Cost of Living Comparison Between Fukuoka and Okinawa Cost of Living Comparison Between Fukuoka and Okinawa

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,291 per month in Fukuoka vs $1,430 in Okinawa, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,054 per month in Fukuoka vs $2,196 in Okinawa, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,818 per month in Fukuoka vs $2,961 in Okinawa, rent included.

Fukuoka is about 10% cheaper than Okinawa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Fukuoka sits 4% below the global median, while Okinawa is 7% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.28 ¥1,324

$8.57 ¥1,370

-3.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.70 ¥6,670

$41.32 ¥6,609

0.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.15 ¥984

$6.12 ¥978

0.49%

Cappuccino

$3.14 ¥503

$3.31 ¥529

-5.14%

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

$1.03 ¥165

$1.32 ¥211

-21.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 ¥132

$0.86 ¥137

-4.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.65 ¥263

$3.48 ¥557

-52.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 ¥335

$4.81 ¥769

-56.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ¥265

$1.87 ¥299

-11.23%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ¥256

$2.30 ¥367

-30.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.06 ¥649

$4.83 ¥772

-15.94%

Eggs

$2.62 ¥419

$2.01 ¥321

30.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.12 ¥3,378

$16.33 ¥2,613

29.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.24 ¥997

$11.13 ¥1,780

-43.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.96 ¥3,353

$26.95 ¥4,310

-22.23%

Apples (1kg)

$3.13 ¥501

$5.27 ¥842

-40.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.36 ¥217

$2.61 ¥418

-47.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.42 ¥227

$3.03 ¥485

-53.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.96 ¥953

$5.65 ¥904

5.49%

Potato (1kg)

$2.69 ¥431

$3.69 ¥590

-27.10%

Onion (1kg)

$3.11 ¥497

$2.90 ¥464

7.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 ¥145

$1.60 ¥256

-43.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 ¥120

$0.94 ¥151

-20.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.78 ¥604

$4.82 ¥771

-21.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.08 ¥972

$6.11 ¥978

-0.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 ¥305

$1.72 ¥275

11.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 ¥337

$2.89 ¥461

-26.99%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.76 ¥281

$1.67 ¥268

5.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.39 ¥6,780

$35.27 ¥5,642

20.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.74 ¥758

$4.19 ¥671

13.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.57 ¥732

$3.77 ¥603

21.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.52 ¥3,122

$12.74 ¥2,037

53.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 ¥192

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

$23.6K ¥3.8M

$22.8K ¥3.6M

3.62%

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

$20.0K ¥3.2M

$17.0K ¥2.7M

17.53%

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

$216 ¥34.6K

$173 ¥27.7K

24.92%

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

$27.65 ¥4,423

$27.72 ¥4,434

-0.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.41 ¥5,664

$32.51 ¥5,200

8.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$59.1 ¥9,450

$53.4 ¥8,547

10.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.48 ¥557

$6.76 ¥1,081

-48.52%

Cinema Ticket

$13.62 ¥2,179

$12.60 ¥2,016

8.10%

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

$416 ¥66.6K

$347 ¥55.5K

20.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.2K ¥2.1M

$13.5K ¥2.2M

-2.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.93 ¥6,866

$48.84 ¥7,813

-12.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.81 ¥4,767

$29.28 ¥4,683

1.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.0 ¥10.6K

$72.9 ¥11.7K

-9.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$61.7 ¥9,872

$93.1 ¥14.9K

-33.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$547 ¥87.5K

$437 ¥69.9K

25.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$300 ¥48.1K

$394 ¥63.1K

-23.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,035 ¥165.6K

$944 ¥150.9K

9.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$695 ¥111.2K

$750 ¥119.9K

-7.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,425 ¥1.0M

$8,543 ¥1.4M

-24.79%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,669 ¥426.9K

$1,187 ¥189.8K

124.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,531 ¥244.9K

$1,292 ¥206.6K

18.55%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.67

-16.50%

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

Last update for Fukuoka: May 31, 2026

Last update for Okinawa: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $547 in Fukuoka 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 19% higher in Fukuoka, 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 $42.00 in Fukuoka versus $41.00 in Okinawa. Groceries tell a different story – $329 in Fukuoka vs $398 in Okinawa – so Fukuoka wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Fukuoka vs Okinawa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,291 in Fukuoka, $1,430 in Okinawa – roughly 11% apart. Okinawa costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,937 per month in Fukuoka 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 Fukuoka, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $416 per month in Fukuoka and $347 in Okinawa. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 21% more in Okinawa, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Fukuoka, where all-in costs run around $1,291, than in Okinawa at $1,430. In Fukuoka it covers expenses comfortably, while in Okinawa it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Fukuoka has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,291 in Fukuoka to $1,430 in Okinawa. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Fukuoka. 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.