😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,430 in Okinawa versus $1,225 in Fukuyama.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,196 in Okinawa versus $1,901 in Fukuyama.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,961 in Okinawa versus $2,577 in Fukuyama.
😐Living in Okinawa is roughly 17% more expensive than Fukuyama, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Okinawa is 7% above, Fukuyama is 9% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Okinawa
Fukuyama
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.57¥1,370
$10.55¥1,687
-18.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.32¥6,609
$35.33¥5,651
16.95%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.12¥978
$5.61¥898
9.09%
Cappuccino
$3.31¥529
$3.37¥538
-1.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32¥211
$0.88¥141
50.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86¥137
$0.75¥120
14.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.48¥557
$3.49¥558
-0.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.81¥769
$6.61¥1,057
-27.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Okinawa
Fukuyama
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.87¥299
$1.03¥164
81.55%
White Bread(500g)
$2.30¥367
$0.88¥141
161.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.83¥772
$3.13¥500
54.31%
Eggs
$2.01¥321
$2.23¥357
-9.87%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.33¥2,613
$9.34¥1,493
74.84%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.13¥1,780
$3.88¥620
186.86%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$26.95¥4,310
$13.68¥2,188
97.00%
Apples(1kg)
$5.27¥842
$5.67¥907
-7.05%
Banana(1kg)
$2.61¥418
$2.53¥404
3.16%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.03¥485
$6.34¥1,014
-52.21%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.65¥904
$3.97¥636
42.32%
Potato(1kg)
$3.69¥590
$1.65¥264
123.64%
Onion(1kg)
$2.90¥464
$2.27¥364
27.75%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.60¥256
$1.05¥168
52.38%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.94¥151
$0.43¥69.4
118.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.82¥771
$4.13¥661
16.71%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.11¥978
$7.53¥1,205
-18.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72¥275
$1.71¥274
0.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89¥461
$3.55¥568
-18.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Okinawa
Fukuyama
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.67¥268
$1.67¥266
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$35.27¥5,642
$56.3¥9,002
-37.33%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.19¥671
$3.38¥541
23.96%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.77¥603
$3.36¥537
12.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$12.74¥2,037
$17.55¥2,807
-27.41%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.20¥192
$1.11¥178
8.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8K¥3.6M
$13.9K¥2.2M
63.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.0K¥2.7M
$17.3K¥2.8M
-1.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Okinawa
Fukuyama
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$173¥27.7K
$110¥17.7K
56.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.72¥4,434
$20.96¥3,352
32.25%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.51¥5,200
$33.09¥5,293
-1.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Okinawa
Fukuyama
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.4¥8,547
$56.4¥9,013
-5.16%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.76¥1,081
$13.76¥2,201
-50.87%
Cinema Ticket
$12.60¥2,016
$13.08¥2,092
-3.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Okinawa
Fukuyama
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$347¥55.5K
$374¥59.8K
-7.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.5K¥2.2M
$7,406¥1.2M
82.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Okinawa
Fukuyama
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.84¥7,813
$41.57¥6,649
17.49%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.28¥4,683
$34.45¥5,510
-15.01%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$72.9¥11.7K
$69.8¥11.2K
4.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$93.1¥14.9K
$103¥16.5K
-9.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Okinawa
Fukuyama
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$437¥69.9K
$476¥76.1K
-8.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$394¥63.1K
$329¥52.6K
19.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$944¥150.9K
$869¥138.9K
8.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$750¥119.9K
$667¥106.6K
12.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,543¥1.4M
$5,046¥807.1K
69.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,187¥189.8K
$2,234¥357.3K
-46.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Okinawa
Fukuyama
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,292¥206.6K
$1,360¥217.5K
-4.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2
1
100.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Okinawa: June 1, 2026
Last update for Fukuyama: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $437 in Okinawa and $476 in Fukuyama. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Fukuyama pays 5% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $41.00 in Okinawa vs $35.00 in Fukuyama for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $398 vs $267 per month, with Fukuyama cheaper across the board.
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 Fukuyama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Okinawa or Fukuyama?
Fukuyama wins on cost – living expenses run 17% lower than in Okinawa. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Fukuyama the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Okinawa or Fukuyama?
On paper, Fukuyama earns 5% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Okinawa vs Fukuyama?
Rent for a central apartment: $437 in Okinawa versus $476 in Fukuyama. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Okinawa and Fukuyama?
Childcare runs $347 in Okinawa versus $374 in Fukuyama. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Okinawa or Fukuyama?
Supermarket bills run roughly 49% higher in Okinawa. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Okinawa or Fukuyama?
At $1,225 in Fukuyama versus $1,430 in Okinawa, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Fukuyama but tight or insufficient in Okinawa. The gap between the two cities makes Fukuyama the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Okinawa or Fukuyama?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
How safe is Okinawa compared to Fukuyama?
Safety-wise, Okinawa and Fukuyama are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Fukuyama gentler on the wallet – expenses run 17% less than in Okinawa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.