Cost of Living Comparison Between Okinawa and ItomanCost of Living Comparison Between Okinawa and Itoman
Monthly Cost of Living
😐A single person spends $1,437 per month in Okinawa vs $1,225 in Itoman, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,214 per month in Okinawa vs $1,919 in Itoman, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,992 per month in Okinawa vs $2,613 in Itoman, rent included.
😐Okinawa costs about 17% more than Itoman, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Okinawa sits 8% above the global median, while Itoman is 8% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Okinawa
Itoman
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.18¥1,329
$7.02¥1,141
16.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.94¥6,815
$35.05¥5,695
19.66%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.98¥971
$5.30¥861
12.83%
Cappuccino
$3.34¥543
$3.06¥497
9.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32¥215
$1.06¥172
24.53%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93¥152
$0.77¥125
20.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.50¥569
$2.67¥434
31.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.91¥797
$3.11¥505
57.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Okinawa
Itoman
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.95¥317
$1.52¥247
28.29%
White Bread(500g)
$2.37¥385
$1.54¥251
53.90%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.87¥791
$4.89¥795
-0.41%
Eggs
$2.00¥325
$2.18¥355
-8.26%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.39¥2,663
$9.93¥1,613
65.06%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.84¥1,761
$6.33¥1,028
71.25%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$26.48¥4,303
$15.28¥2,482
73.30%
Apples(1kg)
$5.06¥822
$5.48¥891
-7.66%
Banana(1kg)
$2.59¥420
$2.60¥422
-0.38%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.13¥509
$3.94¥640
-20.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.64¥916
$5.77¥937
-2.25%
Potato(1kg)
$3.50¥568
$3.12¥506
12.18%
Onion(1kg)
$2.89¥469
$2.56¥416
12.89%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.59¥258
$1.32¥214
20.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88¥143
$0.82¥133
7.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.92¥799
$4.18¥679
17.70%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.09¥989
$5.43¥882
12.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73¥281
$1.89¥308
-8.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91¥473
$2.28¥370
27.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Okinawa
Itoman
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.63¥265
$1.60¥260
1.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$34.91¥5,673
$56.5¥9,176
-38.18%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.11¥668
$3.55¥576
15.77%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.62¥587
$2.88¥468
25.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$12.58¥2,044
$20.54¥3,338
-38.75%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.24¥202
$1.24¥201
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.3K¥3.8M
$22.8K¥3.7M
2.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.7K¥2.7M
$17.0K¥2.8M
-1.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Okinawa
Itoman
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$173¥28.2K
$143¥23.2K
21.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.25¥4,428
$26.80¥4,354
1.68%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.66¥5,145
$33.36¥5,419
-5.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Okinawa
Itoman
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.7¥8,723
$56.5¥9,178
-4.96%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.04¥1,144
$13.94¥2,264
-49.50%
Cinema Ticket
$12.45¥2,022
$12.26¥1,992
1.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Okinawa
Itoman
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$346¥56.2K
$276¥44.9K
25.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.2K¥2.1M
$13.4K¥2.2M
-1.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Okinawa
Itoman
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.75¥7,758
$42.66¥6,932
11.93%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.25¥4,753
$29.52¥4,796
-0.91%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$73.5¥11.9K
$61.0¥9,911
20.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.9¥14.8K
$90.9¥14.8K
0.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Okinawa
Itoman
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$445¥72.2K
$477¥77.5K
-6.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$400¥64.9K
$331¥53.8K
20.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$946¥153.7K
$866¥140.7K
9.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$748¥121.5K
$648¥105.3K
15.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,584¥1.4M
$4,352¥707.0K
97.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,221¥198.4K
$2,294¥372.7K
-46.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Okinawa
Itoman
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,769¥287.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2
1.78
12.36%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Okinawa: July 13, 2026
Last update for Itoman: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $445 in Okinawa versus $477 in Itoman. 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 $42.00 in Okinawa versus $35.00 in Itoman. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $395 vs $308 – making Itoman 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 Itoman: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Itoman cheaper than Okinawa?
Yes – Okinawa is pricier by about 17%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $2,155 per month in Okinawa and $1,837 in Itoman. 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 Itoman, 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 Itoman?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Okinawa and $35.00 in Itoman. 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 Itoman?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,437 in Okinawa and $1,225 in Itoman. 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 Itoman?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Itoman, where all-in costs run around $1,225, than in Okinawa at $1,437. In Itoman it covers expenses comfortably, while in Okinawa it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Okinawa or Itoman more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Itoman – 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 Itoman?
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 Itoman. 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.