Cost of Living Comparison Between Okinawa and Beppu Cost of Living Comparison Between Okinawa and Beppu

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,430 per month in Okinawa vs $1,067 in Beppu, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,196 per month in Okinawa vs $1,564 in Beppu, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,961 per month in Okinawa vs $2,061 in Beppu, rent included.

Okinawa costs about 34% more than Beppu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Okinawa sits 7% above the global median, while Beppu is 20% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.57 ¥1,370

$6.89 ¥1,102

24.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.32 ¥6,609

$26.47 ¥4,234

56.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.12 ¥978

$4.77 ¥763

28.30%

Cappuccino

$3.31 ¥529

$3.14 ¥502

5.41%

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

$1.32 ¥211

$1.07 ¥171

23.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 ¥137

$0.83 ¥133

3.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.48 ¥557

$3.45 ¥552

0.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.81 ¥769

$4.65 ¥744

3.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ¥299

$1.57 ¥252

19.11%

White Bread (500g)

$2.30 ¥367

$1.59 ¥254

44.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.83 ¥772

$4.20 ¥672

15.00%

Eggs

$2.01 ¥321

$1.60 ¥257

25.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.33 ¥2,613

$9.80 ¥1,568

66.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.13 ¥1,780

$6.04 ¥966

84.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$26.95 ¥4,310

$11.06 ¥1,769

143.67%

Apples (1kg)

$5.27 ¥842

$3.16 ¥505

66.77%

Banana (1kg)

$2.61 ¥418

$1.36 ¥217

91.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.03 ¥485

$4.12 ¥660

-26.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.65 ¥904

$4.62 ¥739

22.29%

Potato (1kg)

$3.69 ¥590

$2.83 ¥453

30.39%

Onion (1kg)

$2.90 ¥464

$2.46 ¥393

17.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.60 ¥256

$0.96 ¥154

66.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 ¥151

$0.81 ¥130

16.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.82 ¥771

$3.75 ¥600

28.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.11 ¥978

$6.07 ¥972

0.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 ¥275

$1.64 ¥262

4.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 ¥461

$1.85 ¥296

56.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.67 ¥268

$2.71 ¥434

-38.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.27 ¥5,642

$34.56 ¥5,527

2.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.19 ¥671

$4.53 ¥725

-7.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.77 ¥603

$2.88 ¥460

30.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.74 ¥2,037

$19.31 ¥3,089

-34.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 ¥192

$1.25 ¥199

-4.00%

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

$22.8K ¥3.6M

$12.5K ¥2.0M

82.51%

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

$17.0K ¥2.7M

$17.1K ¥2.7M

-0.62%

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

$173 ¥27.7K

$160 ¥25.6K

8.03%

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

$27.72 ¥4,434

$14.13 ¥2,261

96.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.51 ¥5,200

$31.09 ¥4,973

4.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.4 ¥8,547

$49.29 ¥7,884

8.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.76 ¥1,081

$3.54 ¥567

90.96%

Cinema Ticket

$12.60 ¥2,016

$7.02 ¥1,123

79.49%

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

$347 ¥55.5K

$210 ¥33.6K

65.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.5K ¥2.2M

-0.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.84 ¥7,813

$30.75 ¥4,918

58.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.28 ¥4,683

$24.52 ¥3,922

19.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.9 ¥11.7K

$67.0 ¥10.7K

8.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$93.1 ¥14.9K

$42.23 ¥6,754

120.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$437 ¥69.9K

$345 ¥55.1K

26.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$394 ¥63.1K

$246 ¥39.4K

60.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$944 ¥150.9K

$619 ¥99.0K

52.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$750 ¥119.9K

$412 ¥65.9K

81.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,543 ¥1.4M

$4,203 ¥672.2K

103.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,187 ¥189.8K

$2,394 ¥383.0K

-50.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,292 ¥206.6K

$1,339 ¥214.1K

-3.50%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.67

19.76%

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

Last update for Okinawa: June 1, 2026

Last update for Beppu: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $437 in Okinawa versus $345 in Beppu. 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 4% higher in Beppu, 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 $26.00 in Beppu. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $398 vs $262 – making Beppu 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 Beppu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Okinawa costs about 34% more than Beppu, 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 $1,600 in Beppu. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Beppu, 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 $1,067 in Beppu. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 2% less in Beppu. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Beppu, where all-in costs run around $1,067, than in Okinawa at $1,430. In Beppu it covers expenses comfortably, while in Okinawa it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Beppu – 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 Beppu. 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.