -8% |
| Sapporo | ¥106,400/mo | -13% |
Where to live in Osaka
Station-by-station guides with real OpenStreetMap place counts and walking times:
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to live in Osaka as a student?
A single student in a share house spends about ¥122,000 per month in Osaka in 2026: rent ¥45,000, food ~¥35,000, utilities ~¥12,000, national health insurance ~¥5,000 and leisure ~¥25,000. Tuition is separate.
How much money do I need to move to Osaka?
Plan roughly ¥240,000 one-time as a student: the first month's rent plus a flat share-house deposit at move-in (¥80,000), basic furniture, flight, visa paperwork and setup cash. A private studio costs more to move into (deposit, key money, agency and guarantor fees). Student-visa applicants also need Immigration's proof-of-funds bank certificate of roughly ¥2,000,000.
How much is rent in Osaka?
Typical 2026 rents in Osaka: about ¥45,000/month for a share-house room and about ¥65,000/month for a private studio (1K), before utilities.
Is Osaka cheaper than Tokyo?
Yes — a student month in Osaka (¥122,000) is about 14% cheaper than Tokyo (¥142,000), with rent driving most of the gap.
See the full city-by-city table on the Cost of Living in Japan overview. Figures are 2026 estimates from typical advertised rents and standard living costs; actual costs vary by ward, lifestyle and exchange rate. Inputs for Osaka: ¥45,000 (share house) and ¥65,000 (studio) rent, last updated 2026-10-25; all inputs, formulas and CSV download. Data by yuzu.help — free to cite with a link.
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