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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,273 per month in Akita vs $1,430 in Okinawa, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,954 per month in Akita vs $2,196 in Okinawa, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,635 per month in Akita vs $2,961 in Okinawa, rent included.

Akita is about 11% cheaper than Okinawa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Akita sits 5% below the global median, while Okinawa is 7% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.94 ¥1,113

$8.57 ¥1,373

-19.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.26 ¥5,652

$41.32 ¥6,624

-14.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.45 ¥873

$6.12 ¥981

-10.95%

Cappuccino

$3.80 ¥608

$3.31 ¥530

14.80%

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

$1.05 ¥168

$1.32 ¥211

-20.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.93 ¥148

$0.86 ¥138

8.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.10 ¥337

$3.48 ¥558

-39.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ¥510

$4.81 ¥770

-33.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.60 ¥256

$1.87 ¥299

-14.44%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ¥252

$2.30 ¥368

-31.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.88 ¥782

$4.83 ¥774

1.04%

Eggs

$2.28 ¥366

$2.01 ¥322

13.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.94 ¥1,593

$16.33 ¥2,618

-39.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.42 ¥1,030

$11.13 ¥1,784

-42.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.43 ¥2,473

$26.95 ¥4,319

-42.75%

Apples (1kg)

$5.32 ¥853

$5.27 ¥844

0.95%

Banana (1kg)

$2.55 ¥409

$2.61 ¥419

-2.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.04 ¥647

$3.03 ¥486

33.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.85 ¥938

$5.65 ¥905

3.54%

Potato (1kg)

$3.12 ¥500

$3.69 ¥591

-15.45%

Onion (1kg)

$2.67 ¥429

$2.90 ¥465

-7.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.33 ¥213

$1.60 ¥257

-16.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 ¥144

$0.94 ¥151

-4.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.22 ¥676

$4.82 ¥772

-12.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.32 ¥1,333

$6.11 ¥980

36.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 ¥307

$1.72 ¥275

11.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 ¥358

$2.89 ¥462

-22.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.67 ¥267

$1.67 ¥268

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.6 ¥8,907

$35.27 ¥5,654

57.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.53 ¥566

$4.19 ¥672

-15.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.86 ¥459

$3.77 ¥605

-24.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$20.48 ¥3,282

$12.74 ¥2,041

60.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ¥233

$1.20 ¥192

20.83%

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

$23.1K ¥3.7M

$22.8K ¥3.7M

1.46%

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

$17.6K ¥2.8M

$17.0K ¥2.7M

3.60%

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

$144 ¥23.0K

$173 ¥27.7K

-17.03%

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

$27.16 ¥4,353

$27.72 ¥4,444

-2.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.38 ¥5,510

$32.51 ¥5,211

5.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.5 ¥8,894

$53.4 ¥8,566

3.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.96 ¥2,238

$6.76 ¥1,084

106.51%

Cinema Ticket

$12.38 ¥1,985

$12.60 ¥2,020

-1.75%

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

$285 ¥45.6K

$347 ¥55.6K

-17.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.2K ¥2.1M

$13.5K ¥2.2M

-2.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.60 ¥7,310

$48.84 ¥7,829

-6.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.11 ¥4,666

$29.28 ¥4,693

-0.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$59.3 ¥9,504

$72.9 ¥11.7K

-18.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.2 ¥14.6K

$93.1 ¥14.9K

-2.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$468 ¥75.0K

$437 ¥70.1K

7.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$333 ¥53.4K

$394 ¥63.2K

-15.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$865 ¥138.7K

$944 ¥151.3K

-8.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$669 ¥107.2K

$750 ¥120.2K

-10.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,561 ¥731.0K

$8,543 ¥1.4M

-46.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,373 ¥380.3K

$1,187 ¥190.2K

99.90%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,595 ¥255.6K

$1,292 ¥207.0K

23.47%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Okinawa: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $468 in Akita versus $437 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 23% higher in Akita, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Akita versus $41.00 in Okinawa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $317 vs $398 – 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 12% 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 $1,909 per month in Akita and $2,145 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 58% less in Akita. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $285 per month in Akita and $347 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 $1,273, than in Okinawa at $1,430. 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.