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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $919 per month in Hiroshima vs $1,385 in Okinawa, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,482 per month in Hiroshima vs $2,168 in Okinawa, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,046 per month in Hiroshima vs $2,950 in Okinawa, rent included.

Hiroshima is about 34% cheaper than Okinawa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Hiroshima sits 33% below the global median, while Okinawa is 1% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.05 ¥945

$10.17 ¥1,589

-40.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.23 ¥4,879

$40.19 ¥6,278

-22.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.89 ¥764

$6.98 ¥1,090

-29.94%

Cappuccino

$2.72 ¥426

$4.17 ¥651

-34.77%

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

$1.02 ¥160

$1.47 ¥230

-30.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.67 ¥105

$0.93 ¥146

-27.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.64 ¥413

$2.04 ¥319

29.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.65 ¥570

$4.32 ¥675

-15.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.50 ¥235

$1.55 ¥242

-3.23%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 ¥243

$2.12 ¥332

-26.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.68 ¥731

$3.76 ¥588

24.47%

Eggs

$2.09 ¥326

$1.76 ¥275

18.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.93 ¥770

$18.00 ¥2,812

-72.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.96 ¥931

$4.78 ¥747

24.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.07 ¥1,730

$22.13 ¥3,457

-49.98%

Apples (1kg)

$3.39 ¥529

$3.66 ¥572

-7.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.90 ¥297

$2.66 ¥415

-28.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.74 ¥584

$2.14 ¥334

74.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.73 ¥582

$5.19 ¥811

-28.13%

Potato (1kg)

$1.50 ¥234

$2.38 ¥371

-36.97%

Onion (1kg)

$3.44 ¥537

$2.55 ¥398

34.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.28 ¥200

$1.29 ¥201

-0.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 ¥121

$0.78 ¥122

-1.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.83 ¥599

$3.84 ¥601

-0.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.63 ¥1,192

$6.23 ¥973

22.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 ¥289

$1.95 ¥305

-5.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 ¥384

$3.16 ¥494

-22.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.91 ¥298

$1.43 ¥223

33.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$64.6 ¥10.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.72 ¥581

$3.73 ¥583

-0.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.23 ¥192

$3.48 ¥544

-64.66%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$20.94 ¥3,271

$11.36 ¥1,774

84.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.04 ¥163

$1.05 ¥164

-0.95%

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

$21.3K ¥3.3M

$20.7K ¥3.2M

3.24%

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

$15.2K ¥2.4M

$14.8K ¥2.3M

2.53%

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

$137 ¥21.4K

$158 ¥24.8K

-13.65%

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

$23.88 ¥3,730

$25.07 ¥3,916

-4.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.26 ¥4,727

$53.2 ¥8,309

-43.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.6 ¥8,368

$71.8 ¥11.2K

-25.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.80 ¥749

$54.2 ¥8,461

-91.14%

Cinema Ticket

$11.97 ¥1,870

$12.09 ¥1,889

-0.99%

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

$158 ¥24.6K

$324 ¥50.6K

-51.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,422 ¥534.6K

$5,516 ¥861.6K

-37.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.18 ¥4,403

$49.91 ¥7,797

-43.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.90 ¥3,891

$22.70 ¥3,546

9.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$47.12 ¥7,362

$79.0 ¥12.3K

-40.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$61.8 ¥9,654

$95.0 ¥14.8K

-34.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$238 ¥37.2K

$398 ¥62.2K

-40.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$185 ¥28.9K

$317 ¥49.6K

-41.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$635 ¥99.2K

$828 ¥129.3K

-23.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$503 ¥78.6K

$653 ¥102.0K

-22.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,883 ¥294.1K

$8,509 ¥1.3M

-77.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,889 ¥295.1K

$1,199 ¥187.2K

57.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,956 ¥305.6K

$1,819 ¥284.2K

7.54%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.21

2.23

-0.90%

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

Last update for Hiroshima: August 31, 2026

Last update for Okinawa: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $238 in Hiroshima 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.

Salaries run about 8% 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 $31.00 in Hiroshima versus $40.00 in Okinawa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $253 vs $327 – 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 51% 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 $1,378 per month in Hiroshima 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 Hiroshima, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

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

Groceries cost about 30% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Hiroshima, where all-in costs run around $919, than in Okinawa at $1,385. 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.