Cost of Living Comparison Between Himeji and Okinawa Cost of Living Comparison Between Himeji and Okinawa

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,282 per month in Himeji vs $1,385 in Okinawa, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,062 per month in Himeji vs $2,168 in Okinawa, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,843 per month in Himeji vs $2,950 in Okinawa, rent included.

Himeji is about 7% cheaper than Okinawa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Himeji sits 7% below the global median, while Okinawa is 1% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.35 ¥1,304

$10.17 ¥1,589

-17.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.42 ¥4,909

$40.19 ¥6,278

-21.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.86 ¥760

$6.98 ¥1,090

-30.37%

Cappuccino

$2.34 ¥365

$4.17 ¥651

-43.88%

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

$1.23 ¥193

$1.47 ¥230

-16.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.81 ¥127

$0.93 ¥146

-12.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.09 ¥482

$2.04 ¥319

51.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.12 ¥487

$4.32 ¥675

-27.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.50 ¥235

$1.55 ¥242

-3.23%

White Bread (500g)

$1.47 ¥230

$2.12 ¥332

-30.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.10 ¥641

$3.76 ¥588

9.04%

Eggs

$2.18 ¥341

$1.76 ¥275

23.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.34 ¥2,396

$18.00 ¥2,812

-14.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.85 ¥1,070

$4.78 ¥747

43.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.35 ¥2,710

$22.13 ¥3,457

-21.60%

Apples (1kg)

$8.19 ¥1,280

$3.66 ¥572

123.77%

Banana (1kg)

$2.93 ¥458

$2.66 ¥415

10.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.11 ¥798

$2.14 ¥334

138.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.60 ¥1,187

$5.19 ¥811

46.44%

Potato (1kg)

$3.92 ¥613

$2.38 ¥371

64.71%

Onion (1kg)

$4.52 ¥706

$2.55 ¥398

77.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.12 ¥175

$1.29 ¥201

-13.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 ¥146

$0.78 ¥122

20.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.77 ¥588

$3.84 ¥601

-1.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.24 ¥1,444

$6.23 ¥973

48.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.52 ¥393

$1.95 ¥305

29.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 ¥322

$3.16 ¥494

-34.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.28 ¥200

$1.43 ¥223

-10.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.2 ¥8,935

$64.6 ¥10.1K

-11.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.05 ¥477

$3.73 ¥583

-18.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.83 ¥442

$3.48 ¥544

-18.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.52 ¥2,424

$11.36 ¥1,774

36.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.05 ¥164

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

$21.3K ¥3.3M

$20.7K ¥3.2M

3.01%

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

$14.9K ¥2.3M

$14.8K ¥2.3M

0.52%

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

$114 ¥17.8K

$158 ¥24.8K

-28.16%

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

$23.01 ¥3,595

$25.07 ¥3,916

-8.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.79 ¥4,811

$53.2 ¥8,309

-42.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.63 ¥7,284

$71.8 ¥11.2K

-35.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$54.2 ¥8,461

Cinema Ticket

$11.36 ¥1,775

$12.09 ¥1,889

-6.04%

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

$567 ¥88.5K

$324 ¥50.6K

75.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.3K ¥2.2M

$5,516 ¥861.6K

159.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.92 ¥7,798

$49.91 ¥7,797

0.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.88 ¥5,605

$22.70 ¥3,546

58.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.0 ¥9,371

$79.0 ¥12.3K

-24.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.2 ¥14.9K

$95.0 ¥14.8K

0.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$504 ¥78.7K

$398 ¥62.2K

26.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$363 ¥56.7K

$317 ¥49.6K

14.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,156 ¥180.5K

$828 ¥129.3K

39.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$649 ¥101.4K

$653 ¥102.0K

-0.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,340 ¥678.0K

$8,509 ¥1.3M

-49.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,627 ¥254.1K

$1,199 ¥187.2K

35.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,819 ¥284.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.66

2.23

-25.56%

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

Last update for Himeji: August 30, 2026

Last update for Okinawa: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $504 in Himeji versus $398 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 $31.00 in Himeji versus $40.00 in Okinawa. Groceries tell a different story – $376 in Himeji vs $327 in Okinawa – so Okinawa 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

Himeji vs Okinawa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Okinawa is pricier by about 8%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,922 per month in Himeji and $2,077 in Okinawa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Himeji, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 15% cheaper in Okinawa – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $31.00 in Himeji and $40.00 in Okinawa. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Himeji, where all-in costs run around $1,282, than in Okinawa at $1,385. In Himeji it covers expenses comfortably, while in Okinawa it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Himeji – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Himeji. 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.