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: $768 in Niigata versus $1,427 in Okinawa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,162 in Niigata versus $2,228 in Okinawa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,556 in Niigata versus $3,030 in Okinawa.

Living in Niigata costs roughly 46% less than in Okinawa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Niigata is 44% below, Okinawa is 4% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.37 ¥994

$9.68 ¥1,511

-34.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.41 ¥2,561

$40.32 ¥6,292

-59.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.07 ¥790

$6.94 ¥1,082

-26.95%

Cappuccino

$2.67 ¥417

$4.18 ¥653

-36.12%

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

$1.65 ¥258

$1.47 ¥230

12.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 ¥130

$1.01 ¥158

-17.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.53 ¥395

$2.00 ¥313

26.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 ¥420

$4.46 ¥696

-39.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 ¥196

$1.59 ¥249

-20.75%

White Bread (500g)

$0.93 ¥146

$2.20 ¥344

-57.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.65 ¥413

$3.98 ¥620

-33.42%

Eggs

$2.24 ¥350

$1.81 ¥282

23.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.71 ¥1,202

$17.99 ¥2,807

-57.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.53 ¥1,175

$5.05 ¥788

49.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.56 ¥2,895

$22.90 ¥3,574

-18.95%

Apples (1kg)

$3.32 ¥518

$3.73 ¥582

-10.99%

Banana (1kg)

$1.28 ¥200

$2.78 ¥434

-53.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.55 ¥399

$2.30 ¥358

10.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 ¥349

$5.27 ¥822

-57.50%

Potato (1kg)

$1.99 ¥310

$2.45 ¥382

-18.78%

Onion (1kg)

$1.90 ¥297

$2.53 ¥394

-24.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 ¥158

$1.35 ¥211

-25.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 ¥96.4

$0.77 ¥120

-19.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.98 ¥621

$3.93 ¥614

1.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.50 ¥702

$6.51 ¥1,015

-30.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 ¥275

$1.96 ¥306

-9.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 ¥295

$3.45 ¥538

-45.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.30 ¥203

$1.46 ¥229

-10.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$68.1 ¥10.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.61 ¥407

$3.94 ¥614

-33.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.20 ¥499

$3.59 ¥560

-10.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.99 ¥2,962

$11.87 ¥1,853

59.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 ¥176

$1.13 ¥177

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

$19.5K ¥3.0M

$21.9K ¥3.4M

-10.87%

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

$13.0K ¥2.0M

$15.4K ¥2.4M

-15.63%

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

$157 ¥24.5K

$165 ¥25.7K

-4.82%

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

$22.59 ¥3,525

$25.69 ¥4,009

-12.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.29 ¥4,102

$54.8 ¥8,550

-52.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.2 ¥8,295

$74.0 ¥11.6K

-28.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.59 ¥1,029

$56.5 ¥8,814

-88.33%

Cinema Ticket

$12.43 ¥1,940

$12.50 ¥1,951

-0.56%

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

$65.6 ¥10.2K

$345 ¥53.8K

-80.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.1K ¥2.8M

$5,827 ¥909.1K

209.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.83 ¥5,123

$51.7 ¥8,063

-36.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.65 ¥5,094

$24.12 ¥3,763

35.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$39.55 ¥6,170

$81.1 ¥12.7K

-51.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$66.0 ¥10.3K

$95.9 ¥15.0K

-31.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$363 ¥56.6K

$411 ¥64.2K

-11.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$332 ¥51.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$863 ¥134.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$694 ¥108.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,703 ¥1.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,200 ¥187.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,313 ¥204.8K

$1,861 ¥290.4K

-29.46%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.48

2.23

-33.63%

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

Last update for Niigata: September 13, 2026

Last update for Okinawa: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $363 in Niigata and $411 in Okinawa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Okinawa pays 42% 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: $16.00 in Niigata vs $40.00 in Okinawa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $246 vs $337 per month, with Niigata 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

Niigata vs Okinawa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Niigata and Okinawa differ by about 86% in total monthly costs ($768 vs $1,427 including rent). Niigata is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 42% lower in Okinawa. 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: $363 in Niigata versus $411 in Okinawa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 37% higher in Okinawa. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $768 per month in Niigata versus $1,427 in Okinawa – a 86% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $768 in Niigata versus $1,427 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 86% less than in Okinawa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.