Cost of Living Comparison Between Okinawa and Aichi Cost of Living Comparison Between Okinawa and Aichi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,430 per month in Okinawa vs $1,136 in Aichi, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,196 per month in Okinawa vs $1,793 in Aichi, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,961 per month in Okinawa vs $2,450 in Aichi, rent included.

Okinawa costs about 26% more than Aichi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Okinawa sits 7% above the global median, while Aichi is 15% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.57 ¥1,370

$7.09 ¥1,135

20.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.32 ¥6,609

$33.22 ¥5,314

24.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.12 ¥978

$5.50 ¥879

11.27%

Cappuccino

$3.31 ¥529

$3.13 ¥501

5.75%

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

$1.32 ¥211

$1.01 ¥162

30.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 ¥137

$0.75 ¥121

14.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.48 ¥557

$2.05 ¥327

69.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.81 ¥769

$3.17 ¥507

51.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ¥299

$1.50 ¥240

24.67%

White Bread (500g)

$2.30 ¥367

$1.75 ¥279

31.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.83 ¥772

$3.68 ¥588

31.25%

Eggs

$2.01 ¥321

$2.22 ¥355

-9.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.33 ¥2,613

$10.02 ¥1,603

62.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.13 ¥1,780

$6.44 ¥1,030

72.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$26.95 ¥4,310

$15.36 ¥2,457

75.46%

Apples (1kg)

$5.27 ¥842

$2.84 ¥455

85.56%

Banana (1kg)

$2.61 ¥418

$2.05 ¥328

27.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.03 ¥485

$2.13 ¥340

42.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.65 ¥904

$2.71 ¥433

108.49%

Potato (1kg)

$3.69 ¥590

$2.11 ¥337

74.88%

Onion (1kg)

$2.90 ¥464

$1.71 ¥274

69.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.60 ¥256

$1.32 ¥211

21.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 ¥151

$0.84 ¥134

11.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.82 ¥771

$4.28 ¥684

12.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.11 ¥978

$9.14 ¥1,462

-33.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 ¥275

$1.75 ¥281

-1.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 ¥461

$2.05 ¥328

40.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.67 ¥268

$1.44 ¥230

15.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.27 ¥5,642

$54.5 ¥8,718

-35.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.19 ¥671

$3.35 ¥536

25.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.77 ¥603

$2.95 ¥473

27.80%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.74 ¥2,037

$22.51 ¥3,601

-43.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 ¥192

$1.18 ¥188

1.69%

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

$22.8K ¥3.6M

$23.4K ¥3.7M

-2.62%

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

$17.0K ¥2.7M

$18.8K ¥3.0M

-9.91%

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

$173 ¥27.7K

$106 ¥16.9K

63.26%

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

$27.72 ¥4,434

$20.89 ¥3,342

32.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.51 ¥5,200

$33.64 ¥5,380

-3.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.4 ¥8,547

$34.55 ¥5,527

54.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.76 ¥1,081

$6.98 ¥1,117

-3.15%

Cinema Ticket

$12.60 ¥2,016

$13.90 ¥2,223

-9.35%

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

$347 ¥55.5K

$286 ¥45.8K

21.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.5K ¥2.2M

$14.1K ¥2.3M

-4.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.84 ¥7,813

$42.20 ¥6,750

15.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.28 ¥4,683

$29.00 ¥4,638

0.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.9 ¥11.7K

$59.8 ¥9,564

21.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$93.1 ¥14.9K

$103 ¥16.5K

-9.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$437 ¥69.9K

$433 ¥69.3K

0.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$394 ¥63.1K

$321 ¥51.4K

22.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$944 ¥150.9K

$1,039 ¥166.3K

-9.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$750 ¥119.9K

$701 ¥112.1K

7.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,543 ¥1.4M

$1,806 ¥288.9K

372.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,187 ¥189.8K

$935 ¥149.6K

26.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,292 ¥206.6K

$1,557 ¥249.1K

-17.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.05

-2.44%

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

Last update for Okinawa: June 1, 2026

Last update for Aichi: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $437 in Okinawa versus $433 in Aichi. 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 21% higher in Aichi, 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 $41.00 in Okinawa versus $33.00 in Aichi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $398 vs $269 – making Aichi the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Okinawa vs Aichi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Okinawa costs about 26% more than Aichi, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,145 per month in Okinawa and $1,704 in Aichi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Aichi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,430 in Okinawa and $1,136 in Aichi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 55% less in Aichi. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Aichi, where all-in costs run around $1,136, than in Okinawa at $1,430. In Aichi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Okinawa it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Aichi costs $1,136 versus $1,430 in Okinawa. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Aichi. 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.