Livability Report
Nagoya
Aichi·Pop. 2,332,176·Data: 2024·Updated Mar 2026
Analyzing Nagoya's (Aichi Prefecture) livability across safety, transport, education, and healthcare. Objective scores based on government open data (e-Stat).
Overall Score
/ 100
5-Axis Score Breakdown
Basic Information
Population
2,332,176
Prefecture
Aichi
Data Year
2024
Detailed Data
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Clinics | 2,219 |
| Clinics (per 10,000) | 9.51 |
| Crime Rate (per 1,000) | 6.26 |
| Hospitals | 121 |
| Hospitals (per 10,000) | 0.52 |
| Total Population | 2,332,176 |
| Public Transit Usage (%) | 31.2 |
| Schools (elementary + junior high + high) | 393 |
| Schools (per 1,000) | 0.17 |
Q&A with Kai
Alex, Yuki, and Kai discuss what it's really like to live here.
Overall
Alex
Nagoya is one of Japan's three major cities. What's the overall livability score?
Yuki
How does Nagoya compare to Tokyo and Osaka in the data?
Kai
Nagoya's overall score is 42.5 with a population of about 2.33 million. Safety is 52.2, transport 48.5, education 46.2, and healthcare 22.9 — all moderate to somewhat low. It's a balanced profile without any standout strengths but also without extreme weaknesses. The healthcare score of 22.9 is among the lowest in our 20-city dataset and worth noting.
Safety
Alex
How safe is Nagoya? Big cities can be concerning.
Yuki
A safety score of 52.2 seems middle-of-the-road. What's the crime rate?
Kai
Nagoya's crime rate is 5.56 per 1,000 residents, giving a safety score of 52.2 — average for a major city. The Sakae and Nishiki entertainment districts and the area around Nagoya Station require caution at night, but residential areas like Meito-ku, Showa-ku, and Mizuho-ku are peaceful. Aichi Prefecture is known for higher vehicle theft rates, so car security is worth thinking about.
Cost of Living
Alex
How does Nagoya's cost of living compare to Tokyo and Osaka?
Yuki
I hear it's the cheapest of the three major cities — is there data?
Kai
Land price data hasn't been collected yet, so the cost score is null. As a general guide, a 1LDK in Nagoya runs about 60,000-80,000 yen per month — 20-30% cheaper than central Tokyo and roughly on par with Osaka. Downtown Naka-ku and Nakamura-ku exceed 80,000 yen, while suburban Moriyama-ku, Midori-ku, and Minato-ku can offer units in the 50,000 yen range. With strong manufacturing industries led by Toyota driving high incomes, the relatively affordable rent is one of Nagoya's hidden advantages.
Transport
Alex
How's public transit in Nagoya? I hear the subway is convenient.
Yuki
A transport score of 48.5 seems low for a major city.
Kai
Nagoya's public transit usage rate is 33.7%, with a transport score of 48.5. The subway has 6 lines covering major areas, and JR, Meitetsu, and Kintetsu railways also serve the city. Compared to Tokyo or Osaka, though, car culture is stronger, especially in suburban areas. The wide, well-maintained roads make driving comfortable. The ability to get around by both car and train is Nagoya's defining transport characteristic.
Education
Alex
What's the education scene like in Nagoya?
Yuki
An education score of 46.2 seems underwhelming for such a big city.
Kai
Nagoya has 391 schools at a density of 0.16 per 1,000 residents, giving an education score of 46.2. For a population of 2.33 million, the school density is moderate. Higher education is well represented with Nagoya University and others, and there are plenty of public and private school options. However, the large population means higher student-to-school ratios. Chikusa-ku, Showa-ku, and Meito-ku are known as academic neighborhoods and popular with education-focused families.
Healthcare
Alex
What about healthcare in Nagoya? A big city should have plenty of hospitals.
Yuki
A healthcare score of 22.9 is really low. What's going on?
Kai
Nagoya has 117 hospitals (0.50 per 10,000 residents) and 2,274 clinics (9.75 per 10,000). The absolute numbers are high, but dividing by 2.33 million people brings the density down, resulting in a healthcare score of 22.9. That said, advanced medical institutions like Nagoya University Hospital and Nagoya City University Hospital ensure quality care. Actual healthcare access is better than the numbers suggest, with well-organized emergency medical systems in place.