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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,221 per month in Fukuoka vs $1,436 in Okinawa, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,934 per month in Fukuoka vs $2,236 in Okinawa, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,647 per month in Fukuoka vs $3,037 in Okinawa, rent included.

Fukuoka is about 15% cheaper than Okinawa, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Fukuoka sits 11% below the global median, while Okinawa is 4% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.34 ¥1,126

$10.17 ¥1,562

-27.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.73 ¥6,715

$42.22 ¥6,483

3.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.84 ¥897

$7.25 ¥1,113

-19.45%

Cappuccino

$3.44 ¥528

$4.20 ¥644

-18.10%

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

$1.07 ¥165

$1.52 ¥233

-29.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 ¥107

$0.97 ¥149

-28.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.91 ¥600

$2.11 ¥324

85.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 ¥343

$4.62 ¥709

-51.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ¥254

$1.66 ¥256

White Bread (500g)

$1.95 ¥300

$2.10 ¥322

-7.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.52 ¥1,002

$4.00 ¥615

63.00%

Eggs

$2.26 ¥347

$1.87 ¥288

20.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.52 ¥2,844

$18.33 ¥2,815

1.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.48 ¥842

$5.08 ¥781

7.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.17 ¥2,943

$22.99 ¥3,531

-16.62%

Apples (1kg)

$3.75 ¥576

$3.76 ¥577

-0.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.91 ¥294

$2.68 ¥412

-28.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.91 ¥446

$2.27 ¥349

28.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.35 ¥515

$5.38 ¥827

-37.73%

Potato (1kg)

$2.29 ¥351

$2.55 ¥391

-10.20%

Onion (1kg)

$2.57 ¥394

$2.53 ¥388

1.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 ¥167

$1.34 ¥205

-18.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 ¥151

$0.81 ¥125

20.99%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.95 ¥606

$3.99 ¥612

-1.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.57 ¥1,010

$6.33 ¥972

3.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 ¥258

$2.01 ¥309

-16.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.86 ¥286

$3.43 ¥527

-45.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.65 ¥253

$1.51 ¥232

9.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.79 ¥6,571

$67.6 ¥10.4K

-36.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.96 ¥608

$3.79 ¥582

4.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.13 ¥327

$3.47 ¥532

-38.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.49 ¥2,839

$11.86 ¥1,821

55.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 ¥166

$1.14 ¥175

-5.26%

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

$22.0K ¥3.4M

$21.7K ¥3.3M

1.31%

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

$18.1K ¥2.8M

$15.5K ¥2.4M

16.61%

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

$189 ¥29.0K

$166 ¥25.5K

13.91%

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

$25.84 ¥3,967

$25.25 ¥3,877

2.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.81 ¥5,192

$54.3 ¥8,344

-37.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.6 ¥7,920

$73.6 ¥11.3K

-29.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$57.5 ¥8,832

Cinema Ticket

$11.15 ¥1,712

$12.27 ¥1,885

-9.13%

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

$129 ¥19.9K

$346 ¥53.1K

-62.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.8K ¥2.0M

$5,652 ¥867.9K

125.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.12 ¥5,393

$50.8 ¥7,795

-30.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.57 ¥3,773

$24.35 ¥3,739

0.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$57.9 ¥8,884

$84.1 ¥12.9K

-31.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$48.42 ¥7,435

$97.5 ¥15.0K

-50.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$479 ¥73.5K

$409 ¥62.9K

16.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$266 ¥40.9K

$331 ¥50.9K

-19.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,151 ¥176.8K

$862 ¥132.4K

33.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$695 ¥106.8K

$698 ¥107.2K

-0.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,769 ¥885.8K

$8,819 ¥1.4M

-34.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,546 ¥391.0K

$1,241 ¥190.5K

105.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,787 ¥428.0K

$1,890 ¥290.2K

47.50%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.54

2.23

-30.94%

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

Last update for Fukuoka: September 8, 2026

Last update for Okinawa: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $479 in Fukuoka versus $409 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 48% 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 $44.00 in Fukuoka versus $42.00 in Okinawa. Groceries tell a different story – $324 in Fukuoka vs $339 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: $1,221 in Fukuoka, $1,436 in Okinawa – roughly 18% apart. Okinawa costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,832 per month in Fukuoka and $2,153 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 $129 per month in Fukuoka and $346 in Okinawa. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 5% 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 $1,221, than in Okinawa at $1,436. 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 $1,221 in Fukuoka to $1,436 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.