Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Narita and Okinawa

For one person, living is cheaper in Narita: $1,203 a month against $1,388 in Okinawa, rent and utilities included – about $2,200 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Narita, Japan
Okinawa, Japan
Narita
🇯🇵 Japan
$1,203
/mo nomad
Okinawa
🇯🇵 Japan
$1,388
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Narita and in Okinawa

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Narita and in Okinawa actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,203 in Narita versus $1,388 in Okinawa.

  • Narita $1,203
  • Okinawa $1,388

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,912 in Narita versus $2,184 in Okinawa.

  • Narita $1,912
  • Okinawa $2,184

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,620 in Narita versus $2,980 in Okinawa.

  • Narita $2,620
  • Okinawa $2,980

Living in Narita costs roughly 13% less than in Okinawa, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Narita is 12% below, Okinawa is 2% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Narita
Okinawa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.73 ¥903
$10.12 ¥1,594
-43.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.80 ¥6,585
$40.24 ¥6,338
3.88%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.42 ¥697
$7.04 ¥1,109
-37.22%
Cappuccino
$3.25 ¥512
$4.11 ¥647
-20.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 ¥124
$1.40 ¥221
-44.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 ¥115
$0.92 ¥145
-20.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.07 ¥326
$2.51 ¥395
-17.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.22 ¥508
$5.27 ¥830
-38.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Narita
Okinawa
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.25 ¥196
$1.58 ¥248
-20.89%
White Bread (500g)
$1.72 ¥272
$2.05 ¥323
-16.10%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.63 ¥572
$3.76 ¥592
-3.46%
Eggs
$1.98 ¥313
$1.84 ¥289
7.61%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.31 ¥1,624
$17.99 ¥2,834
-42.69%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.13 ¥965
$4.79 ¥755
27.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.34 ¥2,260
$22.45 ¥3,537
-36.12%
Apples (1kg)
$5.83 ¥918
$3.81 ¥601
53.02%
Banana (1kg)
$2.73 ¥430
$2.62 ¥412
4.20%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.91 ¥459
$2.20 ¥346
32.27%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.16 ¥655
$5.26 ¥829
-20.91%
Potato (1kg)
$2.64 ¥416
$2.39 ¥376
10.46%
Onion (1kg)
$2.69 ¥423
$2.56 ¥403
5.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.30 ¥205
$1.28 ¥201
1.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82 ¥129
$0.77 ¥122
6.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.78 ¥596
$3.90 ¥615
-3.08%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.22 ¥979
$6.40 ¥1,008
-2.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ¥282
$1.95 ¥307
-8.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09 ¥329
$3.34 ¥527
-37.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Narita
Okinawa
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.48 ¥234
$1.44 ¥226
2.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$64.9 ¥10.2K
$65.1 ¥10.3K
-0.28%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.25 ¥512
$3.82 ¥602
-14.92%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.62 ¥255
$3.54 ¥558
-54.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$20.95 ¥3,300
$11.23 ¥1,768
86.55%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.03 ¥162
$1.11 ¥174
-7.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.8K ¥3.4M
$20.9K ¥3.3M
4.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.1K ¥2.5M
$15.5K ¥2.4M
3.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Narita
Okinawa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$131 ¥20.6K
$163 ¥25.6K
-19.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.14 ¥3,802
$25.35 ¥3,994
-4.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.35 ¥4,465
$53.1 ¥8,360
-46.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Narita
Okinawa
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.3 ¥8,245
$73.0 ¥11.5K
-28.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$54.9 ¥8,650
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.49 ¥1,809
$11.98 ¥1,888
-4.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Narita
Okinawa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$828 ¥130.4K
$327 ¥51.6K
152.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ¥2.3M
$5,668 ¥892.8K
161.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Narita
Okinawa
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.3 ¥9,808
$48.88 ¥7,700
27.37%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.42 ¥5,736
$23.35 ¥3,678
55.97%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$61.0 ¥9,610
$81.2 ¥12.8K
-24.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105 ¥16.5K
$95.7 ¥15.1K
9.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Narita
Okinawa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$540 ¥85.0K
$411 ¥64.8K
31.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$334 ¥52.6K
$332 ¥52.3K
0.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$901 ¥142.0K
$852 ¥134.3K
5.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$700 ¥110.2K
$678 ¥106.8K
3.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,825 ¥602.5K
$8,422 ¥1.3M
-54.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,316 ¥364.9K
$1,185 ¥186.6K
95.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Narita
Okinawa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,258 ¥198.1K
$1,798 ¥283.2K
-30.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.64
2.23
18.39%

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

Last update for Narita: October 27, 2026

Last update for Okinawa: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Narita
$334
Okinawa
$332 0.6% $1.9
Groceries & Markets
Narita
$289
Okinawa
$330 14.2% $41
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Narita
$183
Okinawa
$241 31.7% $58
Eating Out
Narita
$121
Okinawa
$184 51.9% $63
Clothing & Footwear
Narita
$119
Okinawa
$112 5.8% $6.9
Getting Around
Narita
$82
Okinawa
$92 12.4% $10
Sport & Entertainment
Narita
$75
Okinawa
$97 28.8% $22

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $540 in Narita and $411 in Okinawa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Okinawa pays 43% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $42 in Narita vs $40 in Okinawa. Groceries flip the comparison at $289 vs $330, with Narita cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇯🇵 Narita
🇯🇵 Okinawa
🕒 Local time
09:33 9:33 AM
09:33 9:33 AM
Same time as Narita
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
131,613
142,752
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to JPY – Japanese Yen Converter

Japanese Yen exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 158 JPY (1,000 JPY = 6.35 USD). 1 EUR = 176 JPY (1,000 JPY = 5.69 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Narita Okinawa 1,570 km ≈ 2 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Narita
  • Okinawa

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Narita vs Okinawa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Narita cheaper than Okinawa?
Narita is about 13% cheaper overall, especially in eating out, groceries, and utilities. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Narita or Okinawa?
On paper, salaries run 30% lower in Narita. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Narita and Okinawa?
Rent for a central apartment: $540 in Narita versus $411 in Okinawa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Narita and in Okinawa?
Supermarket bills run roughly 14% higher in Okinawa. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Narita and in Okinawa?
All in, you’ll spend $1,203 per month in Narita versus $1,388 in Okinawa – Narita is about 13% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Is it better to live in Narita or in 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.
Which city is safer, Narita or Okinawa?
Safety-wise, Narita and Okinawa are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
It comes down to priorities – Narita wins on affordability, Okinawa on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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