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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,430 per month in Okinawa vs $1,176 in Kagoshima, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,196 per month in Okinawa vs $1,894 in Kagoshima, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,961 per month in Okinawa vs $2,613 in Kagoshima, rent included.

Okinawa costs about 22% more than Kagoshima, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Okinawa sits 7% above the global median, while Kagoshima is 12% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.57 ¥1,370

$8.48 ¥1,357

1.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.32 ¥6,609

$41.63 ¥6,659

-0.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.12 ¥978

$5.78 ¥924

5.88%

Cappuccino

$3.31 ¥529

$3.07 ¥491

7.82%

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

$1.32 ¥211

$1.09 ¥174

21.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 ¥137

$0.82 ¥131

4.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.48 ¥557

$1.64 ¥262

112.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.81 ¥769

$2.02 ¥324

138.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ¥299

$1.39 ¥222

34.53%

White Bread (500g)

$2.30 ¥367

$1.30 ¥208

76.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.83 ¥772

$4.20 ¥672

15.00%

Eggs

$2.01 ¥321

$2.38 ¥381

-15.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.33 ¥2,613

$10.13 ¥1,621

61.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.13 ¥1,780

$6.19 ¥990

79.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$26.95 ¥4,310

$21.06 ¥3,369

27.97%

Apples (1kg)

$5.27 ¥842

$3.06 ¥489

72.22%

Banana (1kg)

$2.61 ¥418

$1.40 ¥224

86.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.03 ¥485

$1.35 ¥216

124.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.65 ¥904

$5.96 ¥953

-5.20%

Potato (1kg)

$3.69 ¥590

$2.32 ¥372

59.05%

Onion (1kg)

$2.90 ¥464

$2.09 ¥335

38.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.60 ¥256

$0.99 ¥159

61.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 ¥151

$0.80 ¥129

17.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.82 ¥771

$3.79 ¥607

27.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.11 ¥978

$6.03 ¥965

1.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 ¥275

$1.30 ¥208

32.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 ¥461

$2.13 ¥341

35.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.67 ¥268

$1.50 ¥239

11.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.27 ¥5,642

$54.4 ¥8,695

-35.12%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.19 ¥671

$4.58 ¥732

-8.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.77 ¥603

$3.00 ¥479

25.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.74 ¥2,037

$12.39 ¥1,982

2.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 ¥192

$1.23 ¥197

-2.44%

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

$22.8K ¥3.6M

$23.2K ¥3.7M

-1.74%

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

$17.0K ¥2.7M

$20.3K ¥3.2M

-16.22%

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

$173 ¥27.7K

$210 ¥33.6K

-17.67%

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

$27.72 ¥4,434

$26.92 ¥4,306

2.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.51 ¥5,200

$35.46 ¥5,671

-8.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.4 ¥8,547

$54.8 ¥8,758

-2.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.76 ¥1,081

$13.60 ¥2,175

-50.29%

Cinema Ticket

$12.60 ¥2,016

$14.12 ¥2,258

-10.76%

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

$347 ¥55.5K

$412 ¥65.9K

-15.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.5K ¥2.2M

$13.3K ¥2.1M

1.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.84 ¥7,813

$44.04 ¥7,044

10.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.28 ¥4,683

$29.74 ¥4,757

-1.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.9 ¥11.7K

$65.4 ¥10.5K

11.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$93.1 ¥14.9K

$60.1 ¥9,606

55.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$437 ¥69.9K

$477 ¥76.2K

-8.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$394 ¥63.1K

$238 ¥38.0K

65.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$944 ¥150.9K

$868 ¥138.9K

8.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$750 ¥119.9K

$646 ¥103.4K

15.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,543 ¥1.4M

$5,140 ¥822.2K

66.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,187 ¥189.8K

$2,510 ¥401.5K

-52.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,292 ¥206.6K

$1,852 ¥296.2K

-30.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.67

19.76%

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

Last update for Okinawa: June 1, 2026

Last update for Kagoshima: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $437 in Okinawa versus $477 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 43% 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 $41.00 in Okinawa versus $42.00 in Kagoshima. Groceries tell a different story – $398 in Okinawa vs $284 in Kagoshima – so Kagoshima wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 22% more than Kagoshima, 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 $1,763 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 54% less in Kagoshima. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $347 per month in Okinawa and $412 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 $1,176, than in Okinawa at $1,430. 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.