Osaka for newcomers: renting in the city wards or nearby Suita, Toyonaka, Higashiosaka and Amagasaki

Prices, taxes and rules change. Last checked: 7 November 2026. Figures come from the official statistics and pages listed under Sources; confirm them before you sign anything.

Osaka is much cheaper to rent in than Tokyo. Osaka City has 24 wards, and the cities around it, including Suita, Toyonaka, Higashiosaka, Sakai and Amagasaki (in Hyogo), are within commuting range.

Rents and land prices by area

Area	Average rent	Land price / m²
Osaka City (all wards)	¥61,704	¥300,900
Kita (Umeda)	¥73,778	¥622,200
Chuo (Namba, Shinsaibashi)	¥76,816	¥772,700
Yodogawa (Shin-Osaka)	¥61,761	¥276,600
Higashiyodogawa	¥53,753	¥248,400
Sumiyoshi	¥55,644	¥280,700
Hirano	¥48,616	¥190,400
Suita	¥66,939	¥242,100
Toyonaka	¥72,479	¥240,300
Higashiosaka	¥54,892	¥150,200
Sakai	¥52,495	¥154,700
Amagasaki (Hyogo)	¥56,992	¥206,600

About these numbers. The rent column is the average monthly rent paid by all renting households in October 2023 (Housing and Land Survey). It includes public, company and family-size homes and excludes common fees, so a new one-room apartment can cost more or less. Rents have risen since 2023. The land column is MLIT’s average price of residential land per square metre on 1 January 2026, not the price of an apartment. Use them to compare areas in the Osaka area, not as a quote.

Renting households whose main earner was aged 25 to 34 paid ¥67,388 on average in Osaka City in 2023.

Where newcomers on a worker’s budget look

• North of the centre: Yodogawa ward, home to Shin-Osaka shinkansen station, and Higashiyodogawa, across the Yodo River from Umeda.
• South and east wards: Sumiyoshi, Hirano and others had some of the lowest averages in the city.
• Neighbouring cities: Higashiosaka to the east and Sakai to the south averaged below Osaka City. Suita and Toyonaka to the north averaged more.
• Amagasaki is in Hyogo Prefecture but borders Osaka City to the west.

Commute trade-offs

Distance bands are measured from Osaka City Hall. For private rentals in 2023:

Distance from Osaka City Hall	Rent per tatami	Median commute
0–10 km	¥4,351	33.3 min
10–20 km	¥3,622	41.4 min
20–30 km	¥3,634	42.1 min

Rent per tatami drops by about a sixth from the inner zone to 10–20 km, while the typical commute rises by about eight minutes. Because the drop is smaller than in Tokyo, living close in is often good value in Osaka. Check the door-to-door time at rush hour, and ask your employer about a commuting allowance.

Renting first, buying later

Most newcomers rent first. Expect move-in costs of several months’ rent, a guarantor or guarantee company, and a two-year contract (see our guide to finding an apartment). Within 14 days of moving in, report your address at the ward or city office (first 14 days guide). Buying in Osaka is possible for foreign residents, but most buyers need a mortgage, and many lenders want permanent residence (see mortgages for foreign residents).

In the Kansai region, contracts may include shikibiki, a fixed part of the deposit that is not returned. MLIT’s guidebook notes it is common in Kansai. Ask for it in writing.

Common mistakes and scams

• Choosing only by rent. Add the monthly commuter pass and the time you lose each day.
• Paying a “deposit” or “holding fee” to someone who is not a licensed real estate agent, or by transfer to a personal account.
• Signing before the agent’s important-points explanation, or without a written list of all move-in costs.
• Ignoring the hazard map. Check flood and landslide risk for the exact address on the city’s map.
• Comparing a listing’s rent with these averages as if they were the same thing.