Cost of Living Comparison Between Okinawa and Hiroshima Cost of Living Comparison Between Okinawa and Hiroshima

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,430 per month in Okinawa vs $1,033 in Hiroshima, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,196 per month in Okinawa vs $1,639 in Hiroshima, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,961 per month in Okinawa vs $2,244 in Hiroshima, rent included.

Okinawa costs about 38% more than Hiroshima, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Okinawa sits 7% above the global median, while Hiroshima is 23% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.57 ¥1,370

$6.10 ¥976

40.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.32 ¥6,609

$34.44 ¥5,508

19.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.12 ¥978

$4.76 ¥762

28.57%

Cappuccino

$3.31 ¥529

$2.98 ¥477

11.07%

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

$1.32 ¥211

$1.11 ¥177

18.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 ¥137

$0.75 ¥120

14.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.48 ¥557

$2.78 ¥445

25.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.81 ¥769

$4.21 ¥673

14.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ¥299

$1.51 ¥242

23.84%

White Bread (500g)

$2.30 ¥367

$1.42 ¥227

61.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.83 ¥772

$4.65 ¥745

3.87%

Eggs

$2.01 ¥321

$2.18 ¥349

-7.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.33 ¥2,613

$5.57 ¥890

193.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.13 ¥1,780

$6.38 ¥1,021

74.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$26.95 ¥4,310

$12.10 ¥1,935

122.73%

Apples (1kg)

$5.27 ¥842

$3.55 ¥568

48.45%

Banana (1kg)

$2.61 ¥418

$2.16 ¥346

20.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.03 ¥485

$4.18 ¥669

-27.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.65 ¥904

$4.24 ¥679

33.25%

Potato (1kg)

$3.69 ¥590

$1.65 ¥264

123.64%

Onion (1kg)

$2.90 ¥464

$3.97 ¥635

-26.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.60 ¥256

$1.34 ¥214

19.40%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 ¥151

$0.82 ¥132

14.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.82 ¥771

$3.84 ¥614

25.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.11 ¥978

$7.66 ¥1,225

-20.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 ¥275

$2.03 ¥325

-15.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 ¥461

$2.60 ¥417

11.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.67 ¥268

$2.12 ¥339

-21.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.27 ¥5,642

$24.20 ¥3,871

45.74%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.19 ¥671

$4.60 ¥736

-8.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.77 ¥603

$1.28 ¥205

194.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.74 ¥2,037

$23.22 ¥3,714

-45.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 ¥192

$1.19 ¥191

0.84%

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

$22.8K ¥3.6M

$23.3K ¥3.7M

-2.26%

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

$17.0K ¥2.7M

$17.1K ¥2.7M

-0.45%

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

$173 ¥27.7K

$132 ¥21.2K

30.78%

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

$27.72 ¥4,434

$26.82 ¥4,290

3.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.51 ¥5,200

$30.18 ¥4,828

7.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.4 ¥8,547

$55.2 ¥8,821

-3.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.76 ¥1,081

$5.61 ¥898

20.50%

Cinema Ticket

$12.60 ¥2,016

$12.29 ¥1,966

2.52%

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

$347 ¥55.5K

$175 ¥28.0K

98.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.5K ¥2.2M

$3,684 ¥589.3K

266.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.84 ¥7,813

$30.65 ¥4,902

59.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.28 ¥4,683

$27.85 ¥4,454

5.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.9 ¥11.7K

$52.4 ¥8,387

39.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$93.1 ¥14.9K

$67.9 ¥10.9K

37.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$437 ¥69.9K

$352 ¥56.3K

24.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$394 ¥63.1K

$243 ¥38.9K

62.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$944 ¥150.9K

$768 ¥122.8K

22.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$750 ¥119.9K

$541 ¥86.5K

38.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,543 ¥1.4M

$1,959 ¥313.4K

336.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,187 ¥189.8K

$1,643 ¥262.7K

-27.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,292 ¥206.6K

$2,415 ¥386.3K

-46.52%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Hiroshima: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $437 in Okinawa versus $352 in Hiroshima. 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 87% higher in Hiroshima, 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 $41.00 in Okinawa versus $34.00 in Hiroshima. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $398 vs $269 – making Hiroshima the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Hiroshima: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Okinawa costs about 38% more than Hiroshima, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,145 per month in Okinawa and $1,550 in Hiroshima. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Hiroshima, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,430 in Okinawa and $1,033 in Hiroshima. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 46% less in Hiroshima. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Hiroshima, where all-in costs run around $1,033, than in Okinawa at $1,430. In Hiroshima it covers expenses comfortably, while in Okinawa it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Hiroshima – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Hiroshima. 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.