Are you thinking of starting a life alone in Osaka? Learn the basics of average rent prices

When considering living alone in Osaka, the first thing you want to know is the average rent.

Prices vary greatly depending on the area, layout, and age of the building, so where you live and what type of room you live in directly affect your household finances. Also, while rent in Osaka is slightly lower than in central Tokyo, in some places it can be more expensive than you might expect.

In order to live a comfortable life, it is important to know the rent range that is appropriate for your income.

In this chapter, we will take a closer look at the average rent for each common floor plan for single people, compare it with other areas, and provide an idea of appropriate rent amounts.

Average rent for single-person living by layout (1R, 1K, 1DK, 1LDK)

Popular floor plans for people living alone in Osaka are 1R, 1K, 1DK, and 1LDK.

Depending on the area, the average rent as of 2025 is as follows:

• 1R: Approx. 45,000 to 55,000 yen
• 1K: Approx. 50,000 to 65,000 yen
• 1DK: Approx. 60,000 to 75,000 yen
• 1LDK: Approximately 70,000 to 90,000 yen

In central areas such as Umeda (Kita-ku, Osaka) and Namba (Naniwa-ku and Chuo-ku, Osaka), the price can be up to 10,000 yen higher.

On the other hand, in suburban areas such as Higashiyodogawa Ward, Sumiyoshi Ward, and Moriguchi City in Osaka City, there are plenty of 1K properties available for rent for under 50,000 yen.

Prices vary depending on the age of the building, the distance from the station, and whether or not the property has facilities, so it is efficient to narrow down your search criteria. First, decide on the layout and budget you want.

Are rents in Osaka high or low compared to other parts of the country?

Rent in Osaka is slightly higher than the national average, but is significantly cheaper than in central Tokyo.

In particular, single-person properties such as 1R and 1K apartments are often 10,000 to 20,000 yen cheaper than in Tokyo's 23 wards, making this an attractive area for those who want both urban functionality and cost-effectiveness.

Also, compared to Nagoya and Fukuoka, rents in the city center tend to be slightly higher, but properties in suburban areas offer good value even when compared nationwide.

For example, a room with the same size and facilities as a property in Tokyo with a rent of 80,000 yen can sometimes be found for around 60,000 yen in Osaka.

In this way, Osaka can be said to be a city where convenience and affordable rents coexist in a good balance.

Is rent supposed to be 30% of your take-home pay? What's the appropriate amount for living alone?

When you start living alone, rent will be a large fixed monthly expense, so it's important to set it within your reasonable limits.

Generally speaking, an appropriate rent level is considered to be "within 30% of your monthly take-home pay." For example, if your take-home pay is 200,000 yen, a monthly rent of around 60,000 yen would be appropriate.

If rent is too high compared to your income, you may not have enough money left for living expenses or savings, which could put a strain on your household finances.

On the other hand, lowering the rent too much and resulting in long commute times and inconveniences in daily life would be counterproductive.

In Osaka, there are many areas where you can find well-equipped properties for around 50,000 yen, so the ideal balance is "within 30% of your income + convenience."

First, determine how much you can live comfortably based on your take-home pay.

View by area! Average rent for single people in Osaka [City, Suburbs, Hokusetsu]

One of the important points to consider when starting to live alone in Osaka Prefecture is "which area to live in."

Each area has its own characteristics: the city center is highly convenient but has high rents, the suburbs have an abundance of quiet and affordable properties, and the Hokusetsu area has good public safety and living conditions. Outside the city, there are also many areas worth considering for low rent and comfortable living.

Knowing the average rent prices and characteristics of each area will make it easier to create a lifestyle that suits you.

Here, we will introduce in detail the recommended areas for living alone and approximate rents for rental apartments and condominiums from four perspectives: Osaka city center (e.g. Kita-ku, Osaka), suburbs (e.g. Hirano-ku, Osaka), Hokusetsu (e.g. Suita), and outside the city (e.g. Moriguchi).

Osaka city center (Umeda, Namba, Shinsaibashi, etc.)

The center of Osaka city, especially Umeda (Kita-ku, Osaka City), Namba/Shinsaibashi (Naniwa-ku and Chuo-ku, Osaka City), Fukushima (Fukushima-ku, Osaka City), and even Tennoji (Tennoji-ku, Osaka City) and Abeno (Abeno-ku, Osaka City) have excellent transportation access and commercial facilities, as well as many restaurants and cafes, making them extremely popular areas among young people and working adults.

Therefore, the average rent is a little high, and it is not uncommon for even a one-room or one-kitchen apartment to be 70,000 to 90,000 yen per month. For recently built properties or properties close to stations, the average rent can exceed 100,000 yen.

