Osaka vs Tokyo
- Typical 1R/1K rent in Osaka is roughly 33% lower than in Tokyo.
- Tokyo has the higher minimum wage: ¥1,226 vs ¥1,177 per hour.
- Tokyo has the larger foreign community — about 801,438 residents vs 375,319.
- On typical pay and living costs, Osaka leaves more room to save each month.
| Osaka | Tokyo | |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign residents 1 | ≈375,319 | ≈801,438 |
| Share 1 | 4.3% | 5.7% |
| 1R/1K rent 2 | ¥55,000–¥80,000 | ¥80,000–¥120,000 |
| Monthly cost (single) 3 | ¥140,000–¥220,000 | ¥180,000–¥280,000 |
| Min. wage 1 | ¥1,177 | ¥1,226 |
| Typical gross pay 3 | ¥220,000–¥350,000 | ¥250,000–¥400,000 |
| English jobs 3 | Medium | High |
| SSW jobs 3 | High | High |
| Students 3 | High | High |
| Families 3 | Medium | Medium |
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1 Official data · 2 Market data · 3 Path2Japan estimate
Population and foreign-resident figures are prefecture-scoped (Tokyo-to, Osaka-fu, etc.) so cities stay comparable. Rent ranges are typical 1R/1K listing ranges; living cost and pay ranges are Path2Japan estimates built from official statistics and market samples — they are not official statistics.