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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,437 per month in Okinawa vs $1,278 in Fukuoka, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,214 per month in Okinawa vs $2,050 in Fukuoka, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,992 per month in Okinawa vs $2,822 in Fukuoka, rent included.

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

Okinawa sits 8% above the global median, while Fukuoka is 4% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.18 ¥1,329

$8.15 ¥1,324

0.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.94 ¥6,815

$42.01 ¥6,826

-0.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.98 ¥971

$6.24 ¥1,013

-4.17%

Cappuccino

$3.34 ¥543

$3.09 ¥503

8.09%

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

$1.32 ¥215

$1.04 ¥169

26.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.93 ¥152

$0.83 ¥134

12.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.50 ¥569

$1.63 ¥265

114.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.91 ¥797

$2.05 ¥333

139.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ¥317

$1.75 ¥284

11.43%

White Bread (500g)

$2.37 ¥385

$1.58 ¥257

50.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.87 ¥791

$4.25 ¥691

14.59%

Eggs

$2.00 ¥325

$2.61 ¥424

-23.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.39 ¥2,663

$20.67 ¥3,358

-20.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.84 ¥1,761

$6.26 ¥1,017

73.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$26.48 ¥4,303

$20.68 ¥3,361

28.05%

Apples (1kg)

$5.06 ¥822

$3.16 ¥514

60.13%

Banana (1kg)

$2.59 ¥420

$1.41 ¥228

83.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.13 ¥509

$1.35 ¥220

131.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.64 ¥916

$5.92 ¥961

-4.73%

Potato (1kg)

$3.50 ¥568

$2.85 ¥463

22.81%

Onion (1kg)

$2.89 ¥469

$3.20 ¥521

-9.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.59 ¥258

$0.96 ¥156

65.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 ¥143

$0.81 ¥131

8.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.92 ¥799

$3.82 ¥620

28.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.09 ¥989

$6.23 ¥1,012

-2.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 ¥281

$1.94 ¥315

-10.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 ¥473

$2.14 ¥348

35.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.63 ¥265

$1.77 ¥287

-7.91%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.91 ¥5,673

$42.36 ¥6,882

-17.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.11 ¥668

$4.75 ¥772

-13.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.62 ¥587

$4.44 ¥721

-18.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.58 ¥2,044

$19.68 ¥3,198

-36.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ¥202

$1.23 ¥200

0.81%

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

$23.3K ¥3.8M

$23.6K ¥3.8M

-1.05%

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

$16.7K ¥2.7M

$19.8K ¥3.2M

-15.49%

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

$173 ¥28.2K

$221 ¥35.8K

-21.39%

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

$27.25 ¥4,428

$27.43 ¥4,456

-0.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.66 ¥5,145

$35.23 ¥5,724

-10.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.7 ¥8,723

$59.9 ¥9,726

-10.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.04 ¥1,144

$3.54 ¥575

98.87%

Cinema Ticket

$12.45 ¥2,022

$13.83 ¥2,247

-9.98%

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

$346 ¥56.2K

$411 ¥66.7K

-15.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.2K ¥2.1M

$13.3K ¥2.2M

-0.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.75 ¥7,758

$44.09 ¥7,164

8.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.25 ¥4,753

$30.00 ¥4,874

-2.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.5 ¥11.9K

$66.8 ¥10.8K

10.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.9 ¥14.8K

$60.2 ¥9,775

51.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$445 ¥72.2K

$537 ¥87.2K

-17.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$400 ¥64.9K

$295 ¥47.9K

35.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$946 ¥153.7K

$1,043 ¥169.4K

-9.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$748 ¥121.5K

$692 ¥112.5K

8.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,584 ¥1.4M

$6,287 ¥1.0M

36.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,221 ¥198.4K

$2,625 ¥426.4K

-53.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,769 ¥287.4K

$1,518 ¥246.6K

16.56%

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 Fukuoka: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $445 in Okinawa versus $537 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 17% 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 $42.00 in Fukuoka. Groceries tell a different story – $395 in Okinawa vs $330 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: $1,437 in Okinawa, $1,278 in Fukuoka – roughly 12% apart. Okinawa costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,155 per month in Okinawa and $1,917 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 $346 per month in Okinawa and $411 in Fukuoka. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 20% 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 $1,278, than in Okinawa at $1,437. 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 $1,278 in Fukuoka to $1,437 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.