Cost of Living Comparison Between Okinawa and Gifu Cost of Living Comparison Between Okinawa and Gifu

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,437 in Okinawa versus $1,232 in Gifu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,214 in Okinawa versus $1,926 in Gifu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,992 in Okinawa versus $2,620 in Gifu.

Living in Okinawa is roughly 17% more expensive than in Gifu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Okinawa is 8% above, Gifu is 8% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.18 ¥1,329

$6.97 ¥1,133

17.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.94 ¥6,815

$34.21 ¥5,558

22.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.98 ¥971

$4.81 ¥782

24.32%

Cappuccino

$3.34 ¥543

$3.24 ¥526

3.09%

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

$1.32 ¥215

$1.13 ¥183

16.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.93 ¥152

$0.71 ¥115

30.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.50 ¥569

$2.83 ¥459

23.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.91 ¥797

$4.24 ¥688

15.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ¥317

$1.59 ¥259

22.64%

White Bread (500g)

$2.37 ¥385

$1.49 ¥242

59.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.87 ¥791

$4.84 ¥787

0.62%

Eggs

$2.00 ¥325

$2.43 ¥395

-17.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.39 ¥2,663

$10.62 ¥1,726

54.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.84 ¥1,761

$6.26 ¥1,018

73.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$26.48 ¥4,303

$18.93 ¥3,075

39.88%

Apples (1kg)

$5.06 ¥822

$3.68 ¥598

37.50%

Banana (1kg)

$2.59 ¥420

$2.18 ¥355

18.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.13 ¥509

$2.60 ¥422

20.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.64 ¥916

$4.50 ¥732

25.33%

Potato (1kg)

$3.50 ¥568

$1.66 ¥271

110.84%

Onion (1kg)

$2.89 ¥469

$1.24 ¥201

133.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.59 ¥258

$1.36 ¥221

16.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 ¥143

$0.84 ¥137

4.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.92 ¥799

$3.40 ¥552

44.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.09 ¥989

$9.20 ¥1,495

-33.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 ¥281

$2.07 ¥336

-16.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 ¥473

$3.03 ¥492

-3.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.63 ¥265

$1.60 ¥260

1.87%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.91 ¥5,673

$55.8 ¥9,068

-37.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.11 ¥668

$4.62 ¥750

-11.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.62 ¥587

$3.30 ¥536

9.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.58 ¥2,044

$23.67 ¥3,846

-46.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ¥202

$1.19 ¥193

4.20%

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

$23.3K ¥3.8M

$23.6K ¥3.8M

-1.00%

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

$16.7K ¥2.7M

$12.4K ¥2.0M

34.14%

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

$173 ¥28.2K

$132 ¥21.5K

31.11%

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

$27.25 ¥4,428

$27.40 ¥4,452

-0.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.66 ¥5,145

$29.83 ¥4,846

6.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.7 ¥8,723

$56.6 ¥9,191

-5.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.04 ¥1,144

$13.71 ¥2,228

-48.65%

Cinema Ticket

$12.45 ¥2,022

$12.67 ¥2,059

-1.74%

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

$346 ¥56.2K

$68.4 ¥11.1K

406.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.2K ¥2.1M

$10.5K ¥1.7M

25.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.75 ¥7,758

$44.66 ¥7,257

6.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.25 ¥4,753

$29.17 ¥4,740

0.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.5 ¥11.9K

$69.1 ¥11.2K

6.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.9 ¥14.8K

$95.0 ¥15.4K

-4.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$445 ¥72.2K

$460 ¥74.8K

-3.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$400 ¥64.9K

$324 ¥52.6K

23.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$946 ¥153.7K

$863 ¥140.2K

9.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$748 ¥121.5K

$661 ¥107.5K

13.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,584 ¥1.4M

$4,737 ¥769.7K

81.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,221 ¥198.4K

$2,080 ¥337.9K

-41.27%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,769 ¥287.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.81

10.50%

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

Last update for Okinawa: July 13, 2026

Last update for Gifu: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $445 in Okinawa and $460 in Gifu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $42.00 in Okinawa vs $34.00 in Gifu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $395 vs $302 per month, with Gifu 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 Gifu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Gifu is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 17% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $2,155 in Okinawa and $1,847 in Gifu to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $445 in Okinawa versus $460 in Gifu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Gifu runs roughly 60% less than in Okinawa. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $346 in Okinawa versus $68.4 in Gifu. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,232 in Gifu versus $1,437 in Okinawa, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Gifu but tight or insufficient in Okinawa. The gap between the two cities makes Gifu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Okinawa and Gifu are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Gifu 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.