Cost of Living Comparison Between Asahikawa and Okinawa Cost of Living Comparison Between Asahikawa and Okinawa

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,233 per month in Asahikawa vs $1,437 in Okinawa, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,909 per month in Asahikawa vs $2,214 in Okinawa, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,584 per month in Asahikawa vs $2,992 in Okinawa, rent included.

Asahikawa is about 14% cheaper than Okinawa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Asahikawa
Okinawa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.90 ¥1,121
$8.18 ¥1,329
-15.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.17 ¥5,714
$41.94 ¥6,815
-16.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.23 ¥850
$5.98 ¥971
-12.54%
Cappuccino
$3.14 ¥510
$3.34 ¥543
-5.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09 ¥177
$1.32 ¥215
-17.42%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79 ¥128
$0.93 ¥152
-15.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.65 ¥431
$3.50 ¥569
-24.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.03 ¥492
$4.91 ¥797
-38.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Asahikawa
Okinawa
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.53 ¥249
$1.95 ¥317
-21.54%
White Bread (500g)
$1.58 ¥257
$2.37 ¥385
-33.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.87 ¥792
$4.87 ¥791
-
Eggs
$2.29 ¥371
$2.00 ¥325
14.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.97 ¥1,620
$16.39 ¥2,663
-39.17%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.31 ¥1,026
$10.84 ¥1,761
-41.79%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.27 ¥2,482
$26.48 ¥4,303
-42.33%
Apples (1kg)
$5.34 ¥868
$5.06 ¥822
5.53%
Banana (1kg)
$2.59 ¥421
$2.59 ¥420
-
Oranges (1kg)
$3.92 ¥637
$3.13 ¥509
25.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.85 ¥951
$5.64 ¥916
3.72%
Potato (1kg)
$3.13 ¥509
$3.50 ¥568
-10.57%
Onion (1kg)
$2.69 ¥437
$2.89 ¥469
-6.92%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.35 ¥219
$1.59 ¥258
-15.09%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.89 ¥145
$0.88 ¥143
1.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.22 ¥685
$4.92 ¥799
-14.23%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.69 ¥1,412
$6.09 ¥989
42.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.85 ¥301
$1.73 ¥281
6.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 ¥368
$2.91 ¥473
-22.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Asahikawa
Okinawa
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.67 ¥272
$1.63 ¥265
2.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$55.9 ¥9,080
$34.91 ¥5,673
60.10%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.39 ¥551
$4.11 ¥668
-17.52%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.03 ¥492
$3.62 ¥587
-16.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.06 ¥3,422
$12.58 ¥2,044
67.41%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 ¥201
$1.24 ¥202
-0.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.9K ¥3.7M
$23.3K ¥3.8M
-2.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.6K ¥2.9M
$16.7K ¥2.7M
5.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Asahikawa
Okinawa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$144 ¥23.3K
$173 ¥28.2K
-17.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.32 ¥4,439
$27.25 ¥4,428
0.26%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.88 ¥5,505
$31.66 ¥5,145
7.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Asahikawa
Okinawa
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.3 ¥9,144
$53.7 ¥8,723
4.82%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.07 ¥2,286
$7.04 ¥1,144
99.86%
Cinema Ticket
$12.69 ¥2,063
$12.45 ¥2,022
1.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Asahikawa
Okinawa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$287 ¥46.6K
$346 ¥56.2K
-17.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.7K ¥2.2M
$13.2K ¥2.1M
3.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Asahikawa
Okinawa
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.11 ¥7,004
$47.75 ¥7,758
-9.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.89 ¥4,856
$29.25 ¥4,753
2.19%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$60.0 ¥9,747
$73.5 ¥11.9K
-18.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.3 ¥14.8K
$90.9 ¥14.8K
0.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Asahikawa
Okinawa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$466 ¥75.6K
$445 ¥72.2K
4.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$333 ¥54.1K
$400 ¥64.9K
-16.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$857 ¥139.2K
$946 ¥153.7K
-9.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$652 ¥105.9K
$748 ¥121.5K
-12.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,280 ¥695.4K
$8,584 ¥1.4M
-50.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,320 ¥376.9K
$1,221 ¥198.4K
89.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Asahikawa
Okinawa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$1,769 ¥287.4K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
1.78
2
-11.00%

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

Last update for Asahikawa: July 13, 2026

Last update for Okinawa: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $466 in Asahikawa 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Asahikawa versus $42.00 in Okinawa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $316 vs $395 – making Asahikawa 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
Asahikawa vs Okinawa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Asahikawa and in Okinawa compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,233 in Asahikawa, $1,437 in Okinawa – roughly 17% apart. Okinawa costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Asahikawa compared to Okinawa?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,849 per month in Asahikawa and $2,155 in Okinawa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Asahikawa and Okinawa?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Asahikawa, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do commuting costs compare in Asahikawa and in Okinawa?
Public transport costs about 60% less in Asahikawa. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Asahikawa and Okinawa?
Kindergarten costs $287 per month in Asahikawa and $346 in Okinawa. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Asahikawa, where all-in costs run around $1,233, than in Okinawa at $1,437. In Asahikawa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Okinawa it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Asahikawa or Okinawa?
Families tend to lean toward Asahikawa – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Is Asahikawa or Okinawa safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Asahikawa and Okinawa?
If budget matters most, go with Asahikawa. 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.

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