It's attractive for those who prioritize convenience, but you need to balance that with the cost of living.

If your workplace is in the city center, you can reduce your commute time, making this a recommended area for those on a budget.

Osaka City suburban areas (Higashiyodogawa Ward, Sumiyoshi Ward, Hirano Ward, Asahi Ward, Joto Ward, Ikuno Ward, etc.)

Properties in the suburbs of Osaka City have lower rent than in the city center and offer a calm living environment.

For example, in Higashiyodogawa-ku, Osaka (around Kamishinjo Station), there are plenty of 1K properties for around 45,000 to 60,000 yen, and similar price ranges are also prevalent in Sumiyoshi-ku and Hirano-ku, Osaka. Both have good access to Umeda and Namba areas via the Osaka Metro and JR, and offer an excellent balance between rent and convenience. Sumiyoshi-ku in particular is known for its good public safety, and is popular among women living alone.

Furthermore, Osaka City's Asahi Ward, Joto Ward, and Ikuno Ward also have many properties with reasonable rents and quiet residential areas suitable for living alone. Asahi Ward has many supermarkets and parks, and is a city that balances convenience of living with the natural environment. Joto Ward is close to the Kyobashi area and has good access to JR and subways, making it convenient for commuting to work or school. Ikuno Ward is a quiet area that retains its traditional townscape, has many shopping streets, and is characterized by low living costs.

Even in the suburbs, there are many areas where you won't feel inconvenienced, so it is recommended for those who want to live in a comfortable room while keeping costs down.

Hokusetsu area (Suita, Toyonaka, Minoh, etc.)

The Hokusetsu area (Suita City, Toyonaka City, Minoh City, and Ibaraki City) is an area in Osaka Prefecture that is particularly well-known for being "easy to live in."

It is popular with a wide range of people, from single people to families, thanks to its high level of public safety and education, as well as its comprehensive government services.

The average rent for a 1K or 1DK apartment is around 55,000 to 70,000 yen, which is cheaper than in the city center and slightly more expensive than in the suburbs.

In particular, areas along the Hankyu Line (Senri Chuo, Hotarugaike, Ishibashi-Handai-mae, etc.) offer a good balance of accessibility and environment, and are popular with both working adults and students.

The area is also attractive for its peaceful streets and abundance of parks, making it the perfect place for those who want to live in a quiet environment and who prioritize public safety.

Areas outside the city with cheaper rent (Moriguchi, Settsu, Ikeda, etc.)

There are also several areas outside of Osaka city that have low rent and are ideal for living alone.

Representative cities include Moriguchi, Settsu, and Ikeda, all of which are well-connected and have excellent access to the city center.

The average rent for a 1K apartment is around 45,000 to 60,000 yen, which is more reasonable than in Osaka city.

Moriguchi City is accessible via the Tanimachi Subway Line and the Keihan Main Line, and can be reached from Umeda and Kyobashi in less than 20 minutes.

Settsu City is popular with students as it is accessible by the Hankyu Line and the Osaka Monorail. Ikeda City is located along the Hankyu Takarazuka Line and has a lot of nature and peaceful residential areas.

This is a very attractive option for those looking for a quieter lifestyle while keeping rent low.

Average initial costs for living alone for the first time

When you start living alone in Osaka, you need to pay attention not only to rent but also to "initial costs."

When signing a contract for a property, you will usually have to pay a large amount of money before you move in, including a security deposit, key money, and brokerage fees. Even if the rent is cheap, if the initial costs are high, you may end up exceeding your budget.

Another important point is to choose a property that will keep initial costs down.

In this chapter, we will explain in detail the breakdown of the initial costs of living alone, an estimate of how many months' rent you will need, and how to choose a property to keep your budget down.

Breakdown of initial costs such as deposit, key money, and brokerage fee

The initial costs incurred when signing a contract for a rental property mainly include the deposit, key money, agency fee, advance rent, fire insurance fee, and key replacement fee.

In Osaka, there are an increasing number of properties with no deposit or key money, but in popular areas or recently built properties, it is not uncommon for one month's rent to be required. The average brokerage fee is usually one month's rent plus consumption tax. In addition, fire insurance is usually around 10,000 to 20,000 yen, and key replacement costs are generally 10,000 to 30,000 yen.

When you add these up, even if your rent is only 50,000 to 60,000 yen, it can come to a lump sum expense of around 200,000 yen.

It is important to carefully read the contract details in advance and understand how much it will cost in total.

How many months rent is the average initial cost?

The total amount of initial costs is generally considered to be around 3 to 5 months' rent.

