Cost of Living Comparison Between Okinawa and Fukuoka Cost of Living Comparison Between Okinawa and Fukuoka

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,430 per month in Okinawa vs $1,291 in Fukuoka, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,196 per month in Okinawa vs $2,054 in Fukuoka, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,961 per month in Okinawa vs $2,818 in Fukuoka, rent included.

Okinawa costs about 11% more than Fukuoka, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Okinawa sits 7% above the global median, while Fukuoka is 4% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.57 ¥1,370

$8.28 ¥1,324

3.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.32 ¥6,609

$41.70 ¥6,670

-0.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.12 ¥978

$6.15 ¥984

-0.49%

Cappuccino

$3.31 ¥529

$3.14 ¥503

5.41%

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

$1.32 ¥211

$1.03 ¥165

28.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 ¥137

$0.82 ¥132

4.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.48 ¥557

$1.65 ¥263

110.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.81 ¥769

$2.09 ¥335

130.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ¥299

$1.66 ¥265

12.65%

White Bread (500g)

$2.30 ¥367

$1.60 ¥256

43.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.83 ¥772

$4.06 ¥649

18.97%

Eggs

$2.01 ¥321

$2.62 ¥419

-23.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.33 ¥2,613

$21.12 ¥3,378

-22.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.13 ¥1,780

$6.24 ¥997

78.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$26.95 ¥4,310

$20.96 ¥3,353

28.58%

Apples (1kg)

$5.27 ¥842

$3.13 ¥501

68.37%

Banana (1kg)

$2.61 ¥418

$1.36 ¥217

91.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.03 ¥485

$1.42 ¥227

113.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.65 ¥904

$5.96 ¥953

-5.20%

Potato (1kg)

$3.69 ¥590

$2.69 ¥431

37.17%

Onion (1kg)

$2.90 ¥464

$3.11 ¥497

-6.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.60 ¥256

$0.90 ¥145

77.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 ¥151

$0.75 ¥120

25.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.82 ¥771

$3.78 ¥604

27.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.11 ¥978

$6.08 ¥972

0.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 ¥275

$1.91 ¥305

-9.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 ¥461

$2.11 ¥337

36.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.67 ¥268

$1.76 ¥281

-5.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.27 ¥5,642

$42.39 ¥6,780

-16.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.19 ¥671

$4.74 ¥758

-11.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.77 ¥603

$4.57 ¥732

-17.51%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.74 ¥2,037

$19.52 ¥3,122

-34.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 ¥192

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

$22.8K ¥3.6M

$23.6K ¥3.8M

-3.49%

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

$17.0K ¥2.7M

$20.0K ¥3.2M

-14.91%

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

$173 ¥27.7K

$216 ¥34.6K

-19.95%

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

$27.72 ¥4,434

$27.65 ¥4,423

0.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.51 ¥5,200

$35.41 ¥5,664

-8.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.4 ¥8,547

$59.1 ¥9,450

-9.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.76 ¥1,081

$3.48 ¥557

94.25%

Cinema Ticket

$12.60 ¥2,016

$13.62 ¥2,179

-7.49%

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

$347 ¥55.5K

$416 ¥66.6K

-16.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.5K ¥2.2M

$13.2K ¥2.1M

2.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.84 ¥7,813

$42.93 ¥6,866

13.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.28 ¥4,683

$29.81 ¥4,767

-1.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.9 ¥11.7K

$66.0 ¥10.6K

10.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$93.1 ¥14.9K

$61.7 ¥9,872

50.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$437 ¥69.9K

$547 ¥87.5K

-20.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$394 ¥63.1K

$300 ¥48.1K

31.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$944 ¥150.9K

$1,035 ¥165.6K

-8.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$750 ¥119.9K

$695 ¥111.2K

7.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,543 ¥1.4M

$6,425 ¥1.0M

32.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,187 ¥189.8K

$2,669 ¥426.9K

-55.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,292 ¥206.6K

$1,531 ¥244.9K

-15.65%

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 Fukuoka: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $437 in Okinawa versus $547 in Fukuoka. 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 19% higher in Fukuoka, 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 $42.00 in Fukuoka. Groceries tell a different story – $398 in Okinawa vs $329 in Fukuoka – so Fukuoka wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Fukuoka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,430 in Okinawa, $1,291 in Fukuoka – roughly 11% apart. Okinawa costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,145 per month in Okinawa and $1,937 in Fukuoka. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $347 per month in Okinawa and $416 in Fukuoka. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 21% more in Okinawa, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Fukuoka, where all-in costs run around $1,291, than in Okinawa at $1,430. In Fukuoka it covers expenses comfortably, while in Okinawa it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Fukuoka has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,291 in Fukuoka to $1,430 in Okinawa. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Fukuoka. 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.