Cost of Living Comparison Between Kagoshima and Okinawa Cost of Living Comparison Between Kagoshima and Okinawa

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,176 per month in Kagoshima vs $1,430 in Okinawa, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,894 per month in Kagoshima vs $2,196 in Okinawa, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,613 per month in Kagoshima vs $2,961 in Okinawa, rent included.

Kagoshima is about 18% cheaper than Okinawa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Kagoshima sits 12% below the global median, while Okinawa is 7% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.48 ¥1,357

$8.57 ¥1,370

-1.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.63 ¥6,659

$41.32 ¥6,609

0.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.78 ¥924

$6.12 ¥978

-5.56%

Cappuccino

$3.07 ¥491

$3.31 ¥529

-7.25%

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

$1.09 ¥174

$1.32 ¥211

-17.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 ¥131

$0.86 ¥137

-4.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.64 ¥262

$3.48 ¥557

-52.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 ¥324

$4.81 ¥769

-58.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 ¥222

$1.87 ¥299

-25.67%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 ¥208

$2.30 ¥367

-43.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.20 ¥672

$4.83 ¥772

-13.04%

Eggs

$2.38 ¥381

$2.01 ¥321

18.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.13 ¥1,621

$16.33 ¥2,613

-37.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.19 ¥990

$11.13 ¥1,780

-44.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$21.06 ¥3,369

$26.95 ¥4,310

-21.86%

Apples (1kg)

$3.06 ¥489

$5.27 ¥842

-41.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.40 ¥224

$2.61 ¥418

-46.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.35 ¥216

$3.03 ¥485

-55.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.96 ¥953

$5.65 ¥904

5.49%

Potato (1kg)

$2.32 ¥372

$3.69 ¥590

-37.13%

Onion (1kg)

$2.09 ¥335

$2.90 ¥464

-27.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 ¥159

$1.60 ¥256

-38.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 ¥129

$0.94 ¥151

-14.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.79 ¥607

$4.82 ¥771

-21.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.03 ¥965

$6.11 ¥978

-1.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.30 ¥208

$1.72 ¥275

-24.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 ¥341

$2.89 ¥461

-26.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.50 ¥239

$1.67 ¥268

-10.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.4 ¥8,695

$35.27 ¥5,642

54.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.58 ¥732

$4.19 ¥671

9.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.00 ¥479

$3.77 ¥603

-20.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.39 ¥1,982

$12.74 ¥2,037

-2.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ¥197

$1.20 ¥192

2.50%

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

$23.2K ¥3.7M

$22.8K ¥3.6M

1.77%

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

$20.3K ¥3.2M

$17.0K ¥2.7M

19.36%

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

$210 ¥33.6K

$173 ¥27.7K

21.47%

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

$26.92 ¥4,306

$27.72 ¥4,434

-2.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.46 ¥5,671

$32.51 ¥5,200

9.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.8 ¥8,758

$53.4 ¥8,547

2.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.60 ¥2,175

$6.76 ¥1,081

101.18%

Cinema Ticket

$14.12 ¥2,258

$12.60 ¥2,016

12.06%

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

$412 ¥65.9K

$347 ¥55.5K

18.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.3K ¥2.1M

$13.5K ¥2.2M

-1.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.04 ¥7,044

$48.84 ¥7,813

-9.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.74 ¥4,757

$29.28 ¥4,683

1.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.4 ¥10.5K

$72.9 ¥11.7K

-10.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$60.1 ¥9,606

$93.1 ¥14.9K

-35.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 ¥76.2K

$437 ¥69.9K

9.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ¥38.0K

$394 ¥63.1K

-39.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$868 ¥138.9K

$944 ¥150.9K

-7.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$646 ¥103.4K

$750 ¥119.9K

-13.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,140 ¥822.2K

$8,543 ¥1.4M

-39.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,510 ¥401.5K

$1,187 ¥189.8K

111.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,852 ¥296.2K

$1,292 ¥206.6K

43.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.67

-16.50%

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

Last update for Kagoshima: May 31, 2026

Last update for Okinawa: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Kagoshima 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 43% higher in Kagoshima, 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 $42.00 in Kagoshima versus $41.00 in Okinawa. Groceries tell a different story – $284 in Kagoshima vs $398 in Okinawa – so Kagoshima 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

Kagoshima vs Okinawa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Okinawa costs about 22% more than Kagoshima, 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 $1,763 per month in Kagoshima 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 Kagoshima, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 54% less in Kagoshima. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $412 per month in Kagoshima and $347 in Okinawa. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kagoshima, where all-in costs run around $1,176, than in Okinawa at $1,430. In Kagoshima it covers expenses comfortably, while in Okinawa it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Kagoshima – 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 Kagoshima. 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.