For example, if the property costs 60,000 yen per month, the initial costs will be around 180,000 to 300,000 yen.

The breakdown includes the deposit, key money (one month's each), agency fee (one month's + tax), advance rent (one month's), and other expenses (fire insurance, key exchange, etc.).

Furthermore, there may be cases where you will have to pay guarantor company fees (0.5 to 1 month's rent) and cleaning fees at the time of signing the contract, so if you overlook these, you may end up exceeding your budget by a large amount.

The first step to planning your life alone is to check the total initial costs rather than just basing your decision on the "low rent" displayed on a real estate website.

How to choose a property to reduce initial costs

If you want to keep initial costs down, it is effective to search for properties with no deposit or key money.

Osaka has many zero-to-zero properties, and the conditions are ideal for students and new graduates to easily enter into a lease.

Also, some real estate companies run campaigns such as "no brokerage fee" or "one month free rent", so it can be effective to compare multiple real estate agents.

It is also important to check the guarantor company's terms and conditions and whether they offer plans with cheaper fire insurance premiums.

Furthermore, if you choose a property that comes with furniture and appliances, you can reduce expenses (purchase costs) immediately after moving.

If it is difficult to come up with a lump sum of money when you move in, you may want to prioritize properties with low initial costs.

Safety and accessibility are also important! Popular areas of Osaka for single people

When living alone in Osaka Prefecture, not only "low rent" but also public safety, transportation access, and the surrounding living environment are important factors to consider.

In particular, for women living alone, students, and working adults, safety and convenience of commuting to work or school greatly affect quality of life.

Also, when choosing a property, it is important not to overlook the "livability" of the area, such as whether there are facilities near the station and how easy it is to do everyday shopping.

There are many areas in Osaka Prefecture that offer a good balance of these elements.

Here we will introduce in detail safe neighborhoods popular with women, stations that are convenient for commuting to work or school, and areas with plenty of surrounding facilities that make life easy.

Safe areas recommended for women living alone

When a woman lives alone, the thing she is most concerned about is the safety of the area.

Areas in Osaka Prefecture with good public safety include Minoh City, Toyonaka City, and Ibaraki City in the Hokusetsu area, and Sumiyoshi Ward and Abeno Ward in Osaka City. These areas have a relatively low crime rate, and are well-maintained with streetlights and busy streets, making it safe to return home at night.

In addition, areas where many families live tend to have a high level of crime prevention awareness and many apartment buildings with well-established management systems.

There are also many rental properties that are exclusively for women and have security features such as automatic locks, so you can live safely even if it is your first time living alone.

A popular station for working and students, convenient for commuting to work or school

If you are looking for ease of commuting to work or school, an area with good access to major stations is ideal.

In Osaka, popular stations include Kyobashi Station (JR, Keihan, and Subway), Esaka Station (Subway Midosuji Line), Minamimorimachi Station (Subway Sakaisuji Line and Tanimachi Line), and Kamishinjo Station (Hankyu Kyoto Line).

These stations offer direct access to business districts such as Umeda and Namba, and are attractive because they are relatively uncrowded in the mornings.

Additionally, areas close to universities such as Nagai Station (Midosuji Line) and Senriyama Station (Hankyu Senri Line) are also popular choices among students.

There are supermarkets and restaurants within walking distance of the station, making the area highly convenient for daily life, and creating an environment where workers and students can live stress-free.

If you value livability, be sure to check out the surrounding facilities too

"Livability" is not determined solely by rent or size.

It is important to have supermarkets, drugstores, hospitals, banks, government offices, and other life infrastructure within walking distance. Cities in Osaka Prefecture that are rated as easy to live in have one thing in common: they have a good selection of these facilities.

For example, Esaka and Tennoji are very convenient for living, with large shopping malls, restaurants, and medical facilities. Moriguchi and Takatsuki cities also have a wide range of administrative services, and libraries, sports centers, and parks, so you won't have any trouble finding something to do on your days off.

When choosing a property, be sure to check not only the house itself but also the surrounding facilities and environment to increase your satisfaction in your daily life.

Summary | How to start living alone in Osaka, based on average rent

When you start living alone in Osaka, it's important to take into consideration not only the average rent, but also the area you'll live in, the layout, initial costs, and living environment.

The city center is highly convenient, but rents are high, but in the suburbs, Hokusetsu, and outside the city, you can live comfortably while keeping rent low. Also, the initial costs are roughly 3 to 5 months' rent, so be sure to estimate them carefully before signing a contract.

For women and students, safety and access to school or work are also important, and cities that are easy to live in often have well-developed infrastructure for daily life.

Find a room that is safe and satisfying by choosing an area and property that suits your lifestyle.