Cost of Living Comparison Between Okinawa and Kagoshima Cost of Living Comparison Between Okinawa and Kagoshima

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,427 per month in Okinawa vs $1,149 in Kagoshima, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,228 per month in Okinawa vs $1,913 in Kagoshima, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,030 per month in Okinawa vs $2,676 in Kagoshima, rent included.

Okinawa costs about 24% more than Kagoshima, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Okinawa sits 4% above the global median, while Kagoshima is 16% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.68 ¥1,512

$6.45 ¥1,008

50.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.32 ¥6,297

$34.43 ¥5,377

17.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.94 ¥1,083

$4.92 ¥769

41.06%

Cappuccino

$4.18 ¥653

$3.16 ¥494

32.28%

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

$1.47 ¥230

$1.06 ¥166

38.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.01 ¥158

$0.65 ¥102

55.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.00 ¥313

$2.57 ¥401

-22.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.46 ¥697

$2.30 ¥359

93.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.59 ¥249

$1.36 ¥212

16.91%

White Bread (500g)

$2.20 ¥344

$1.22 ¥190

80.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.98 ¥621

$5.46 ¥853

-27.11%

Eggs

$1.81 ¥282

$2.11 ¥330

-14.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.99 ¥2,809

$18.65 ¥2,913

-3.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.05 ¥789

$5.38 ¥840

-6.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.90 ¥3,577

$19.35 ¥3,022

18.35%

Apples (1kg)

$3.73 ¥583

$3.75 ¥586

-0.53%

Banana (1kg)

$2.78 ¥434

$1.89 ¥295

47.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.30 ¥359

$2.97 ¥464

-22.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.27 ¥823

$3.34 ¥521

57.78%

Potato (1kg)

$2.45 ¥382

$2.19 ¥343

11.87%

Onion (1kg)

$2.53 ¥394

$1.91 ¥298

32.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.35 ¥211

$1.11 ¥174

21.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 ¥120

$0.82 ¥127

-6.10%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.93 ¥614

$4.08 ¥637

-3.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.51 ¥1,016

$6.10 ¥952

6.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.96 ¥306

$1.22 ¥190

60.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 ¥539

$1.87 ¥292

84.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.46 ¥229

$1.28 ¥200

14.06%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$68.1 ¥10.6K

$58.0 ¥9,054

17.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.94 ¥615

$3.99 ¥623

-1.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.59 ¥560

$2.15 ¥335

66.98%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.87 ¥1,854

$11.86 ¥1,853

0.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 ¥177

$1.14 ¥177

-0.88%

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

$21.9K ¥3.4M

$22.5K ¥3.5M

-2.72%

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

$15.4K ¥2.4M

$17.9K ¥2.8M

-13.86%

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

$165 ¥25.8K

$195 ¥30.4K

-15.33%

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

$25.69 ¥4,012

$25.87 ¥4,040

-0.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.8 ¥8,558

$31.40 ¥4,903

74.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$74.0 ¥11.6K

$53.4 ¥8,333

38.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$56.5 ¥8,822

Cinema Ticket

$12.50 ¥1,952

$12.41 ¥1,938

0.73%

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

$345 ¥53.9K

$130 ¥20.3K

165.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,827 ¥909.9K

$12.6K ¥2.0M

-53.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.7 ¥8,070

$39.59 ¥6,183

30.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.12 ¥3,766

$24.19 ¥3,777

-0.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.1 ¥12.7K

$62.0 ¥9,682

30.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.9 ¥15.0K

$48.58 ¥7,586

97.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$411 ¥64.2K

$522 ¥81.5K

-21.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$332 ¥51.8K

$226 ¥35.3K

46.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$863 ¥134.8K

$946 ¥147.7K

-8.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$694 ¥108.3K

$753 ¥117.7K

-7.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,703 ¥1.4M

$4,178 ¥652.4K

108.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,200 ¥187.4K

$1,848 ¥288.6K

-35.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,861 ¥290.6K

$1,921 ¥299.9K

-3.10%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.23

1.85

20.54%

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

Last update for Okinawa: September 13, 2026

Last update for Kagoshima: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $411 in Okinawa versus $522 in Kagoshima. 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 3% higher in Kagoshima, 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 $40.00 in Okinawa versus $34.00 in Kagoshima. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $337 vs $302 – making Kagoshima 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 Kagoshima: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Okinawa costs about 24% more than Kagoshima, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,140 per month in Okinawa and $1,724 in Kagoshima. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 17% less in Kagoshima. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $345 per month in Okinawa and $130 in Kagoshima. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kagoshima, where all-in costs run around $1,149, than in Okinawa at $1,427. In Kagoshima it covers expenses comfortably, while in Okinawa it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Kagoshima – 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 Kagoshima. 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.