Cost of Living Comparison Between Akita and Okinawa Cost of Living Comparison Between Akita and Okinawa

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,255 per month in Akita vs $1,437 in Okinawa, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,970 per month in Akita vs $2,214 in Okinawa, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,686 per month in Akita vs $2,992 in Okinawa, rent included.

Akita is about 13% cheaper than Okinawa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Akita sits 6% below the global median, while Okinawa is 8% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.05 ¥1,146

$8.18 ¥1,329

-13.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.41 ¥5,591

$41.94 ¥6,815

-17.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.27 ¥856

$5.98 ¥971

-11.87%

Cappuccino

$3.76 ¥611

$3.34 ¥543

12.57%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.09 ¥176

$1.32 ¥215

-17.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 ¥141

$0.93 ¥152

-6.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.09 ¥340

$3.50 ¥569

-40.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.21 ¥522

$4.91 ¥797

-34.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.59 ¥258

$1.95 ¥317

-18.46%

White Bread (500g)

$1.59 ¥259

$2.37 ¥385

-32.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.84 ¥786

$4.87 ¥791

-0.62%

Eggs

$2.29 ¥372

$2.00 ¥325

14.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.26 ¥1,668

$16.39 ¥2,663

-37.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.23 ¥1,012

$10.84 ¥1,761

-42.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.15 ¥2,462

$26.48 ¥4,303

-42.79%

Apples (1kg)

$5.52 ¥897

$5.06 ¥822

9.09%

Banana (1kg)

$2.66 ¥432

$2.59 ¥420

2.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.95 ¥641

$3.13 ¥509

26.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.03 ¥980

$5.64 ¥916

6.91%

Potato (1kg)

$3.07 ¥499

$3.50 ¥568

-12.29%

Onion (1kg)

$2.67 ¥433

$2.89 ¥469

-7.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.40 ¥227

$1.59 ¥258

-11.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 ¥144

$0.88 ¥143

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ¥695

$4.92 ¥799

-13.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.99 ¥1,298

$6.09 ¥989

31.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 ¥311

$1.73 ¥281

10.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 ¥361

$2.91 ¥473

-23.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.58 ¥257

$1.63 ¥265

-3.07%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$56.2 ¥9,126

$34.91 ¥5,673

60.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.37 ¥548

$4.11 ¥668

-18.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.93 ¥476

$3.62 ¥587

-19.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$20.57 ¥3,343

$12.58 ¥2,044

63.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ¥242

$1.24 ¥202

20.16%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$22.7K ¥3.7M

$23.3K ¥3.8M

-2.57%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$17.3K ¥2.8M

$16.7K ¥2.7M

3.50%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$143 ¥23.3K

$173 ¥28.2K

-17.24%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$27.40 ¥4,451

$27.25 ¥4,428

0.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.40 ¥5,589

$31.66 ¥5,145

8.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.4 ¥9,166

$53.7 ¥8,723

5.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.13 ¥2,295

$7.04 ¥1,144

100.71%

Cinema Ticket

$12.26 ¥1,992

$12.45 ¥2,022

-1.53%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$287 ¥46.7K

$346 ¥56.2K

-16.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.5K ¥2.2M

$13.2K ¥2.1M

2.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.35 ¥7,368

$47.75 ¥7,758

-5.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.34 ¥4,767

$29.25 ¥4,753

0.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$59.6 ¥9,676

$73.5 ¥11.9K

-18.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.1 ¥15.0K

$90.9 ¥14.8K

1.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$460 ¥74.7K

$445 ¥72.2K

3.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$328 ¥53.3K

$400 ¥64.9K

-17.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$873 ¥141.9K

$946 ¥153.7K

-7.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$651 ¥105.7K

$748 ¥121.5K

-13.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,404 ¥715.5K

$8,584 ¥1.4M

-48.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,240 ¥364.0K

$1,221 ¥198.4K

83.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,585 ¥257.5K

$1,769 ¥287.4K

-10.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.78

-11.00%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Akita: July 12, 2026

Last update for Okinawa: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $460 in Akita versus $445 in Okinawa. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 12% higher in Okinawa, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $34.00 in Akita versus $42.00 in Okinawa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $318 vs $395 – making Akita the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Akita vs Okinawa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Okinawa costs about 15% more than Akita, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,882 per month in Akita and $2,155 in Okinawa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Akita, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 61% less in Akita. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $287 per month in Akita and $346 in Okinawa. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Akita, where all-in costs run around $1,255, than in Okinawa at $1,437. In Akita it covers expenses comfortably, while in Okinawa it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Akita – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Akita. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Okinawa makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.