Cost of Living Comparison Between Niigata and Okinawa Cost of Living Comparison Between Niigata and Okinawa

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,122 in Niigata versus $1,430 in Okinawa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,852 in Niigata versus $2,196 in Okinawa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,581 in Niigata versus $2,961 in Okinawa.

Living in Niigata costs roughly 22% less than in Okinawa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Niigata is 16% below, Okinawa is 7% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.65 ¥904

$8.57 ¥1,370

-34.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.78 ¥7,803

$41.32 ¥6,609

18.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.49 ¥878

$6.12 ¥978

-10.29%

Cappuccino

$2.06 ¥330

$3.31 ¥529

-37.76%

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

$1.21 ¥193

$1.32 ¥211

-8.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.79 ¥126

$0.86 ¥137

-8.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.82 ¥451

$3.48 ¥557

-18.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 ¥551

$4.81 ¥769

-28.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 ¥210

$1.87 ¥299

-29.95%

White Bread (500g)

$1.20 ¥192

$2.30 ¥367

-47.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.35 ¥536

$4.83 ¥772

-30.64%

Eggs

$2.42 ¥387

$2.01 ¥321

20.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.76 ¥1,241

$16.33 ¥2,613

-52.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.94 ¥950

$11.13 ¥1,780

-46.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.94 ¥3,670

$26.95 ¥4,310

-14.88%

Apples (1kg)

$4.06 ¥649

$5.27 ¥842

-22.96%

Banana (1kg)

$2.57 ¥411

$2.61 ¥418

-1.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.16 ¥506

$3.03 ¥485

4.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.98 ¥477

$5.65 ¥904

-47.26%

Potato (1kg)

$2.27 ¥363

$3.69 ¥590

-38.48%

Onion (1kg)

$2.26 ¥362

$2.90 ¥464

-22.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 ¥166

$1.60 ¥256

-35.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.83 ¥133

$0.94 ¥151

-11.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.01 ¥642

$4.82 ¥771

-16.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.27 ¥682

$6.11 ¥978

-30.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 ¥306

$1.72 ¥275

11.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 ¥436

$2.89 ¥461

-5.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.84 ¥294

$1.67 ¥268

10.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.0 ¥8,798

$35.27 ¥5,642

55.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.89 ¥462

$4.19 ¥671

-31.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.77 ¥443

$3.77 ¥603

-26.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$20.54 ¥3,285

$12.74 ¥2,037

61.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ¥194

$1.20 ¥192

1.67%

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

$16.2K ¥2.6M

$22.8K ¥3.6M

-29.07%

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

$15.9K ¥2.5M

$17.0K ¥2.7M

-6.40%

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

$162 ¥26.0K

$173 ¥27.7K

-6.08%

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

$26.95 ¥4,310

$27.72 ¥4,434

-2.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.37 ¥5,337

$32.51 ¥5,200

2.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.1 ¥9,609

$53.4 ¥8,547

12.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.25 ¥1,640

$6.76 ¥1,081

51.63%

Cinema Ticket

$13.02 ¥2,082

$12.60 ¥2,016

3.33%

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

$86.1 ¥13.8K

$347 ¥55.5K

-75.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.5K ¥2.5M

$13.5K ¥2.2M

14.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.76 ¥6,679

$48.84 ¥7,813

-14.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.15 ¥3,384

$29.28 ¥4,683

-27.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$37.60 ¥6,014

$72.9 ¥11.7K

-48.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.9 ¥9,097

$93.1 ¥14.9K

-38.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$388 ¥62.1K

$437 ¥69.9K

-11.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$279 ¥44.7K

$394 ¥63.1K

-29.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$851 ¥136.0K

$944 ¥150.9K

-9.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$665 ¥106.4K

$750 ¥119.9K

-11.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,514 ¥722.1K

$8,543 ¥1.4M

-47.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,332 ¥373.0K

$1,187 ¥189.8K

96.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,234 ¥197.5K

$1,292 ¥206.6K

-4.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.24

-38.00%

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

Last update for Niigata: June 1, 2026

Last update for Okinawa: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $388 in Niigata and $437 in Okinawa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Okinawa pays 5% 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: $49.00 in Niigata vs $41.00 in Okinawa. Groceries flip the comparison at $282 vs $398, with Niigata cheaper for home cooking.

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

Niigata vs Okinawa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Niigata and Okinawa differ by about 27% in total monthly costs ($1,122 vs $1,430 including rent). Niigata is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Okinawa earns 5% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $388 in Niigata versus $437 in Okinawa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,122 per month in Niigata versus $1,430 in Okinawa – a 27% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Niigata runs roughly 56% less than in Okinawa. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,122 in Niigata versus $1,430 in Okinawa, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Niigata but tight or insufficient in Okinawa. The gap between the two cities makes Niigata the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Niigata 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.

Expats usually find Niigata gentler on the wallet – expenses run 27% less than in Okinawa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.