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Livability Report

SakaiLivability Score

Osaka·Pop. 802,648

Livability analysis of Sakai, Osaka across 5 axes: safety, cost, convenience, welfare, and economy based on government open data.

Published 2026-04-20 · Data updated 2026-10-20

Where in Japan

Hokkai DoAomori KenIwate KenMiyagi KenAkita KenYamagata KenFukushima KenIbaraki KenTochigi KenGunma KenSaitama KenChiba KenTokyo ToKanagawa KenNiigata KenToyama KenIshikawa KenFukui KenYamanashi KenNagano KenGifu KenShizuoka KenAichi KenMie KenShiga KenKyoto FuOsaka FuHyogo KenNara KenWakayama KenTottori KenShimane KenOkayama KenHiroshima KenYamaguchi KenTokushima KenKagawa KenEhime KenKochi KenFukuoka KenSaga KenNagasaki KenKumamoto KenOita KenMiyazaki KenKagoshima KenOkinawa KenSakaiSakai
Map: based on Global Map Japan (Geospatial Information Authority of Japan)

Overall Score

52.2
A
Safety36.1Cost42.1Convenience52.2Welfare60.8Economy56.7

* These scores are based on statistical analysis of public data and do not represent a definitive assessment of any area. Actual livability varies depending on individual values and lifestyle.

5-axis scores

SafetySafety36.1
CostCost42.1
ConvenienceConvenience52.2
WelfareWelfare60.8
EconomyEconomy56.7

Basic Information

Population

802,648

Prefecture

Osaka

Q&A with Kai

Alex, Yuki, and Kai discuss what it's really like to live here.

This article's text predates the October 2026 data and scoring revision and is being rewritten.

Safety

Alex

Alex

How safe is Sakai? Is it a comfortable place to live within Osaka Prefecture?

Yuki

Yuki

What are the specific crime rate figures?

Kai

Sakai's crime rate is 9.15 per 1,000 residents, with a safety score of 24.9. As a designated city with a population of about 826,000, the high foot traffic naturally leads to more reported incidents. Residential areas like Semboku New Town offer calm living environments with active community crime prevention patrols. The area around the UNESCO World Heritage Mozu Kofun Group has well-maintained parks with good visibility.

Cost of Living

Alex

Alex

How expensive is living in Sakai? Being close to Osaka city, I'd expect high costs.

Yuki

Yuki

What are the specific land price and rent figures?

Kai

Sakai's average land price is 162,240 yen per square meter, and the average rent is 49,482 yen, giving a cost score of 49.1. This is considerably more affordable than central Osaka. With the Osaka Metro Midosuji Line providing direct access to Osaka city center, the cost-performance ratio is excellent. Suburban areas like Semboku New Town offer even more affordable housing options.

Convenience

Alex

Alex

How convenient is Sakai for transportation and shopping?

Yuki

Yuki

How well-developed is the public transit system and commercial infrastructure?

Kai

The public transit usage rate is 30.9%, with a convenience score of 47.4. Sakai is served by Nankai Main and Koya Lines, JR Hanwa Line, and Osaka Metro Midosuji Line, making commuting to Osaka city very convenient. Retail density is 5.05 stores per 1,000 residents, with 3.60 restaurants per 1,000. As the core of the Sakai-Semboku coastal industrial zone, it's the Kinki region's leading industrial city by shipment value, providing abundant local employment.

Welfare

Alex

Alex

How are healthcare and education in Sakai?

Yuki

Yuki

Are there enough hospitals and schools for the population?

Kai

The welfare score is 48.2. Medical facilities total 9.51 per 10,000 residents, with 43 hospitals and 743 clinics — a well-developed healthcare infrastructure for a city of this size. There are 141 schools, or 0.17 per 1,000 residents. As the city of Sen no Rikyu and tea ceremony culture, it offers rich historical education resources, and as a designated city, it maintains high-quality administrative services.

Economy

Alex

Alex

How's Sakai's economy? It has a strong industrial image.

Yuki

Yuki

What do the income and migration data show?

Kai

The economy score is 52.2. Taxable income per capita is approximately 3.62 million yen, supported by the Sakai-Semboku coastal industrial zone's manufacturing base. Net migration is -700 people with a rate of -0.08%, nearly balanced. The UNESCO World Heritage registration of the Mozu Kofun Group has boosted tourism-related economic effects, and the city's historic legacy as an international trading port once called 'the Venice of the East' continues to contribute to its economic appeal.

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Detailed Data

IndicatorValueYear
Crime Rate (per 1,000)8.292025
Avg. Land Price (¥/m²)154,7342026
Avg. Rent (¥)53,1252023
Public Transit Usage (%)30.92020
Retail Establishments4,1702021
Retail Establishments (per 1,000)5.202021
Restaurant Establishments2,9772021
Restaurant Establishments (per 1,000)3.712021
Residency Rate (%, census ÷ resident register)99.22025
Medical Facilities (per 10,000, hospitals + clinics)9.812023
Hospitals432023
Hospitals (per 10,000)0.542023
Clinics7442023
Clinics (per 10,000)9.272023
Schools (elementary + junior high + high)1652024
Schools (per 1,000)0.2062024
Schools (per habitable km²)1.1312024
Taxable Income per Capita (¥)3,833,8742025
Net Migration1,1282025
Net Migration Rate (%)0.142025
Total Population802,6482025
crime_count6,6512025
crime_count_pref84,1072025
crime_rate_pref_per_1000102025
habitable_area_km21462024
resident_registry_population809,0322026

Data sources

IndicatorSourceYearNotes
Total Population2025 Population CensusStatistics Bureau of Japan2025
Crime Rate (per 1,000)Reported penal code offenses by municipalityOsaka Prefectural Police2025Counted where offenses occur; per 1,000 uses the 2025 census population
Avg. Land Price (¥/m²)Official land prices (National Land Numerical Information L01)Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism2026Residential sites only; simple average of sites
Avg. Rent (¥)2023 Housing and Land SurveyStatistics Bureau of Japan2023Monthly rent of rented housing; next survey in 2028
Public Transit Usage (%)2020 Population Census (means of commuting)Statistics Bureau of Japan2020To be updated when the 2025 census commuting tables are published
Retail Establishments (per 1,000)2021 Economic Census for Business ActivityMIC and METI2021Next survey in 2026
Restaurant Establishments (per 1,000)2021 Economic Census for Business ActivityMIC and METI2021Next survey in 2026
Medical Facilities (per 10,000, hospitals + clinics)Survey of Medical Institutions (System of Social and Demographic Statistics)Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare2023Hospitals and clinics combined
Schools (per habitable km²)School Basic Survey and habitable area (System of Social and Demographic Statistics)MEXT and Statistics Bureau of Japan2024Elementary, junior high and high schools per habitable km²
Taxable Income per Capita (¥)Survey on municipal tax assessmentMinistry of Internal Affairs and Communications2025Taxable income per taxpayer
Net Migration Rate (%)Report on Internal MigrationStatistics Bureau of Japan2025
Residency Rate (%, census ÷ resident register)Census population ÷ resident register populationMinistry of Internal Affairs and Communications2025Resident register population as of January 1, 2026

Data years: mainly 2025 (2020–2026 by indicator)

Published 2026-04-20 · Data updated 2026-10-20