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: $1,385 in Okinawa versus $1,212 in Gifu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,168 in Okinawa versus $1,904 in Gifu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,950 in Okinawa versus $2,596 in Gifu.

Living in Okinawa is roughly 14% more expensive than in Gifu, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Okinawa is 1% above, Gifu is 12% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.17 ¥1,589

$6.42 ¥1,002

58.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.19 ¥6,278

$30.92 ¥4,830

29.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.98 ¥1,090

$4.87 ¥761

43.33%

Cappuccino

$4.17 ¥651

$2.84 ¥444

46.83%

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

$1.47 ¥230

$1.42 ¥222

3.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.93 ¥146

$0.72 ¥113

29.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.04 ¥319

$2.70 ¥422

-24.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.32 ¥675

$3.64 ¥569

18.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.55 ¥242

$1.42 ¥221

9.15%

White Bread (500g)

$2.12 ¥332

$1.35 ¥210

57.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.76 ¥588

$5.38 ¥840

-30.11%

Eggs

$1.76 ¥275

$2.04 ¥318

-13.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.00 ¥2,812

$9.46 ¥1,478

90.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.78 ¥747

$9.41 ¥1,470

-49.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.13 ¥3,457

$17.67 ¥2,760

25.24%

Apples (1kg)

$3.66 ¥572

$3.37 ¥527

8.61%

Banana (1kg)

$2.66 ¥415

$1.92 ¥300

38.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.14 ¥334

$1.98 ¥309

8.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.19 ¥811

$3.93 ¥614

32.06%

Potato (1kg)

$2.38 ¥371

$1.50 ¥235

58.67%

Onion (1kg)

$2.55 ¥398

$1.13 ¥176

125.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.29 ¥201

$1.35 ¥210

-4.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 ¥122

$0.82 ¥128

-4.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.84 ¥601

$3.95 ¥616

-2.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.23 ¥973

$9.67 ¥1,510

-35.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 ¥305

$1.93 ¥302

1.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.16 ¥494

$3.05 ¥476

3.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.43 ¥223

$1.52 ¥237

-5.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$64.6 ¥10.1K

$57.7 ¥9,013

11.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.73 ¥583

$3.86 ¥603

-3.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.48 ¥544

$3.11 ¥486

11.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.36 ¥1,774

$21.05 ¥3,288

-46.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.05 ¥164

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

$20.7K ¥3.2M

$21.5K ¥3.4M

-3.60%

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

$14.8K ¥2.3M

$14.6K ¥2.3M

1.41%

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

$158 ¥24.8K

$140 ¥21.9K

13.28%

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

$25.07 ¥3,916

$24.01 ¥3,751

4.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.2 ¥8,309

$30.70 ¥4,797

73.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$71.8 ¥11.2K

$43.53 ¥6,800

64.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$54.2 ¥8,461

Cinema Ticket

$12.09 ¥1,889

$11.83 ¥1,847

2.20%

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

$324 ¥50.6K

$509 ¥79.5K

-36.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,516 ¥861.6K

$12.8K ¥2.0M

-56.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.91 ¥7,797

$44.87 ¥7,009

11.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.70 ¥3,546

$30.81 ¥4,814

-26.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.0 ¥12.3K

$72.3 ¥11.3K

9.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.0 ¥14.8K

$90.2 ¥14.1K

5.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$398 ¥62.2K

$512 ¥80.0K

-22.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$317 ¥49.6K

$305 ¥47.6K

4.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$828 ¥129.3K

$1,072 ¥167.4K

-22.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$653 ¥102.0K

$693 ¥108.3K

-5.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,509 ¥1.3M

$4,619 ¥721.6K

84.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,199 ¥187.2K

$2,015 ¥314.8K

-40.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,819 ¥284.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.23

2.21

0.90%

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

Last update for Okinawa: August 30, 2026

Last update for Gifu: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $398 in Okinawa and $512 in Gifu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $40.00 in Okinawa vs $31.00 in Gifu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $327 vs $299 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, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 14% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $2,077 in Okinawa and $1,818 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: $398 in Okinawa versus $512 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 12% less than in Okinawa. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $324 in Okinawa versus $509 in Gifu. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,212 in Gifu versus $1,385 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 14% less than in Okinawa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.