Cost of Living Comparison Between Okinawa and Kanazawa Cost of Living Comparison Between Okinawa and Kanazawa

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,419 per month in Okinawa vs $1,200 in Kanazawa, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,216 per month in Okinawa vs $1,870 in Kanazawa, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,012 per month in Okinawa vs $2,541 in Kanazawa, rent included.

Okinawa costs about 18% more than Kanazawa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Okinawa sits 6% above the global median, while Kanazawa is 10% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.24 ¥1,344

$5.52 ¥901

49.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.98 ¥6,687

$34.28 ¥5,594

19.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.16 ¥1,005

$4.95 ¥808

24.44%

Cappuccino

$3.34 ¥545

$3.30 ¥538

1.21%

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

$1.35 ¥221

$1.12 ¥183

20.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 ¥142

$0.73 ¥119

19.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.42 ¥558

$2.85 ¥465

20.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.97 ¥811

$4.41 ¥720

12.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ¥317

$1.54 ¥252

26.62%

White Bread (500g)

$2.27 ¥371

$1.42 ¥232

59.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.65 ¥759

$4.83 ¥788

-3.73%

Eggs

$2.01 ¥328

$2.33 ¥381

-13.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.63 ¥2,713

$10.46 ¥1,706

58.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.95 ¥1,787

$6.48 ¥1,057

68.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$26.74 ¥4,364

$19.26 ¥3,143

38.84%

Apples (1kg)

$4.97 ¥812

$3.50 ¥571

42.00%

Banana (1kg)

$2.60 ¥425

$2.19 ¥357

18.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.01 ¥491

$2.59 ¥423

16.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.92 ¥966

$4.51 ¥736

31.26%

Potato (1kg)

$3.62 ¥590

$1.70 ¥277

112.94%

Onion (1kg)

$2.87 ¥468

$1.31 ¥213

119.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.58 ¥258

$1.39 ¥227

13.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 ¥143

$0.84 ¥138

4.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.87 ¥795

$3.93 ¥641

23.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.08 ¥992

$9.01 ¥1,471

-32.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 ¥283

$2.13 ¥347

-18.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 ¥476

$2.91 ¥474

0.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.64 ¥268

$1.67 ¥273

-1.80%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.16 ¥5,574

$55.8 ¥9,111

-38.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.27 ¥698

$4.44 ¥725

-3.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.63 ¥593

$3.40 ¥555

6.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.53 ¥2,044

$23.40 ¥3,818

-46.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ¥201

$1.19 ¥195

3.36%

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

$22.9K ¥3.7M

$22.8K ¥3.7M

0.62%

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

$17.0K ¥2.8M

$16.8K ¥2.7M

1.29%

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

$173 ¥28.2K

$133 ¥21.7K

29.90%

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

$27.30 ¥4,454

$26.97 ¥4,401

1.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.24 ¥5,261

$30.22 ¥4,931

6.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.6 ¥8,740

$47.22 ¥7,705

13.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.08 ¥1,156

$13.77 ¥2,247

-48.58%

Cinema Ticket

$12.23 ¥1,996

$12.42 ¥2,026

-1.53%

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

$343 ¥56.0K

$68.8 ¥11.2K

398.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.3K ¥2.2M

$10.6K ¥1.7M

25.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.70 ¥7,947

$44.06 ¥7,190

10.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.70 ¥4,683

$28.72 ¥4,686

-0.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.4 ¥11.6K

$68.8 ¥11.2K

3.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.7 ¥15.1K

$97.1 ¥15.9K

-4.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$448 ¥73.1K

$464 ¥75.6K

-3.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$394 ¥64.3K

$333 ¥54.4K

18.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$954 ¥155.6K

$883 ¥144.1K

8.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$758 ¥123.7K

$669 ¥109.2K

13.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,678 ¥1.4M

$4,193 ¥684.2K

106.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,198 ¥195.6K

$2,352 ¥383.9K

-49.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,762 ¥287.6K

$1,855 ¥302.6K

-4.98%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.81

10.50%

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

Last update for Okinawa: July 22, 2026

Last update for Kanazawa: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $448 in Okinawa versus $464 in Kanazawa. 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 5% higher in Kanazawa, 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 $34.00 in Kanazawa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $396 vs $301 – making Kanazawa 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 Kanazawa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,419 in Okinawa, $1,200 in Kanazawa – roughly 18% apart. Okinawa costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,129 per month in Okinawa and $1,800 in Kanazawa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,419 in Okinawa and $1,200 in Kanazawa. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 63% less in Kanazawa. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Kanazawa, where all-in costs run around $1,200, than in Okinawa at $1,419. In Kanazawa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Okinawa it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Kanazawa – 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 Kanazawa. 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.