Cost of Living Comparison Between Okinawa and Hamamatsu Cost of Living Comparison Between Okinawa and Hamamatsu

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,427 in Okinawa versus $784 in Hamamatsu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,228 in Okinawa versus $1,297 in Hamamatsu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,030 in Okinawa versus $1,810 in Hamamatsu.

Living in Okinawa is roughly 82% more expensive than in Hamamatsu, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Okinawa is 4% above, Hamamatsu is 43% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.68 ¥1,511

$3.91 ¥610

147.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.32 ¥6,292

$42.33 ¥6,605

-4.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.94 ¥1,082

$5.15 ¥804

34.76%

Cappuccino

$4.18 ¥653

$3.46 ¥539

20.81%

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

$1.47 ¥230

$1.12 ¥175

31.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.01 ¥158

$0.76 ¥118

32.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.00 ¥313

$2.61 ¥407

-23.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.46 ¥696

$3.30 ¥515

35.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.59 ¥249

$1.06 ¥165

50.00%

White Bread (500g)

$2.20 ¥344

$1.73 ¥270

27.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.98 ¥620

$3.81 ¥595

4.46%

Eggs

$1.81 ¥282

$1.69 ¥263

7.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.99 ¥2,807

$12.23 ¥1,908

47.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.05 ¥788

$6.19 ¥965

-18.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.90 ¥3,574

$14.72 ¥2,296

55.57%

Apples (1kg)

$3.73 ¥582

$5.71 ¥892

-34.68%

Banana (1kg)

$2.78 ¥434

$2.87 ¥449

-3.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.30 ¥358

$2.87 ¥448

-19.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.27 ¥822

$4.21 ¥657

25.18%

Potato (1kg)

$2.45 ¥382

$2.62 ¥408

-6.49%

Onion (1kg)

$2.53 ¥394

$2.70 ¥422

-6.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.35 ¥211

$1.32 ¥206

2.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 ¥120

$0.67 ¥105

14.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.93 ¥614

$3.81 ¥595

3.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.51 ¥1,015

$6.34 ¥989

2.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.96 ¥306

$1.86 ¥290

5.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 ¥538

$2.05 ¥320

68.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.46 ¥229

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$68.1 ¥10.6K

$51.7 ¥8,062

31.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.94 ¥614

$3.25 ¥508

21.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.59 ¥560

$2.57 ¥402

39.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.87 ¥1,853

$20.64 ¥3,221

-42.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 ¥177

$1.09 ¥170

3.67%

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

$21.9K ¥3.4M

0.09%

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

$15.4K ¥2.4M

$18.4K ¥2.9M

-15.99%

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

$165 ¥25.7K

$134 ¥20.9K

23.17%

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

$25.69 ¥4,009

$9.28 ¥1,448

176.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.8 ¥8,550

$32.89 ¥5,131

66.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$74.0 ¥11.6K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$56.5 ¥8,814

$17.35 ¥2,706

225.59%

Cinema Ticket

$12.50 ¥1,951

$13.07 ¥2,040

-4.36%

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

$345 ¥53.8K

$652 ¥101.7K

-47.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,827 ¥909.1K

$15.3K ¥2.4M

-61.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.7 ¥8,063

$63.7 ¥9,934

-18.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.12 ¥3,763

$32.90 ¥5,133

-26.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.1 ¥12.7K

$63.8 ¥9,957

27.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.9 ¥15.0K

$103 ¥16.1K

-7.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$411 ¥64.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$332 ¥51.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$863 ¥134.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$694 ¥108.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,703 ¥1.4M

$8,047 ¥1.3M

8.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,200 ¥187.3K

$5,552 ¥866.2K

-78.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,861 ¥290.4K

$1,614 ¥251.8K

15.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.23

2.12

5.19%

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

Last update for Okinawa: September 13, 2026

Last update for Hamamatsu: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Okinawa pays 15% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $40.00 in Okinawa vs $42.00 in Hamamatsu. Groceries flip the comparison at $337 vs $293, with Hamamatsu cheaper for home cooking.

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 Hamamatsu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Okinawa and Hamamatsu differ by about 82% in total monthly costs ($1,427 vs $784 including rent). Hamamatsu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 15% higher in Okinawa, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Supermarket bills run roughly 15% higher in Okinawa. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Hamamatsu – a meal for two runs $42.00 versus $40.00 in Okinawa. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $784 in Hamamatsu versus $1,427 in Okinawa, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Hamamatsu but tight or insufficient in Okinawa. The gap between the two cities makes Hamamatsu 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 Hamamatsu 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 Hamamatsu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 82% less than in Okinawa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.