Cost of Living Comparison Between Kashiwa and Okinawa Cost of Living Comparison Between Kashiwa and Okinawa

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,214 per month in Kashiwa vs $1,436 in Okinawa, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,842 per month in Kashiwa vs $2,236 in Okinawa, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,470 per month in Kashiwa vs $3,037 in Okinawa, rent included.

Kashiwa is about 15% cheaper than Okinawa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Kashiwa sits 12% below the global median, while Okinawa is 4% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.18 ¥949

$10.17 ¥1,562

-39.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.29 ¥3,884

$42.22 ¥6,483

-40.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.15 ¥791

$7.25 ¥1,113

-28.97%

Cappuccino

$3.37 ¥518

$4.20 ¥644

-19.76%

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

$0.69 ¥105

$1.52 ¥233

-54.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 ¥112

$0.97 ¥149

-24.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 ¥373

$2.11 ¥324

15.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.21 ¥493

$4.62 ¥709

-30.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 ¥195

$1.66 ¥256

-23.49%

White Bread (500g)

$1.08 ¥166

$2.10 ¥322

-48.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.70 ¥568

$4.00 ¥615

-7.50%

Eggs

$1.91 ¥293

$1.87 ¥288

2.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.09 ¥934

$18.33 ¥2,815

-66.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.16 ¥946

$5.08 ¥781

21.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.38 ¥1,440

$22.99 ¥3,531

-59.20%

Apples (1kg)

$5.48 ¥841

$3.76 ¥577

45.74%

Banana (1kg)

$2.78 ¥428

$2.68 ¥412

3.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.81 ¥432

$2.27 ¥349

23.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.03 ¥620

$5.38 ¥827

-25.09%

Potato (1kg)

$2.51 ¥385

$2.55 ¥391

-1.57%

Onion (1kg)

$2.60 ¥400

$2.53 ¥388

2.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.64 ¥98.9

$1.34 ¥205

-52.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 ¥92.9

$0.81 ¥125

-24.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.72 ¥571

$3.99 ¥612

-6.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.36 ¥977

$6.33 ¥972

0.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 ¥272

$2.01 ¥309

-11.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.87 ¥287

$3.43 ¥527

-45.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.48 ¥228

$1.51 ¥232

-1.99%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.4 ¥8,503

$67.6 ¥10.4K

-18.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.20 ¥492

$3.79 ¥582

-15.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 ¥242

$3.47 ¥532

-54.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$20.15 ¥3,094

$11.86 ¥1,821

69.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 ¥155

$1.14 ¥175

-11.40%

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

$21.2K ¥3.3M

$21.7K ¥3.3M

-2.47%

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

$18.2K ¥2.8M

$15.5K ¥2.4M

17.17%

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

$126 ¥19.3K

$166 ¥25.5K

-24.40%

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

$24.23 ¥3,720

$25.25 ¥3,877

-4.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.62 ¥4,855

$54.3 ¥8,344

-41.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.1 ¥7,686

$73.6 ¥11.3K

-31.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$57.5 ¥8,832

Cinema Ticket

$12.50 ¥1,919

$12.27 ¥1,885

1.87%

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

$621 ¥95.3K

$346 ¥53.1K

79.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ¥2.2M

$5,652 ¥867.9K

157.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.3 ¥9,406

$50.8 ¥7,795

20.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.31 ¥4,961

$24.35 ¥3,739

32.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.2 ¥9,403

$84.1 ¥12.9K

-27.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 ¥15.6K

$97.5 ¥15.0K

4.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$515 ¥79.0K

$409 ¥62.9K

25.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$392 ¥60.2K

$331 ¥50.9K

18.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,063 ¥163.2K

$862 ¥132.4K

23.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$741 ¥113.8K

$698 ¥107.2K

6.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,287 ¥658.3K

$8,819 ¥1.4M

-51.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,925 ¥295.6K

$1,241 ¥190.5K

55.18%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,626 ¥403.3K

$1,890 ¥290.2K

38.98%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.12

2.23

-4.93%

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

Last update for Kashiwa: September 7, 2026

Last update for Okinawa: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $515 in Kashiwa versus $409 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 39% higher in Kashiwa, 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 $25.00 in Kashiwa versus $42.00 in Okinawa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $247 vs $339 – making Kashiwa 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

Kashiwa vs Okinawa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,214 in Kashiwa, $1,436 in Okinawa – roughly 18% apart. Okinawa costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,821 per month in Kashiwa and $2,153 in Okinawa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $621 per month in Kashiwa and $346 in Okinawa. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 37% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Kashiwa, where all-in costs run around $1,214, than in Okinawa at $1,436. In Kashiwa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Okinawa it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Okinawa has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,214 in Kashiwa to $1,436 in Okinawa. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Kashiwa. 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.