Cost of Living Comparison Between Okinawa and Kamakura Cost of Living Comparison Between Okinawa and Kamakura

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,437 in Okinawa versus $1,293 in Kamakura.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,214 in Okinawa versus $2,024 in Kamakura.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,992 in Okinawa versus $2,754 in Kamakura.

Living in Okinawa is roughly 11% more expensive than in Kamakura, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Okinawa is 8% above, Kamakura is 3% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.18 ¥1,329

$6.83 ¥1,109

19.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.94 ¥6,815

$34.72 ¥5,642

20.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.98 ¥971

$5.45 ¥885

9.72%

Cappuccino

$3.34 ¥543

$3.11 ¥506

7.40%

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

$1.32 ¥215

$1.19 ¥194

10.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.93 ¥152

$0.75 ¥122

24.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.50 ¥569

$2.04 ¥332

71.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.91 ¥797

$3.11 ¥505

57.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ¥317

$1.50 ¥244

30.00%

White Bread (500g)

$2.37 ¥385

$1.69 ¥275

40.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.87 ¥791

$4.84 ¥787

0.62%

Eggs

$2.00 ¥325

$2.23 ¥363

-10.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.39 ¥2,663

$13.73 ¥2,231

19.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.84 ¥1,761

$6.77 ¥1,100

60.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$26.48 ¥4,303

$17.60 ¥2,860

50.45%

Apples (1kg)

$5.06 ¥822

$6.18 ¥1,004

-18.12%

Banana (1kg)

$2.59 ¥420

$2.82 ¥458

-8.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.13 ¥509

$3.91 ¥635

-19.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.64 ¥916

$6.14 ¥998

-8.14%

Potato (1kg)

$3.50 ¥568

$3.23 ¥525

8.36%

Onion (1kg)

$2.89 ¥469

$2.68 ¥435

7.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.59 ¥258

$1.33 ¥216

19.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 ¥143

$1.06 ¥172

-16.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.92 ¥799

$3.50 ¥569

40.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.09 ¥989

$9.04 ¥1,470

-32.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 ¥281

$1.90 ¥308

-8.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 ¥473

$2.37 ¥385

22.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.63 ¥265

$1.59 ¥259

2.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.91 ¥5,673

$54.9 ¥8,918

-36.40%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.11 ¥668

$3.38 ¥549

21.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.62 ¥587

$2.93 ¥476

23.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.58 ¥2,044

$17.59 ¥2,858

-28.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ¥202

$1.23 ¥200

0.81%

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

$23.3K ¥3.8M

$23.4K ¥3.8M

-0.38%

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

$16.7K ¥2.7M

0.20%

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

$173 ¥28.2K

$145 ¥23.6K

19.48%

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

$27.25 ¥4,428

$27.29 ¥4,434

-0.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.66 ¥5,145

$33.55 ¥5,451

-5.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.7 ¥8,723

$56.1 ¥9,118

-4.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.04 ¥1,144

$13.74 ¥2,233

-48.76%

Cinema Ticket

$12.45 ¥2,022

$12.47 ¥2,026

-0.16%

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

$346 ¥56.2K

$286 ¥46.5K

20.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.2K ¥2.1M

$11.4K ¥1.9M

15.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.75 ¥7,758

$41.12 ¥6,681

16.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.25 ¥4,753

$29.44 ¥4,783

-0.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.5 ¥11.9K

$55.7 ¥9,054

31.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.9 ¥14.8K

$91.2 ¥14.8K

-0.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$445 ¥72.2K

$462 ¥75.1K

-3.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$400 ¥64.9K

$325 ¥52.8K

22.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$946 ¥153.7K

$877 ¥142.5K

7.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$748 ¥121.5K

$669 ¥108.7K

11.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,584 ¥1.4M

$3,876 ¥629.7K

121.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,221 ¥198.4K

$2,385 ¥387.5K

-48.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,769 ¥287.4K

$1,727 ¥280.6K

2.41%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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 Kamakura: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $445 in Okinawa and $462 in Kamakura. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Okinawa pays 2% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $42.00 in Okinawa vs $35.00 in Kamakura for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $395 vs $348 per month, with Kamakura cheaper across the board.

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 Kamakura: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kamakura is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear. The 11% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 2% higher in Okinawa, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $445 in Okinawa versus $462 in Kamakura. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $346 in Okinawa versus $286 in Kamakura. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 14% higher in Okinawa. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $1,293 in Kamakura versus $1,437 in Okinawa, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Kamakura but tight or insufficient in Okinawa. The gap between the two cities makes Kamakura the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Okinawa and Kamakura are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Kamakura gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Okinawa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.