Singapore vs Osaka Cost of Living Comparison
Executive summary: Osaka leads on CPI (55.8 vs 73.7, NYC=100), Osaka leads on rent index, and Osaka leads on purchasing power. Validate neighbourhood rents before relocating — city-wide winners can reverse at district scale.
Overall Cost Winner
Osaka
Lower overall CPI; largest measurable gaps: Salary (12177% gap, Osaka ahead); Internet (10600% gap, Singapore ahead).
Monthly Cost Difference
Estimated monthly housing+utilities+internet basket is about $2,226 lower in Osaka than in Singapore (~70% gap; converted via exchange rates).
Estimated monthly difference: $2,226 (favoring Osaka).
Category Winners
| Category | Winner | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Overall CPI | Osaka | CPI 55.8 vs 73.7 (lower is better) |
| Housing | Osaka | Rent index 25 vs 85 (lower is better) |
| Food | Osaka | Groceries index 62 vs 82 (lower is better) |
| Transport | Singapore | One-way ticket 2.74 vs 223.42 (lower is better) |
| Utilities | Singapore | Utilities (85m²) 229.5 vs 8025 (lower is better) |
| Internet | Singapore | Internet 75.6 vs 8089.2 (lower is better) |
| Restaurants | Osaka | Restaurant index 35 vs 65 (lower is better) |
| Salary | Osaka | Avg net salary 945345 vs 7700.4 (higher is better) |
| Purchasing Power | Osaka | PP index 95 vs 92 (higher is better) |
Biggest Difference
Salary: Osaka leads with a 12177% gap.
Avg net salary 945345 vs 7700.4 (higher is better)
Quick Decision
- Students: Osaka — Lower housing / rent index (71% 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 (~24% gap).
- Budget Living: Osaka — Lowest overall consumer-price index in this pair.
Key Takeaways
- Osaka is the overall cost winner on CPI (~24% lower everyday-cost index than Singapore).
- Housing: Osaka leads on rent index (71% gap).
- Food / groceries: Osaka is lower (24% gap).
- Purchasing power: Osaka scores higher (3% gap).
- Largest category gap: Salary (12177%), favoring Osaka.
- Sample monthly basket (1BR + utilities + internet) is ~$2,226 cheaper in Osaka.
Analysis
Detailed breakdown uses only paired indices: CPI 73.7/55.8, rent 85/25, purchasing power 92/95. Category winners can diverge — a city may win rent while losing CPI. No GDP, climate, or industry claims are invented for either city.
Trust & data transparency
Last updated: 2026-08-11
Data Sources
This page uses CityCost index inputs. Platform sources (see also Data sources):
- Real
- Real
On-page labels for this view: Real · Real.
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.