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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,436 per month in Okinawa vs $1,221 in Fukuoka, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,236 per month in Okinawa vs $1,934 in Fukuoka, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,037 per month in Okinawa vs $2,647 in Fukuoka, rent included.

Okinawa costs about 18% more than Fukuoka, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Okinawa sits 4% above the global median, while Fukuoka is 11% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.17 ¥1,562

$7.34 ¥1,126

38.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.22 ¥6,483

$43.73 ¥6,715

-3.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.25 ¥1,113

$5.84 ¥897

24.14%

Cappuccino

$4.20 ¥644

$3.44 ¥528

22.09%

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

$1.52 ¥233

$1.07 ¥165

42.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 ¥149

$0.69 ¥107

40.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.11 ¥324

$3.91 ¥600

-46.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.62 ¥709

$2.24 ¥343

106.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ¥256

$1.66 ¥254

White Bread (500g)

$2.10 ¥322

$1.95 ¥300

7.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.00 ¥615

$6.52 ¥1,002

-38.65%

Eggs

$1.87 ¥288

$2.26 ¥347

-17.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.33 ¥2,815

$18.52 ¥2,844

-1.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.08 ¥781

$5.48 ¥842

-7.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.99 ¥3,531

$19.17 ¥2,943

19.93%

Apples (1kg)

$3.76 ¥577

$3.75 ¥576

0.27%

Banana (1kg)

$2.68 ¥412

$1.91 ¥294

40.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.27 ¥349

$2.91 ¥446

-21.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.38 ¥827

$3.35 ¥515

60.60%

Potato (1kg)

$2.55 ¥391

$2.29 ¥351

11.35%

Onion (1kg)

$2.53 ¥388

$2.57 ¥394

-1.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.34 ¥205

$1.09 ¥167

22.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.81 ¥125

$0.98 ¥151

-17.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.99 ¥612

$3.95 ¥606

1.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.33 ¥972

$6.57 ¥1,010

-3.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.01 ¥309

$1.68 ¥258

19.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 ¥527

$1.86 ¥286

84.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.51 ¥232

$1.65 ¥253

-8.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$67.6 ¥10.4K

$42.79 ¥6,571

57.96%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.79 ¥582

$3.96 ¥608

-4.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.47 ¥532

$2.13 ¥327

62.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.86 ¥1,821

$18.49 ¥2,839

-35.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ¥175

$1.08 ¥166

5.56%

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

$21.7K ¥3.3M

$22.0K ¥3.4M

-1.30%

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

$15.5K ¥2.4M

$18.1K ¥2.8M

-14.25%

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

$166 ¥25.5K

$189 ¥29.0K

-12.21%

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

$25.25 ¥3,877

$25.84 ¥3,967

-2.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.3 ¥8,344

$33.81 ¥5,192

60.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$73.6 ¥11.3K

$51.6 ¥7,920

42.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$57.5 ¥8,832

Cinema Ticket

$12.27 ¥1,885

$11.15 ¥1,712

10.04%

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

$346 ¥53.1K

$129 ¥19.9K

167.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,652 ¥867.9K

$12.8K ¥2.0M

-55.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.8 ¥7,795

$35.12 ¥5,393

44.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.35 ¥3,739

$24.57 ¥3,773

-0.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.1 ¥12.9K

$57.9 ¥8,884

45.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$97.5 ¥15.0K

$48.42 ¥7,435

101.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$409 ¥62.9K

$479 ¥73.5K

-14.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$331 ¥50.9K

$266 ¥40.9K

24.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$862 ¥132.4K

$1,151 ¥176.8K

-25.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$698 ¥107.2K

$695 ¥106.8K

0.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,819 ¥1.4M

$5,769 ¥885.8K

52.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,241 ¥190.5K

$2,546 ¥391.0K

-51.27%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,890 ¥290.2K

$2,787 ¥428.0K

-32.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.23

1.54

44.81%

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

Last update for Okinawa: September 5, 2026

Last update for Fukuoka: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $409 in Okinawa versus $479 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 48% 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 $42.00 in Okinawa versus $44.00 in Fukuoka. Groceries tell a different story – $339 in Okinawa vs $324 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: $1,436 in Okinawa, $1,221 in Fukuoka – roughly 18% apart. Okinawa costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,153 per month in Okinawa and $1,832 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 $129 in Fukuoka. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 5% 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 $1,221, than in Okinawa at $1,436. 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 $1,221 in Fukuoka to $1,436 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.