Cost of Living Comparison Between Fukushima and Okinawa Cost of Living Comparison Between Fukushima and Okinawa

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,229 in Fukushima versus $1,427 in Okinawa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,935 in Fukushima versus $2,228 in Okinawa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,641 in Fukushima versus $3,030 in Okinawa.

Living in Fukushima costs roughly 14% less than in Okinawa, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Fukushima is 10% below, Okinawa is 4% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.52 ¥1,018

$9.68 ¥1,511

-32.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.03 ¥5,154

$40.32 ¥6,292

-18.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.11 ¥797

$6.94 ¥1,082

-26.37%

Cappuccino

$3.12 ¥486

$4.18 ¥653

-25.36%

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

$1.19 ¥185

$1.47 ¥230

-19.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 ¥119

$1.01 ¥158

-24.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.73 ¥425

$2.00 ¥313

36.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.24 ¥505

$4.46 ¥696

-27.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ¥267

$1.59 ¥249

7.55%

White Bread (500g)

$1.52 ¥237

$2.20 ¥344

-30.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.18 ¥653

$3.98 ¥620

5.03%

Eggs

$1.83 ¥285

$1.81 ¥282

1.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.98 ¥1,557

$17.99 ¥2,807

-44.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.18 ¥965

$5.05 ¥788

22.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.03 ¥2,657

$22.90 ¥3,574

-25.63%

Apples (1kg)

$5.12 ¥798

$3.73 ¥582

37.27%

Banana (1kg)

$2.23 ¥347

$2.78 ¥434

-19.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.71 ¥423

$2.30 ¥358

17.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.74 ¥739

$5.27 ¥822

-10.06%

Potato (1kg)

$2.71 ¥423

$2.45 ¥382

10.61%

Onion (1kg)

$2.56 ¥399

$2.53 ¥394

1.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.12 ¥175

$1.35 ¥211

-17.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 ¥121

$0.77 ¥120

1.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.42 ¥533

$3.93 ¥614

-12.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.23 ¥1,284

$6.51 ¥1,015

26.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 ¥272

$1.96 ¥306

-11.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 ¥380

$3.45 ¥538

-29.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.49 ¥232

$1.46 ¥229

2.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$51.9 ¥8,095

$68.1 ¥10.6K

-23.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.09 ¥482

$3.94 ¥614

-21.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.52 ¥394

$3.59 ¥560

-29.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.69 ¥3,073

$11.87 ¥1,853

65.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ¥192

$1.13 ¥177

8.85%

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

$20.5K ¥3.2M

$21.9K ¥3.4M

-6.38%

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

$13.3K ¥2.1M

$15.4K ¥2.4M

-13.80%

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

$155 ¥24.2K

$165 ¥25.7K

-5.92%

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

$26.94 ¥4,204

$25.69 ¥4,009

4.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.11 ¥5,635

$54.8 ¥8,550

-34.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.8 ¥8,713

$74.0 ¥11.6K

-24.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$56.5 ¥8,814

Cinema Ticket

$13.90 ¥2,169

$12.50 ¥1,951

11.20%

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

$515 ¥80.4K

$345 ¥53.8K

49.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.4K ¥1.9M

$5,827 ¥909.1K

112.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.34 ¥7,386

$51.7 ¥8,063

-8.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.39 ¥5,833

$24.12 ¥3,763

55.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.7 ¥9,938

$81.1 ¥12.7K

-21.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$99.2 ¥15.5K

$95.9 ¥15.0K

3.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$507 ¥79.1K

$411 ¥64.2K

23.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$332 ¥51.8K

0.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,169 ¥182.4K

$863 ¥134.7K

35.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$795 ¥124.0K

$694 ¥108.2K

14.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,016 ¥626.6K

$8,703 ¥1.4M

-53.86%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,035 ¥317.6K

$1,200 ¥187.3K

69.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,861 ¥290.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.09

2.23

-6.28%

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

Last update for Fukushima: September 13, 2026

Last update for Okinawa: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $507 in Fukushima and $411 in Okinawa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $33.00 in Fukushima vs $40.00 in Okinawa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $299 vs $337 per month, with Fukushima cheaper across the board.

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

Fukushima vs Okinawa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Fukushima is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 16% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,843 in Fukushima and $2,140 in Okinawa to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $507 in Fukushima versus $411 in Okinawa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 13% higher in Okinawa. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Fukushima – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $40.00 in Okinawa. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,229 in Fukushima versus $1,427 in Okinawa, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Fukushima but tight or insufficient in Okinawa. The gap between the two cities makes Fukushima the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Fukushima and Okinawa are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Fukushima gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16% less than in Okinawa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.