😐A single person spends $1,385 per month in Okinawa vs $1,175 in Ichinomiya, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,168 per month in Okinawa vs $1,883 in Ichinomiya, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,950 per month in Okinawa vs $2,591 in Ichinomiya, rent included.
😐Okinawa costs about 18% more than Ichinomiya, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Okinawa sits 1% above the global median, while Ichinomiya is 15% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Okinawa
Ichinomiya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.17¥1,589
$6.87¥1,073
48.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.19¥6,278
$33.42¥5,221
20.26%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.98¥1,090
$5.58¥871
25.09%
Cappuccino
$4.17¥651
$2.83¥443
47.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47¥230
$1.12¥174
31.25%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93¥146
$0.81¥127
14.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.04¥319
$2.87¥448
-28.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.32¥675
$2.78¥435
55.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Okinawa
Ichinomiya
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.55¥242
$1.32¥207
17.42%
White Bread(500g)
$2.12¥332
$1.69¥264
25.44%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.76¥588
$3.86¥603
-2.59%
Eggs
$1.76¥275
$2.24¥350
-21.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.00¥2,812
$11.02¥1,722
63.34%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.78¥747
$6.28¥981
-23.89%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$22.13¥3,457
$14.81¥2,313
49.43%
Apples(1kg)
$3.66¥572
$4.37¥682
-16.25%
Banana(1kg)
$2.66¥415
$2.14¥334
24.30%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.14¥334
$3.19¥498
-32.92%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.19¥811
$3.67¥573
41.42%
Potato(1kg)
$2.38¥371
$2.41¥377
-1.24%
Onion(1kg)
$2.55¥398
$2.60¥406
-1.92%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.29¥201
$1.21¥189
6.61%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78¥122
$0.87¥136
-10.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.84¥601
$4.37¥683
-12.13%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.23¥973
$7.49¥1,170
-16.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.95¥305
$1.77¥276
10.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.16¥494
$2.30¥360
37.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Okinawa
Ichinomiya
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.43¥223
$1.26¥197
13.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$64.6¥10.1K
$48.36¥7,555
33.52%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.73¥583
$2.83¥443
31.80%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.48¥544
$2.90¥453
20.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.36¥1,774
$20.54¥3,208
-44.69%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.05¥164
$1.22¥191
-13.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.7K¥3.2M
$22.1K¥3.5M
-6.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$14.8K¥2.3M
$16.5K¥2.6M
-10.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Okinawa
Ichinomiya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$158¥24.8K
$129¥20.2K
22.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.07¥3,916
$22.19¥3,466
12.98%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.2¥8,309
$33.71¥5,267
57.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Okinawa
Ichinomiya
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$71.8¥11.2K
$55.0¥8,598
30.49%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$54.2¥8,461
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.09¥1,889
$13.66¥2,134
-11.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Okinawa
Ichinomiya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$324¥50.6K
$513¥80.1K
-36.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,516¥861.6K
$11.5K¥1.8M
-51.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Okinawa
Ichinomiya
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.91¥7,797
$43.38¥6,777
15.05%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.70¥3,546
$28.26¥4,414
-19.67%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.0¥12.3K
$52.8¥8,252
49.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.0¥14.8K
$87.5¥13.7K
8.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Okinawa
Ichinomiya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$398¥62.2K
$400¥62.5K
-0.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$317¥49.6K
$316¥49.3K
0.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$828¥129.3K
$1,070¥167.1K
-22.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$653¥102.0K
$764¥119.3K
-14.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,509¥1.3M
$4,835¥755.4K
75.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,199¥187.2K
$2,162¥337.7K
-44.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Okinawa
Ichinomiya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,819¥284.2K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.23
2.06
8.25%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Okinawa: August 30, 2026
Last update for Ichinomiya: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $398 in Okinawa versus $400 in Ichinomiya. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $40.00 in Okinawa versus $33.00 in Ichinomiya. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $327 vs $285 – making Ichinomiya 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 Ichinomiya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ichinomiya cheaper than Okinawa?
Yes – Okinawa is pricier by about 18%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,077 per month in Okinawa and $1,762 in Ichinomiya. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ichinomiya, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Okinawa or in Ichinomiya?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $40.00 in Okinawa and $33.00 in Ichinomiya. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Okinawa and in Ichinomiya?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,385 in Okinawa and $1,175 in Ichinomiya. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Okinawa or in Ichinomiya?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ichinomiya, where all-in costs run around $1,175, than in Okinawa at $1,385. In Ichinomiya it covers expenses comfortably, while in Okinawa it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Okinawa or Ichinomiya more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Ichinomiya – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Okinawa or Ichinomiya?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Ichinomiya. 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.