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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,385 per month in Okinawa vs $1,093 in Beppu, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,168 per month in Okinawa vs $1,718 in Beppu, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,950 per month in Okinawa vs $2,344 in Beppu, rent included.

Okinawa costs about 27% more than Beppu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Okinawa sits 1% above the global median, while Beppu is 20% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.17 ¥1,589

$6.40 ¥999

58.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.19 ¥6,278

$23.00 ¥3,594

74.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.98 ¥1,090

$4.33 ¥676

61.20%

Cappuccino

$4.17 ¥651

$3.04 ¥474

37.17%

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

$1.47 ¥230

$1.07 ¥167

37.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.93 ¥146

$0.64 ¥101

45.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.04 ¥319

$3.11 ¥486

-34.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.32 ¥675

$2.25 ¥351

92.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.55 ¥242

$1.37 ¥215

13.14%

White Bread (500g)

$2.12 ¥332

$1.59 ¥248

33.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.76 ¥588

$4.52 ¥706

-16.81%

Eggs

$1.76 ¥275

$1.44 ¥225

22.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.00 ¥2,812

$8.89 ¥1,389

102.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.78 ¥747

$5.33 ¥833

-10.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.13 ¥3,457

$9.93 ¥1,552

122.86%

Apples (1kg)

$3.66 ¥572

$3.66 ¥571

Banana (1kg)

$2.66 ¥415

$1.78 ¥278

49.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.14 ¥334

$2.90 ¥453

-26.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.19 ¥811

$3.31 ¥517

56.80%

Potato (1kg)

$2.38 ¥371

$2.20 ¥343

8.18%

Onion (1kg)

$2.55 ¥398

$2.15 ¥336

18.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.29 ¥201

$1.02 ¥160

26.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 ¥122

$0.91 ¥142

-14.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.84 ¥601

$3.67 ¥574

4.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.23 ¥973

$6.11 ¥954

1.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 ¥305

$1.45 ¥227

34.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.16 ¥494

$1.73 ¥270

82.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.43 ¥223

$2.55 ¥398

-43.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$64.6 ¥10.1K

$56.3 ¥8,789

14.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.73 ¥583

$3.85 ¥601

-3.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.48 ¥544

$2.09 ¥326

66.51%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.36 ¥1,774

$17.37 ¥2,714

-34.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.05 ¥164

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

$20.7K ¥3.2M

$11.3K ¥1.8M

83.03%

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

$14.8K ¥2.3M

$15.9K ¥2.5M

-6.91%

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

$158 ¥24.8K

$147 ¥22.9K

8.00%

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

$25.07 ¥3,916

$12.66 ¥1,978

98.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.2 ¥8,309

$28.36 ¥4,431

87.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$71.8 ¥11.2K

$51.4 ¥8,034

39.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$54.2 ¥8,461

$3.10 ¥485

1647.10%

Cinema Ticket

$12.09 ¥1,889

$6.40 ¥1,000

88.91%

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

$324 ¥50.6K

$190 ¥29.6K

70.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,516 ¥861.6K

$11.9K ¥1.9M

-53.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.91 ¥7,797

$28.39 ¥4,436

75.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.70 ¥3,546

$21.68 ¥3,387

4.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.0 ¥12.3K

$58.3 ¥9,108

35.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.0 ¥14.8K

$36.97 ¥5,775

157.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$398 ¥62.2K

$471 ¥73.6K

-15.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$317 ¥49.6K

$329 ¥51.4K

-3.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$828 ¥129.3K

$1,055 ¥164.8K

-21.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$653 ¥102.0K

$740 ¥115.7K

-11.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,509 ¥1.3M

$4,052 ¥633.0K

110.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,199 ¥187.2K

$1,922 ¥300.2K

-37.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,819 ¥284.2K

$1,320 ¥206.2K

37.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.23

1.97

13.20%

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

Last update for Okinawa: August 30, 2026

Last update for Beppu: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $398 in Okinawa versus $471 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 38% 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 $40.00 in Okinawa versus $23.00 in Beppu. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $327 vs $243 – 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 27% 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 $2,077 per month in Okinawa and $1,639 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 $1,385 in Okinawa and $1,093 in Beppu. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 15% 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 $1,093, than in Okinawa at $1,385. 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.