🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,103 in Hamamatsu versus $1,428 in Okinawa.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,819 in Hamamatsu versus $2,217 in Okinawa.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,536 in Hamamatsu versus $3,007 in Okinawa.
🌍Living in Hamamatsu costs roughly 23% less than in Okinawa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Hamamatsu is 17% below, Okinawa is 7% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hamamatsu
Okinawa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.92¥775
$8.47¥1,335
-41.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.90¥6,603
$42.01¥6,620
-0.26%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.39¥534
$5.84¥921
-41.95%
Cappuccino
$3.03¥477
$3.33¥525
-9.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66¥104
$1.35¥213
-51.11%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77¥121
$0.86¥136
-10.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.05¥324
$3.56¥560
-42.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85¥449
$4.79¥754
-40.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hamamatsu
Okinawa
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.47¥232
$1.89¥298
-22.22%
White Bread(500g)
$1.70¥267
$2.25¥355
-24.44%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.01¥790
$4.60¥725
8.91%
Eggs
$1.83¥288
$2.04¥322
-10.29%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.11¥1,592
$16.45¥2,592
-38.54%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.19¥975
$11.24¥1,771
-44.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.69¥2,472
$26.66¥4,200
-41.15%
Apples(1kg)
$4.06¥640
$5.02¥791
-19.12%
Banana(1kg)
$2.11¥332
$2.69¥423
-21.56%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.39¥534
$3.06¥482
10.78%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.13¥650
$5.76¥907
-28.30%
Potato(1kg)
$3.39¥535
$3.53¥556
-3.97%
Onion(1kg)
$4.36¥687
$2.77¥437
57.40%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39¥219
$1.52¥240
-8.55%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88¥139
$0.88¥138
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.45¥544
$4.76¥749
-27.52%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.92¥1,406
$6.27¥989
42.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74¥274
$1.81¥286
-3.87%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07¥325
$2.96¥467
-30.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Hamamatsu
Okinawa
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.06¥166
$1.68¥265
-36.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$56.2¥8,851
$35.11¥5,533
59.98%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.52¥555
$4.06¥640
-13.30%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.96¥467
$3.77¥594
-21.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$21.75¥3,427
$12.85¥2,025
69.26%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.20¥188
$1.25¥197
-4.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K¥3.3M
$23.2K¥3.7M
-9.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$14.1K¥2.2M
$17.0K¥2.7M
-16.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hamamatsu
Okinawa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$109¥17.2K
$176¥27.7K
-37.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.66¥1,522
$27.21¥4,287
-64.50%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.96¥3,303
$32.15¥5,066
-34.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hamamatsu
Okinawa
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$103¥16.3K
$52.4¥8,252
97.56%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.56¥2,925
$7.11¥1,120
161.04%
Cinema Ticket
$13.56¥2,137
$12.63¥1,990
7.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hamamatsu
Okinawa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$279¥43.9K
$346¥54.6K
-19.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.8K¥2.2M
$13.4K¥2.1M
3.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hamamatsu
Okinawa
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.66¥6,564
$48.92¥7,709
-14.84%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.43¥4,322
$29.26¥4,610
-6.25%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$55.1¥8,688
$72.9¥11.5K
-24.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104¥16.3K
$90.5¥14.3K
14.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hamamatsu
Okinawa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$384¥60.5K
$453¥71.4K
-15.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$247¥39.0K
$400¥63.0K
-38.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$869¥136.9K
$960¥151.3K
-9.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$597¥94.1K
$737¥116.1K
-18.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,252¥670.1K
$8,685¥1.4M
-51.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,051¥323.1K
$1,206¥190.1K
69.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hamamatsu
Okinawa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,744¥274.8K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0.95
2
-52.50%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Hamamatsu: July 26, 2026
Last update for Okinawa: July 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $384 in Hamamatsu and $453 in Okinawa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $42.00 in Hamamatsu vs $42.00 in Okinawa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $300 vs $396 per month, with Hamamatsu 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
Hamamatsu vs Okinawa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Hamamatsu and in Okinawa?
Hamamatsu and Okinawa differ by about 29% in total monthly costs ($1,103 vs $1,428 including rent). Hamamatsu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Hamamatsu compared to Okinawa?
You'd need roughly $1,654 in Hamamatsu and $2,141 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Hamamatsu and in Okinawa?
Rent for a central apartment: $384 in Hamamatsu versus $453 in Okinawa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 32% higher in Okinawa. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Hamamatsu – a meal for two runs $42.00 versus $42.00 in Okinawa. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,103 in Hamamatsu versus $1,428 in Okinawa, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Hamamatsu but tight or insufficient in Okinawa. The gap between the two cities makes Hamamatsu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Hamamatsu and Okinawa?
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.
Is Hamamatsu or Okinawa safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Hamamatsu 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.
Where should expats move: Hamamatsu or Okinawa?
Expats usually find Hamamatsu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 29% less than in Okinawa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.