β¦ Compare
Dubai 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.
To keep the same standard of living in Osaka, JP, you'd need
$60,663 / year
Osaka, JP is 19% cheaper overall
Category breakdown (Osaka, JP vs Dubai, UAE)
- Housing-39%
- Food & groceries-7%
- Transport-9%
- Utilities0%
- Healthcare-15%
- Goods & services-5%
β How Dubai, UAE and Osaka, JP compare
Index vs the US average β the line marks 100. Lower is cheaper.
β€ Full comparison
| Dubai, UAE | Osaka, JP | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living | ||
| Overall cost index | 119 | 96 |
| Housing | 152 | 92 |
| Food | 105 | 98 |
| Transport | 90 | 82 |
| Utilities | 110 | 110 |
| Healthcare | 100 | 85 |
| Goods & services | 110 | 104 |
| Housing | ||
| Rent, 1-bed centre | $2,000/mo | $850/mo |
| Rent, 1-bed outside | $1,300/mo | $600/mo |
| Rent, 3-bed centre | $4,500/mo | $1,600/mo |
| Buy price / mΒ² centre | $4,500 | $6,500 |
| Money & purchasing power | ||
| $1,000 goes as far as | $841 | $1,040 |
| Inexpensive meal | $12 | $8 |
| Monthly transit pass | $90 | $60 |
| Taxes | ||
| Income tax (top rate) | 0% | 45% |
| VAT / sales tax | 5% | 10% |
| Corporate tax | 9% | 30% |
| Capital gains | 0% | 20.3% |
| Economy & salaries | ||
| Avg net salary | $3,500/mo | $2,600/mo |
| Minimum wage | β | $1,300/mo |
| GDP per capita | $50,000 | $35,951 |
| Inflation (annual) | 1.3% | 3.2% |
| Work & digital nomad | ||
| Digital-nomad visa | Yes | Yes |
| English proficiency | High | Low |
| Coworking spaces | 60 | 25 |
| Time zone | UTC+4 | UTC+9 |
| Quality of life | ||
| Safety index | 84 | 82 |
| Healthcare index | 80 | 84 |
| Pollution index | 55 | 40 |
| Internet speed | 250 Mbps | 230 Mbps |
| Walkability | 45 | 80 |
| Public transport | 60 | 88 |
| Family-friendly | 70 | 72 |
| Tap water | Use caution | Safe to drink |
| Health insurance | $150/mo | β |
| Life expectancy | 83 yr | 84 yr |
| LGBTQ+ acceptance | Restricted | Moderate |
| Climate | ||
| January avg | +19 Β°C | +6 Β°C |
| July avg | +36 Β°C | +28 Β°C |
| Sunny days / year | 340 | 200 |
| Rainfall / year | 100 mm | 1,300 mm |
| Connectivity | ||
| Flight to nearest hub | 1 h | 2 h |
Taxes & Economy & salaries: United Arab Emirates 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 Dubai
Zero income tax and a big expat scene draw remote workers and founders β offset by pricey rent, car-dependence and brutal summers.
- Currency
- UAE dirham (Ψ―.Ψ₯ AED)
- Languages
- Arabic, English
- Time zone
- UTC+4
- Internet
- 250 Mbps
- English
- Widely spoken
- Safety
- 84/100
- Climate
- β 19Β°C Β· β 36Β°C Β· 340 sunny days/yr
- Tap water
- Bottled recommended
- Power
- G Β· 230V
- Driving
- Right-hand side
- Popular areas
- Marina Β· Downtown Β· JLT
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
- β 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
Plan your move to Dubai
Everything you will book for the move β sorted, and updated as we add partners.
- FlightsCheapvuelos
- FlightsAviasales
- Car rentalLocalrent
- Airport transferKiwitaxi
- Tours & ticketsKlook
- Tours & ticketsTiqets
- InsuranceSafetyWing
- eSIM / dataAiralo
- Luggage storageRadical Storage
Sponsored
Plan your move to Osaka
Everything you will book for the move β sorted, and updated as we add partners.
- FlightsCheapvuelos
- FlightsAviasales
- Car rentalEconomybookings
- Airport transferKiwitaxi
- Tours & ticketsKlook
- InsuranceSafetyWing
- eSIM / dataAiralo
- Luggage storageRadical Storage
Sponsored
? Frequently asked questions
Moving from Dubai to Osaka: cheaper or more expensive?
Moving from Dubai to Osaka, your cost of living will be roughly 19% cheaper. Osakaβs cost-of-living index is 96 versus 119 for Dubai (US = 100). Use the salary tool above to see the income youβd need to keep the same lifestyle.
Is Dubai cheaper than Osaka?
Osaka is about 19% cheaper than Dubai overall β its cost-of-living index is 96 versus 119 for Dubai.
How much do you need to earn in Osaka to live like in Dubai?
To keep the same standard of living, a $75,000 salary in Dubai is worth about $60,663 in Osaka. Enter your own figure in the calculator above.
Which has lower taxes, Dubai or Osaka?
United Arab Emirates has the lower top income-tax rate β 0% versus 45% in Japan.
β· More comparisons from Dubai
Estimates use approximate cost-of-living indices (US average = 100) and are for general guidance only.