Cost of Living Comparison Between Okayama and Okinawa Cost of Living Comparison Between Okayama and Okinawa

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,041 in Okayama versus $1,428 in Okinawa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,684 in Okayama versus $2,217 in Okinawa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,327 in Okayama versus $3,007 in Okinawa.

Living in Okayama costs roughly 27% less than in Okinawa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Okayama is 22% below, Okinawa is 7% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.73 ¥1,060

$8.47 ¥1,335

-20.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.94 ¥4,403

$42.01 ¥6,620

-33.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.24 ¥983

$5.84 ¥921

6.85%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ¥308

$3.33 ¥525

-41.44%

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

$0.73 ¥115

$1.35 ¥213

-45.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 ¥113

$0.86 ¥136

-16.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.06 ¥325

$3.56 ¥560

-42.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 ¥319

$4.79 ¥754

-57.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.49 ¥235

$1.89 ¥298

-21.16%

White Bread (500g)

$0.67 ¥105

$2.25 ¥355

-70.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.95 ¥781

$4.60 ¥725

7.61%

Eggs

$1.69 ¥266

$2.04 ¥322

-17.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.43 ¥2,589

$16.45 ¥2,592

-0.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.73 ¥1,061

$11.24 ¥1,771

-40.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.40 ¥2,427

$26.66 ¥4,200

-42.24%

Apples (1kg)

$5.59 ¥880

$5.02 ¥791

11.35%

Banana (1kg)

$2.91 ¥458

$2.69 ¥423

8.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.92 ¥776

$3.06 ¥482

60.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.98 ¥785

$5.76 ¥907

-13.54%

Potato (1kg)

$2.47 ¥389

$3.53 ¥556

-30.03%

Onion (1kg)

$2.06 ¥324

$2.77 ¥437

-25.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.34 ¥211

$1.52 ¥240

-11.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 ¥123

$0.88 ¥138

-11.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.53 ¥556

$4.76 ¥749

-25.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.04 ¥1,425

$6.27 ¥989

44.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.03 ¥320

$1.81 ¥286

12.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 ¥336

$2.96 ¥467

-28.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.61 ¥254

$1.68 ¥265

-4.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.9 ¥8,644

$35.11 ¥5,533

56.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.46 ¥545

$4.06 ¥640

-14.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.65 ¥417

$3.77 ¥594

-29.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.58 ¥3,716

$12.85 ¥2,025

83.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ¥173

$1.25 ¥197

-12.00%

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

$22.8K ¥3.6M

$23.2K ¥3.7M

-1.55%

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

$17.2K ¥2.7M

$17.0K ¥2.7M

1.46%

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

$77.7 ¥12.2K

$176 ¥27.7K

-55.77%

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

$15.00 ¥2,364

$27.21 ¥4,287

-44.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.33 ¥4,306

$32.15 ¥5,066

-14.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.9 ¥8,804

$52.4 ¥8,252

6.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.93 ¥2,195

$7.11 ¥1,120

95.92%

Cinema Ticket

$12.42 ¥1,957

$12.63 ¥1,990

-1.66%

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

$476 ¥75.0K

$346 ¥54.6K

37.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.2K ¥1.8M

$13.4K ¥2.1M

-16.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.84 ¥7,223

$48.92 ¥7,709

-6.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.41 ¥5,107

$29.26 ¥4,610

10.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$56.4 ¥8,881

$72.9 ¥11.5K

-22.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.5 ¥14.3K

-0.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$359 ¥56.6K

$453 ¥71.4K

-20.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$208 ¥32.8K

$400 ¥63.0K

-47.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$697 ¥109.9K

$960 ¥151.3K

-27.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$466 ¥73.3K

$737 ¥116.1K

-36.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,685 ¥1.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,206 ¥190.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,323 ¥208.4K

$1,744 ¥274.8K

-24.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.78

-11.00%

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

Last update for Okayama: July 25, 2026

Last update for Okinawa: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $359 in Okayama and $453 in Okinawa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Okinawa pays 32% 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: $28.00 in Okayama vs $42.00 in Okinawa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $326 vs $396 per month, with Okayama 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

Okayama vs Okinawa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Okayama and Okinawa differ by about 37% in total monthly costs ($1,041 vs $1,428 including rent). Okayama is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 32% 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: $359 in Okayama versus $453 in Okinawa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,041 per month in Okayama versus $1,428 in Okinawa – a 37% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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

At $1,041 in Okayama versus $1,428 in Okinawa, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Okayama but tight or insufficient in Okinawa. The gap between the two cities makes Okayama 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, Okayama 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 Okayama gentler on the wallet – expenses run 37% less than in Okinawa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.