How much do you need to earn to live in Osaka? We calculate the gross monthly salary required to cover rent, food, transport, and utilities — accounting for Japan's tax system.
You need at least ¥188,768/month gross to live in Osaka on a budget.
For a comfortable lifestyle, aim for ¥235,187/month gross (¥187,650 net after ~20% tax).
| Expense | Budget | Comfortable | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent (1BR) | ¥85,000 Cheapest neighborhood (Nipponbashi) | ¥111,250 Median neighborhood | ¥125,000 Premium neighborhood (Umeda) |
| Groceries | ¥35,000 | ¥42,000 | ¥52,500 |
| Transport | ¥9,000 | ¥9,000 | ¥9,000 |
| Utilities | ¥11,000 | ¥11,000 | ¥11,000 |
| Dining & Entertainment | ¥12,000 | ¥14,400 | ¥18,000 |
| Total Monthly Expenses | ¥152,000 | ¥187,650 | ¥215,500 |
¥188,768/month gross
¥235,187/month gross
¥271,464/month gross
1-bedroom second-hand rents across 6 neighborhoods in Osaka
Nipponbashi
8 min by metro
¥85,000 - ¥105,000
Tennoji
10 min by metro
¥90,000 - ¥110,000
Fukushima
5 min by metro
¥95,000 - ¥120,000
Umeda
0 min by metro
¥110,000 - ¥140,000
Shinsaibashi
3 min by metro
¥105,000 - ¥135,000
Namba
5 min by metro
¥100,000 - ¥130,000
See all 6 neighborhoods, detailed expense breakdowns, and savings projections.
Explore OsakaEnter your actual salary to see your take-home pay, affordable neighborhoods, and savings potential.
Open calculatorWe total monthly expenses (rent, groceries, transport, utilities, dining out) for each lifestyle tier, then reverse-calculate the gross salary needed to cover those expenses after Japan's income tax and social contributions. Rent data comes from second-hand market listings (what expats actually pay). All figures are based on 2026 data from official government statistics. See our data sources for full attribution.
On a budget lifestyle, you need at least ¥188,768/month gross salary to cover basic expenses in Osaka. For a comfortable lifestyle, aim for ¥235,187/month gross. These figures include rent, food, transport, utilities, and dining out, with taxes calculated for Japan.
The average 1-bedroom rent across 6 neighborhoods in Osaka is approximately ¥110,417/month. Rents range from ¥85,000 in Nipponbashi to ¥140,000 in Umeda.
Monthly groceries for a single person in Osaka cost approximately ¥35,000. This covers basic home cooking. Dining out and premium food will add to this budget.
Tax rates in Japan are progressive. At the budget salary level of ¥188,768/month, the effective tax rate is approximately 20%. At the comfortable level of ¥235,187/month, it rises to approximately 20%. This includes income tax and social contributions.