Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nishinomiya and Okinawa

For one person, living is cheaper in Nishinomiya: $1,257 a month against $1,364 in Okinawa, rent and utilities included – about $1,300 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Nishinomiya
🇯🇵 Japan
$1,257
/mo nomad
Okinawa
🇯🇵 Japan
$1,364
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nishinomiya 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 Nishinomiya and in Okinawa actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,257 per month in Nishinomiya vs $1,364 in Okinawa, rent included.

  • Nishinomiya $1,257
  • Okinawa $1,364

A couple spends around $2,020 per month in Nishinomiya vs $2,154 in Okinawa, rent included.

  • Nishinomiya $2,020
  • Okinawa $2,154

A family of three spends $2,783 per month in Nishinomiya vs $2,944 in Okinawa, rent included.

  • Nishinomiya $2,783
  • Okinawa $2,944

Nishinomiya is about 8% cheaper than Okinawa, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Nishinomiya sits 7% below the global median, while Okinawa is 1% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nishinomiya
Okinawa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.71 ¥1,377
$9.91 ¥1,566
-12.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.81 ¥5,025
$39.91 ¥6,306
-20.30%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.02 ¥794
$7.13 ¥1,126
-29.59%
Cappuccino
$2.26 ¥358
$3.87 ¥611
-41.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.17 ¥185
$1.47 ¥233
-20.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63 ¥99.4
$0.99 ¥156
-36.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.09 ¥331
$2.51 ¥397
-16.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23 ¥353
$4.34 ¥685
-48.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nishinomiya
Okinawa
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.49 ¥236
$1.63 ¥257
-8.59%
White Bread (500g)
$1.49 ¥236
$2.07 ¥326
-28.02%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.61 ¥886
$3.88 ¥612
44.59%
Eggs
$2.14 ¥338
$1.78 ¥281
20.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.69 ¥2,005
$17.97 ¥2,840
-29.38%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.42 ¥1,489
$4.85 ¥766
94.23%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$31.74 ¥5,015
$22.79 ¥3,601
39.27%
Apples (1kg)
$5.13 ¥810
$3.62 ¥571
41.71%
Banana (1kg)
$1.81 ¥286
$2.70 ¥427
-32.96%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.04 ¥480
$2.19 ¥345
38.81%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.01 ¥949
$5.16 ¥816
16.47%
Potato (1kg)
$1.62 ¥256
$2.39 ¥377
-32.22%
Onion (1kg)
$2.53 ¥400
$2.45 ¥386
3.27%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 ¥179
$1.26 ¥199
-10.32%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.94 ¥149
$0.78 ¥122
20.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.41 ¥538
$4.02 ¥635
-15.17%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.56 ¥1,511
$6.30 ¥995
51.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 ¥371
$1.90 ¥299
23.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 ¥240
$3.35 ¥530
-54.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Nishinomiya
Okinawa
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.50 ¥237
$1.48 ¥233
1.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.1 ¥8,392
$65.9 ¥10.4K
-19.38%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.23 ¥510
$3.96 ¥625
-18.43%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.81 ¥444
$3.42 ¥540
-17.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$15.51 ¥2,450
$11.40 ¥1,802
36.05%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.10 ¥174
$1.06 ¥167
3.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.8K ¥3.1M
$21.1K ¥3.3M
-6.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.0K ¥2.4M
$15.1K ¥2.4M
-0.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nishinomiya
Okinawa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$117 ¥18.4K
$158 ¥25.0K
-26.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.12 ¥3,653
$25.31 ¥3,999
-8.65%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.51 ¥4,819
$52.8 ¥8,338
-42.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nishinomiya
Okinawa
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$62.2 ¥9,820
$71.1 ¥11.2K
-12.57%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$55.3 ¥8,734
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.49 ¥1,816
$11.95 ¥1,888
-3.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nishinomiya
Okinawa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$323 ¥51.0K
$329 ¥52.0K
-1.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,082 ¥960.9K
$5,632 ¥889.8K
7.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nishinomiya
Okinawa
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.33 ¥7,793
$50.2 ¥7,928
-1.69%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.09 ¥3,964
$23.08 ¥3,647
8.71%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$46.56 ¥7,356
$80.5 ¥12.7K
-42.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$64.4 ¥10.2K
$94.6 ¥14.9K
-31.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nishinomiya
Okinawa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$523 ¥82.6K
$403 ¥63.6K
29.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$328 ¥51.9K
$320 ¥50.6K
2.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,114 ¥175.9K
$841 ¥132.9K
32.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$751 ¥118.6K
$663 ¥104.7K
13.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,265 ¥673.9K
$8,665 ¥1.4M
-50.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,735 ¥274.1K
$1,213 ¥191.7K
42.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nishinomiya
Okinawa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,977 ¥312.4K
$1,809 ¥285.8K
9.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.02
2.23
-9.42%

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

Last update for Nishinomiya: October 17, 2026

Last update for Okinawa: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Nishinomiya
$380
Okinawa
$330 13% $49
Accommodation & Living
Nishinomiya
$328
Okinawa
$320 2.5% $8.2
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nishinomiya
$170
Okinawa
$236 38.8% $66
Eating Out
Nishinomiya
$134
Okinawa
$178 32.8% $44
Sport & Entertainment
Nishinomiya
$85
Okinawa
$95 11.6% $9.9
Clothing & Footwear
Nishinomiya
$83
Okinawa
$112 33.9% $28
Getting Around
Nishinomiya
$76
Okinawa
$93 21.5% $16

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $523 in Nishinomiya versus $403 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 9% higher in Nishinomiya, 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 $32.00 in Nishinomiya versus $40.00 in Okinawa. Groceries tell a different story – $380 in Nishinomiya vs $330 in Okinawa – so Okinawa wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇯🇵 Nishinomiya
🇯🇵 Okinawa
🕒 Local time
11:30 11:30 AM
11:30 11:30 AM
Same time as Nishinomiya
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
488,873
142,752
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to JPY – Japanese Yen Converter

Japanese Yen exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 158 JPY (1,000 JPY = 6.33 USD). 1 EUR = 178 JPY (1,000 JPY = 5.63 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nishinomiya Okinawa 1,160 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Nishinomiya
  • 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
Nishinomiya vs Okinawa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Okinawa cheaper than Nishinomiya?
Yes – Okinawa is pricier by about 9%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,886 per month in Nishinomiya and $2,047 in Okinawa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Nishinomiya, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Nishinomiya or in Okinawa?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Nishinomiya and $40.00 in Okinawa. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Nishinomiya and in Okinawa?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,257 in Nishinomiya and $1,364 in Okinawa. That's a gap of about 9%.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Nishinomiya or in Okinawa?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Nishinomiya, where all-in costs run around $1,257, than in Okinawa at $1,364. In Nishinomiya it covers expenses comfortably, while in Okinawa it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Nishinomiya or Okinawa more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Nishinomiya – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Nishinomiya or Okinawa?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Nishinomiya. 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.

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