Osaka vs Madrid Cost of Living Comparison
Takeaway for Osaka vs Madrid: everyday costs favor Osaka (~1% CPI gap), housing index favors Osaka, wage stretch favors Osaka. Use category winners, not a single headline, when the binding constraint is rent or income.
Overall Cost Winner
Osaka
Lower overall CPI; largest measurable gaps: Transport (99% gap, Madrid ahead); Utilities (99% gap, Madrid ahead).
Monthly Cost Difference
Estimated monthly housing+utilities+internet basket is about $171 lower in Osaka than in Madrid (~17% gap; converted via exchange rates).
Estimated monthly difference: $171 (favoring Osaka).
Category Winners
| Category | Winner | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Overall CPI | Osaka | CPI 55.8 vs 56.5 (lower is better) |
| Housing | Osaka | Rent index 25 vs 29.5 (lower is better) |
| Food | Madrid | Groceries index 54 vs 62 (lower is better) |
| Transport | Madrid | One-way ticket 1.21 vs 223.42 (lower is better) |
| Utilities | Madrid | Utilities (85m²) 54.28 vs 8025 (lower is better) |
| Internet | Madrid | Internet 50.1 vs 8089.2 (lower is better) |
| Restaurants | Osaka | Restaurant index 35 vs 52 (lower is better) |
| Salary | Osaka | Avg net salary 945345 vs 4791.36 (higher is better) |
| Purchasing Power | Osaka | PP index 95 vs 84 (higher is better) |
Biggest Difference
Transport: Madrid leads with a 99% gap.
One-way ticket 1.21 vs 223.42 (lower is better)
Quick Decision
- Students: Osaka — Lower housing / rent index (18% gap).
- Families: Osaka — Housing is typically the largest household line; rent index favors Osaka; purchasing power favors Osaka.
- Remote Workers: Osaka — Everyday cost index (CPI) favors Osaka (~1% gap).
- Budget Living: Osaka — Lowest overall consumer-price index in this pair.
Key Takeaways
- Osaka is the overall cost winner on CPI (~1% lower everyday-cost index than Madrid).
- Housing: Osaka leads on rent index (18% gap).
- Food / groceries: Madrid is lower (13% gap).
- Purchasing power: Osaka scores higher (12% gap).
- Largest category gap: Transport (99%), favoring Madrid.
- Sample monthly basket (1BR + utilities + internet) is ~$171 cheaper in Osaka.
Analysis
Osaka versus Madrid is not a single number. With a 1% CPI spread, groceries and services tend to move with Osaka, while housing follows Osaka's rent index. Purchasing power (95 vs 84) decides whether local wages offset local prices.
Trust & data transparency
Last updated: 2026-08-20
Data Sources
This page uses CityCost index inputs. Platform sources (see also Data sources):
- Real
- Regional
On-page labels for this view: Real · Regional.
Methodology
Each indexed city is associated with a reference basket of common living costs (for example rent, groceries samples, transport tickets, utilities, restaurant meals, and net salary where available). From those items, the platform derives relative indices such as CPI, rent, groceries, restaurants, and local purchasing power, using New York City = 100 as the familiar baseline convention for relative comparison.