Cost of Living Comparison Between Okinawa and Akita Cost of Living Comparison Between Okinawa and Akita

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,430 per month in Okinawa vs $1,273 in Akita, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,196 per month in Okinawa vs $1,954 in Akita, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,961 per month in Okinawa vs $2,635 in Akita, rent included.

Okinawa costs about 12% more than Akita, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Okinawa sits 7% above the global median, while Akita is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.57 ¥1,373

$6.94 ¥1,113

23.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.32 ¥6,624

$35.26 ¥5,652

17.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.12 ¥981

$5.45 ¥873

12.29%

Cappuccino

$3.31 ¥530

$3.80 ¥608

-12.89%

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

$1.32 ¥211

$1.05 ¥168

25.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 ¥138

$0.93 ¥148

-7.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.48 ¥558

$2.10 ¥337

65.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.81 ¥770

$3.18 ¥510

51.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ¥299

$1.60 ¥256

16.88%

White Bread (500g)

$2.30 ¥368

$1.57 ¥252

46.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.83 ¥774

$4.88 ¥782

-1.02%

Eggs

$2.01 ¥322

$2.28 ¥366

-11.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.33 ¥2,618

$9.94 ¥1,593

64.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.13 ¥1,784

$6.42 ¥1,030

73.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$26.95 ¥4,319

$15.43 ¥2,473

74.66%

Apples (1kg)

$5.27 ¥844

$5.32 ¥853

-0.94%

Banana (1kg)

$2.61 ¥419

$2.55 ¥409

2.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.03 ¥486

$4.04 ¥647

-25.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.65 ¥905

$5.85 ¥938

-3.42%

Potato (1kg)

$3.69 ¥591

$3.12 ¥500

18.27%

Onion (1kg)

$2.90 ¥465

$2.67 ¥429

8.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.60 ¥257

$1.33 ¥213

20.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 ¥151

$0.90 ¥144

4.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.82 ¥772

$4.22 ¥676

14.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.11 ¥980

$8.32 ¥1,333

-26.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 ¥275

$1.91 ¥307

-9.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 ¥462

$2.23 ¥358

29.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.67 ¥268

$1.67 ¥267

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.27 ¥5,654

$55.6 ¥8,907

-36.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.19 ¥672

$3.53 ¥566

18.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.77 ¥605

$2.86 ¥459

31.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.74 ¥2,041

$20.48 ¥3,282

-37.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 ¥192

$1.45 ¥233

-17.24%

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

$22.8K ¥3.7M

$23.1K ¥3.7M

-1.44%

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

$17.0K ¥2.7M

$17.6K ¥2.8M

-3.48%

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

$173 ¥27.7K

$144 ¥23.0K

20.53%

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

$27.72 ¥4,444

$27.16 ¥4,353

2.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.51 ¥5,211

$34.38 ¥5,510

-5.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.4 ¥8,566

$55.5 ¥8,894

-3.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.76 ¥1,084

$13.96 ¥2,238

-51.58%

Cinema Ticket

$12.60 ¥2,020

$12.38 ¥1,985

1.78%

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

$347 ¥55.6K

$285 ¥45.6K

21.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.5K ¥2.2M

$13.2K ¥2.1M

2.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.84 ¥7,829

$45.60 ¥7,310

7.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.28 ¥4,693

$29.11 ¥4,666

0.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.9 ¥11.7K

$59.3 ¥9,504

22.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$93.1 ¥14.9K

$91.2 ¥14.6K

2.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$437 ¥70.1K

$468 ¥75.0K

-6.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$394 ¥63.2K

$333 ¥53.4K

18.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$944 ¥151.3K

$865 ¥138.7K

9.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$750 ¥120.2K

$669 ¥107.2K

12.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,543 ¥1.4M

$4,561 ¥731.0K

87.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,187 ¥190.2K

$2,373 ¥380.3K

-49.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,292 ¥207.0K

$1,595 ¥255.6K

-19.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.78

12.36%

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

Last update for Okinawa: June 1, 2026

Last update for Akita: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $437 in Okinawa versus $468 in Akita. 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 23% higher in Akita, 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 $35.00 in Akita. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $398 vs $317 – making Akita 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 Akita: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Okinawa costs about 12% more than Akita, 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 $1,909 in Akita. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 58% less in Akita. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $347 per month in Okinawa and $285 in Akita. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Akita, where all-in costs run around $1,273, than in Okinawa at $1,430. In Akita it covers expenses comfortably, while in Okinawa it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Akita – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Akita. 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.