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Budapest vs Osaka

Cost-of-living comparison and salary equivalence. Enter your current salary to see what you'd need to earn to live equally well.

$/ year

To keep the same standard of living in Osaka, JP, you'd need

$106,985 / year

Osaka, JP is 43% more expensive overall

Category breakdown (Osaka, JP vs Budapest, HU)

  • Housing+42%
  • Food & groceries+44%
  • Transport+64%
  • Utilities+16%
  • Healthcare+55%
  • Goods & services+44%

β—Ž How Budapest, HU and Osaka, JP compare

HousingFood & groceriesTransportUtilitiesHealthcareGoods & services
Budapest, HUOsaka, JP

Index vs the US average β€” the line marks 100. Lower is cheaper.

β–€ Full comparison

Budapest, HUOsaka, JP
Cost of living
Overall cost index6796
Housing6592
Food6898
Transport5082
Utilities95110
Healthcare5585
Goods & services72104
Housing
Rent, 1-bed centre$700/mo$850/mo
Rent, 1-bed outside$520/mo$600/mo
Rent, 3-bed centre$1,350/mo$1,600/mo
Buy price / mΒ² centre$3,200$6,500
Money & purchasing power
$1,000 goes as far as$1,484$1,040
Inexpensive meal$8$8
Monthly transit pass$30$60
Taxes
Income tax (top rate)15%45%
VAT / sales tax27%10%
Corporate tax9%30%
Capital gainsβ€”20.3%
Economy & salaries
Avg net salary$900/mo$2,600/mo
Minimum wage$700/mo$1,300/mo
GDP per capita$23,320$35,951
Inflation (annual)3.7%3.2%
Work & digital nomad
Digital-nomad visaYesYes
English proficiencyModerateLow
Coworking spaces4025
Time zoneUTC+1UTC+9
Quality of life
Safety index7282
Healthcare index6084
Pollution index5040
Internet speed200 Mbps230 Mbps
Walkability8080
Public transport8288
Family-friendly6572
Tap waterSafe to drinkSafe to drink
Life expectancy77 yr84 yr
LGBTQ+ acceptanceLowModerate
Climate
January avg0 Β°C+6 Β°C
July avg+22 Β°C+28 Β°C
Sunny days / year200200
Rainfall / year520 mm1,300 mm
Connectivity
Flight to nearest hub1.5 h2 h

Taxes & Economy & salaries: Hungary vs Japan. Estimates use approximate cost-of-living indices (US average = 100) and are for general guidance only.

Good to know before you move to Budapest

Grand Habsburg boulevards, thermal baths and ruin bars split by the Danube β€” one of the EU's best-value capitals, with a flat 15% tax and the White Card pulling in a fast-growing nomad crowd.

Currency
Hungarian forint (Ft HUF)
Languages
Hungarian
Time zone
UTC+1
Internet
200 Mbps
English
Fairly common
Safety
72/100
Climate
❄ 0Β°C Β· β˜€ 22Β°C Β· 200 sunny days/yr
Tap water
Safe to drink
Power
F Β· 230V
Driving
Right-hand side
Popular areas
District VII Β· District V Β· District XIII Β· Buda Hills

Good to know before you move to Osaka

Japan's warm, wisecracking second city and its street-food heart β€” cheaper and more laid-back than Tokyo, with the same safety, transit and reliability. The gateway to Kansai (Kyoto and Kobe are minutes away), it's an easy-going base with a big food and startup scene.

Currency
Japanese yen (Β₯ JPY)
Languages
Japanese
Time zone
UTC+9
Internet
230 Mbps
English
Rarely spoken
Safety
82/100
Climate
❄ 6Β°C Β· β˜€ 28Β°C Β· 200 sunny days/yr
Tap water
Safe to drink
Power
A/B Β· 100V
Driving
Left-hand side
Popular areas
Namba Β· Umeda Β· Tennoji Β· Nakazakicho

? Frequently asked questions

Moving from Budapest to Osaka: cheaper or more expensive?

Moving from Budapest to Osaka, your cost of living will be roughly 43% more expensive. Osaka’s cost-of-living index is 96 versus 67 for Budapest (US = 100). Use the salary tool above to see the income you’d need to keep the same lifestyle.

Is Budapest cheaper than Osaka?

Osaka is about 43% more expensive than Budapest overall β€” its cost-of-living index is 96 versus 67 for Budapest.

How much do you need to earn in Osaka to live like in Budapest?

To keep the same standard of living, a $75,000 salary in Budapest is worth about $106,985 in Osaka. Enter your own figure in the calculator above.

Which has lower taxes, Budapest or Osaka?

Hungary has the lower top income-tax rate β€” 15% versus 45% in Japan.

β—· More comparisons from Budapest

Estimates use approximate cost-of-living indices (US average = 100) and are for general guidance only.