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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,437 per month in Okinawa vs $1,034 in Beppu, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,214 per month in Okinawa vs $1,568 in Beppu, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,992 per month in Okinawa vs $2,103 in Beppu, rent included.

Okinawa costs about 39% more than Beppu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Okinawa sits 8% above the global median, while Beppu is 23% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.18 ¥1,329

$6.84 ¥1,111

19.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.94 ¥6,815

$26.49 ¥4,304

58.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.98 ¥971

$4.76 ¥773

25.63%

Cappuccino

$3.34 ¥543

$3.03 ¥493

10.23%

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

$1.32 ¥215

$1.03 ¥168

28.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.93 ¥152

$0.82 ¥134

13.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.50 ¥569

$3.45 ¥561

1.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.91 ¥797

$4.72 ¥768

4.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ¥317

$1.54 ¥250

26.62%

White Bread (500g)

$2.37 ¥385

$1.65 ¥268

43.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.87 ¥791

$4.09 ¥664

19.07%

Eggs

$2.00 ¥325

$1.61 ¥262

24.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.39 ¥2,663

$9.64 ¥1,566

70.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.84 ¥1,761

$6.14 ¥997

76.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$26.48 ¥4,303

$11.24 ¥1,827

135.59%

Apples (1kg)

$5.06 ¥822

$3.08 ¥501

64.29%

Banana (1kg)

$2.59 ¥420

$1.40 ¥228

85.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.13 ¥509

$4.24 ¥689

-26.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.64 ¥916

$4.62 ¥751

22.08%

Potato (1kg)

$3.50 ¥568

$2.75 ¥448

27.27%

Onion (1kg)

$2.89 ¥469

$2.45 ¥398

17.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.59 ¥258

$0.91 ¥148

74.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 ¥143

$0.82 ¥133

7.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.92 ¥799

$3.90 ¥633

26.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.09 ¥989

$6.23 ¥1,012

-2.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 ¥281

$1.64 ¥266

5.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 ¥473

$1.85 ¥301

57.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.63 ¥265

$2.81 ¥457

-41.99%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.91 ¥5,673

$34.00 ¥5,524

2.68%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.11 ¥668

$4.75 ¥773

-13.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.62 ¥587

$3.01 ¥489

20.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.58 ¥2,044

$19.55 ¥3,176

-35.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ¥202

$1.25 ¥203

-0.80%

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

$23.3K ¥3.8M

$12.7K ¥2.1M

83.58%

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

$16.7K ¥2.7M

$17.7K ¥2.9M

-5.50%

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

$173 ¥28.2K

$161 ¥26.1K

7.96%

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

$27.25 ¥4,428

$13.91 ¥2,261

95.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.66 ¥5,145

$31.66 ¥5,144

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.7 ¥8,723

$47.88 ¥7,780

12.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.04 ¥1,144

$3.57 ¥579

97.20%

Cinema Ticket

$12.45 ¥2,022

$6.90 ¥1,120

80.43%

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

$346 ¥56.2K

$211 ¥34.3K

64.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.2K ¥2.1M

$13.3K ¥2.2M

-1.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.75 ¥7,758

$31.18 ¥5,066

53.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.25 ¥4,753

$24.19 ¥3,930

20.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.5 ¥11.9K

$66.2 ¥10.7K

11.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.9 ¥14.8K

$40.89 ¥6,643

122.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$445 ¥72.2K

$349 ¥56.7K

27.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$400 ¥64.9K

$242 ¥39.3K

65.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$946 ¥153.7K

$628 ¥102.0K

50.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$748 ¥121.5K

$415 ¥67.4K

80.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,584 ¥1.4M

$4,082 ¥663.3K

110.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,221 ¥198.4K

$2,106 ¥342.1K

-42.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,769 ¥287.4K

$1,326 ¥215.4K

33.40%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Beppu: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $445 in Okinawa versus $349 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 33% higher in Okinawa, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Okinawa versus $26.00 in Beppu. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $395 vs $263 – 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 39% 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 $2,155 per month in Okinawa and $1,551 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 $1,437 in Okinawa and $1,034 in Beppu. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 3% 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 $1,034, than in Okinawa at $1,437. 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.