🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,155 in Miyazaki versus $1,430 in Okinawa.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,782 in Miyazaki versus $2,196 in Okinawa.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,409 in Miyazaki versus $2,961 in Okinawa.
🙂Living in Miyazaki costs roughly 19% less than in Okinawa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Miyazaki is 14% below, Okinawa is 7% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Miyazaki
Okinawa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.70¥1,231
$8.57¥1,370
-10.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.40¥5,501
$41.32¥6,609
-16.75%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.50¥880
$6.12¥978
-10.13%
Cappuccino
$1.02¥163
$3.31¥529
-69.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80¥128
$1.32¥211
-39.39%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70¥112
$0.86¥137
-18.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.90¥303
$3.48¥557
-45.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.22¥675
$4.81¥769
-12.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Miyazaki
Okinawa
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.51¥241
$1.87¥299
-19.25%
White Bread(500g)
$1.60¥256
$2.30¥367
-30.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.24¥679
$4.83¥772
-12.22%
Eggs
$2.31¥370
$2.01¥321
14.93%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.06¥2,249
$16.33¥2,613
-13.90%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.18¥989
$11.13¥1,780
-44.47%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.76¥2,200
$26.95¥4,310
-48.94%
Apples(1kg)
$3.50¥560
$5.27¥842
-33.59%
Banana(1kg)
$1.85¥296
$2.61¥418
-29.12%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.03¥485
$3.03¥485
-
Tomato(1kg)
$2.84¥454
$5.65¥904
-49.73%
Potato(1kg)
$1.76¥281
$3.69¥590
-52.30%
Onion(1kg)
$1.68¥269
$2.90¥464
-42.07%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.83¥133
$1.60¥256
-48.13%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74¥119
$0.94¥151
-21.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.95¥632
$4.82¥771
-18.05%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.36¥1,018
$6.11¥978
4.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.97¥316
$1.72¥275
14.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11¥338
$2.89¥461
-26.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Miyazaki
Okinawa
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.64¥262
$1.67¥268
-1.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$55.1¥8,815
$35.27¥5,642
56.25%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.85¥616
$4.19¥671
-8.11%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.85¥456
$3.77¥603
-24.40%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.66¥2,824
$12.74¥2,037
38.62%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.17¥187
$1.20¥192
-2.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.6K¥3.8M
$22.8K¥3.6M
3.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.6K¥2.7M
$17.0K¥2.7M
-1.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Miyazaki
Okinawa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$117¥18.6K
$173¥27.7K
-32.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.65¥4,262
$27.72¥4,434
-3.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.68¥5,707
$32.51¥5,200
9.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Miyazaki
Okinawa
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$56.6¥9,046
$53.4¥8,547
5.84%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.99¥2,238
$6.76¥1,081
106.95%
Cinema Ticket
$13.03¥2,084
$12.60¥2,016
3.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Miyazaki
Okinawa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$412¥65.8K
$347¥55.5K
18.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.4K¥2.1M
$13.5K¥2.2M
-0.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Miyazaki
Okinawa
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.83¥6,851
$48.84¥7,813
-12.31%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.84¥4,773
$29.28¥4,683
1.91%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$62.6¥10.0K
$72.9¥11.7K
-14.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$61.2¥9,788
$93.1¥14.9K
-34.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Miyazaki
Okinawa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$464¥74.1K
$437¥69.9K
6.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$334¥53.4K
$394¥63.1K
-15.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$880¥140.7K
$944¥150.9K
-6.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$651¥104.2K
$750¥119.9K
-13.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,437¥709.7K
$8,543¥1.4M
-48.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,213¥354.0K
$1,187¥189.8K
86.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Miyazaki
Okinawa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,263¥202.0K
$1,292¥206.6K
-2.24%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
1.67
2
-16.50%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Miyazaki: June 1, 2026
Last update for Okinawa: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $464 in Miyazaki and $437 in Okinawa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Okinawa pays 2% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $34.00 in Miyazaki vs $41.00 in Okinawa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $274 vs $398 per month, with Miyazaki cheaper across the board.
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
Miyazaki vs Okinawa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Miyazaki and Okinawa?
Miyazaki and Okinawa differ by about 24% in total monthly costs ($1,155 vs $1,430 including rent). Miyazaki is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Okinawa earns 2% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Miyazaki and Okinawa?
Rent for a central apartment: $464 in Miyazaki versus $437 in Okinawa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Miyazaki – a meal for two runs $34.00 versus $41.00 in Okinawa. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Miyazaki or Okinawa?
All in, you'll spend $1,155 per month in Miyazaki versus $1,430 in Okinawa – a 24% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,155 in Miyazaki versus $1,430 in Okinawa, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Miyazaki but tight or insufficient in Okinawa. The gap between the two cities makes Miyazaki the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Miyazaki and Okinawa?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Miyazaki or Okinawa safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Miyazaki and Okinawa are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Miyazaki or Okinawa?
Expats usually find Miyazaki gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Okinawa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.