Cost of Living Comparison Between Kyoto and Okinawa Cost of Living Comparison Between Kyoto and Okinawa

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,304 per month in Kyoto vs $1,418 in Okinawa, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,171 per month in Kyoto vs $2,190 in Okinawa, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,039 per month in Kyoto vs $2,962 in Okinawa, rent included.

Kyoto is about 8% cheaper than Okinawa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Kyoto sits 3% below the global median, while Okinawa is 6% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.47 ¥1,675

$8.49 ¥1,359

23.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.21 ¥5,636

$41.68 ¥6,672

-15.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.63 ¥902

$6.06 ¥971

-7.10%

Cappuccino

$3.39 ¥543

$3.45 ¥553

-1.74%

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

$0.91 ¥146

$1.37 ¥219

-33.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.80 ¥128

$0.85 ¥136

-5.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.40 ¥544

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.54 ¥1,048

$4.97 ¥795

31.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 ¥270

$1.94 ¥311

-13.40%

White Bread (500g)

$1.70 ¥273

$2.35 ¥376

-27.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.21 ¥514

$4.64 ¥743

-30.82%

Eggs

$2.35 ¥376

$2.07 ¥332

13.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.72 ¥1,556

$16.49 ¥2,640

-41.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.49 ¥1,199

$11.02 ¥1,765

-32.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.74 ¥2,519

$26.68 ¥4,271

-41.00%

Apples (1kg)

$5.64 ¥903

$5.15 ¥825

9.51%

Banana (1kg)

$2.50 ¥400

$2.58 ¥413

-3.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.41 ¥1,027

$3.00 ¥480

113.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.97 ¥635

$5.64 ¥903

-29.61%

Potato (1kg)

$1.57 ¥252

$3.57 ¥572

-56.02%

Onion (1kg)

$2.28 ¥365

$2.81 ¥450

-18.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.29 ¥207

$1.55 ¥247

-16.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 ¥162

$0.91 ¥146

10.99%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.07 ¥652

$4.93 ¥789

-17.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.49 ¥1,198

$8.50 ¥1,360

-11.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ¥288

$1.81 ¥289

-0.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.56 ¥570

$2.99 ¥479

19.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.64 ¥263

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$69.8 ¥11.2K

$34.66 ¥5,548

101.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.55 ¥568

$4.28 ¥685

-17.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.02 ¥483

$3.64 ¥582

-17.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.89 ¥2,864

$12.70 ¥2,033

40.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ¥198

$1.21 ¥194

2.48%

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

$23.2K ¥3.7M

-0.40%

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

$17.2K ¥2.8M

$17.3K ¥2.8M

-0.35%

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

$111 ¥17.8K

$177 ¥28.3K

-37.15%

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

$26.83 ¥4,296

$27.99 ¥4,480

-4.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.16 ¥5,308

$32.04 ¥5,129

3.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.9 ¥9,105

$52.9 ¥8,466

7.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.95 ¥3,353

$7.00 ¥1,121

199.29%

Cinema Ticket

$13.35 ¥2,137

$12.28 ¥1,966

8.71%

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

$367 ¥58.8K

$343 ¥54.9K

7.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,478 ¥1.2M

$13.2K ¥2.1M

-43.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.39 ¥7,427

$47.74 ¥7,642

-2.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.67 ¥5,070

$28.65 ¥4,587

10.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.8 ¥11.7K

$72.4 ¥11.6K

0.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.2 ¥14.4K

$93.1 ¥14.9K

-3.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$575 ¥92.0K

$452 ¥72.4K

27.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$344 ¥55.0K

$402 ¥64.4K

-14.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,650 ¥264.1K

$945 ¥151.3K

74.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$942 ¥150.8K

$751 ¥120.2K

25.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,673 ¥1.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,203 ¥192.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,882 ¥301.3K

$1,316 ¥210.7K

43.00%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.78

-11.00%

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

Last update for Kyoto: April 26, 2026

Last update for Okinawa: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $575 in Kyoto versus $452 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 Kyoto, 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 $35.00 in Kyoto versus $42.00 in Okinawa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $316 vs $401 – making Kyoto 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

Kyoto vs Okinawa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,304 in Kyoto, $1,418 in Okinawa – roughly 9% apart. Okinawa costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,955 per month in Kyoto and $2,127 in Okinawa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 27% 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 mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Kyoto and $42.00 in Okinawa. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Kyoto, where all-in costs run around $1,304, than in Okinawa at $1,418. In Kyoto it covers expenses comfortably, while in Okinawa it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Kyoto has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,304 in Kyoto to $1,418 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 Kyoto. 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.