Cost of Living Comparison Between Hiroshima and Okinawa Cost of Living Comparison Between Hiroshima and Okinawa

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,033 per month in Hiroshima vs $1,430 in Okinawa, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,639 per month in Hiroshima vs $2,196 in Okinawa, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,244 per month in Hiroshima vs $2,961 in Okinawa, rent included.

Hiroshima is about 28% cheaper than Okinawa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Hiroshima sits 23% below the global median, while Okinawa is 7% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.10 ¥976

$8.57 ¥1,370

-28.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.44 ¥5,508

$41.32 ¥6,609

-16.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.76 ¥762

$6.12 ¥978

-22.22%

Cappuccino

$2.98 ¥477

$3.31 ¥529

-9.97%

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

$1.11 ¥177

$1.32 ¥211

-15.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 ¥120

$0.86 ¥137

-12.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.78 ¥445

$3.48 ¥557

-20.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.21 ¥673

$4.81 ¥769

-12.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.51 ¥242

$1.87 ¥299

-19.25%

White Bread (500g)

$1.42 ¥227

$2.30 ¥367

-38.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.65 ¥745

$4.83 ¥772

-3.73%

Eggs

$2.18 ¥349

$2.01 ¥321

8.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.57 ¥890

$16.33 ¥2,613

-65.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.38 ¥1,021

$11.13 ¥1,780

-42.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.10 ¥1,935

$26.95 ¥4,310

-55.10%

Apples (1kg)

$3.55 ¥568

$5.27 ¥842

-32.64%

Banana (1kg)

$2.16 ¥346

$2.61 ¥418

-17.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.18 ¥669

$3.03 ¥485

37.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.24 ¥679

$5.65 ¥904

-24.96%

Potato (1kg)

$1.65 ¥264

$3.69 ¥590

-55.28%

Onion (1kg)

$3.97 ¥635

$2.90 ¥464

36.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.34 ¥214

$1.60 ¥256

-16.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.82 ¥132

$0.94 ¥151

-12.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.84 ¥614

$4.82 ¥771

-20.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.66 ¥1,225

$6.11 ¥978

25.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.03 ¥325

$1.72 ¥275

18.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.60 ¥417

$2.89 ¥461

-10.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.12 ¥339

$1.67 ¥268

26.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.20 ¥3,871

$35.27 ¥5,642

-31.39%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.60 ¥736

$4.19 ¥671

9.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.28 ¥205

$3.77 ¥603

-66.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.22 ¥3,714

$12.74 ¥2,037

82.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 ¥191

$1.20 ¥192

-0.83%

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

$23.3K ¥3.7M

$22.8K ¥3.6M

2.32%

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

$17.1K ¥2.7M

$17.0K ¥2.7M

0.45%

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

$132 ¥21.2K

$173 ¥27.7K

-23.54%

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

$26.82 ¥4,290

$27.72 ¥4,434

-3.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.18 ¥4,828

$32.51 ¥5,200

-7.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.2 ¥8,821

$53.4 ¥8,547

3.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.61 ¥898

$6.76 ¥1,081

-17.01%

Cinema Ticket

$12.29 ¥1,966

$12.60 ¥2,016

-2.46%

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

$175 ¥28.0K

$347 ¥55.5K

-49.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,684 ¥589.3K

$13.5K ¥2.2M

-72.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.65 ¥4,902

$48.84 ¥7,813

-37.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.85 ¥4,454

$29.28 ¥4,683

-4.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$52.4 ¥8,387

$72.9 ¥11.7K

-28.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$67.9 ¥10.9K

$93.1 ¥14.9K

-27.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$352 ¥56.3K

$437 ¥69.9K

-19.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$243 ¥38.9K

$394 ¥63.1K

-38.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$768 ¥122.8K

$944 ¥150.9K

-18.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$541 ¥86.5K

$750 ¥119.9K

-27.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,959 ¥313.4K

$8,543 ¥1.4M

-77.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,643 ¥262.7K

$1,187 ¥189.8K

38.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,415 ¥386.3K

$1,292 ¥206.6K

86.97%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.81

-9.50%

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

Last update for Hiroshima: June 1, 2026

Last update for Okinawa: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $352 in Hiroshima 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 87% higher in Hiroshima, 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 $34.00 in Hiroshima versus $41.00 in Okinawa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $269 vs $398 – making Hiroshima the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Hiroshima vs Okinawa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Okinawa costs about 38% more than Hiroshima, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,550 per month in Hiroshima 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 Hiroshima, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,033 in Hiroshima and $1,430 in Okinawa. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 46% less in Hiroshima. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Hiroshima, where all-in costs run around $1,033, than in Okinawa at $1,430. In Hiroshima it covers expenses comfortably, while in Okinawa it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Hiroshima – 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 Hiroshima. 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.