Cost of Living Comparison Between Okinawa and Kashiwa Cost of Living Comparison Between Okinawa and Kashiwa

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,430 per month in Okinawa vs $1,325 in Kashiwa, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,196 per month in Okinawa vs $1,836 in Kashiwa, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,961 per month in Okinawa vs $2,347 in Kashiwa, rent included.

Okinawa costs about 8% more than Kashiwa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Okinawa sits 7% above the global median, while Kashiwa is 1% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.57 ¥1,370

$6.99 ¥1,118

22.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.32 ¥6,609

$27.94 ¥4,469

47.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.12 ¥978

$5.67 ¥907

7.94%

Cappuccino

$3.31 ¥529

$3.09 ¥494

7.12%

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

$1.32 ¥211

$0.84 ¥135

57.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 ¥137

$0.78 ¥124

10.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.48 ¥557

$2.14 ¥342

62.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.81 ¥769

$2.72 ¥435

76.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ¥299

$1.23 ¥197

52.03%

White Bread (500g)

$2.30 ¥367

$1.13 ¥181

103.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.83 ¥772

$5.06 ¥809

-4.55%

Eggs

$2.01 ¥321

$2.03 ¥325

-0.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.33 ¥2,613

$7.04 ¥1,126

131.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.13 ¥1,780

$6.39 ¥1,023

74.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$26.95 ¥4,310

$10.32 ¥1,651

161.14%

Apples (1kg)

$5.27 ¥842

$4.97 ¥794

6.04%

Banana (1kg)

$2.61 ¥418

$2.83 ¥452

-7.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.03 ¥485

$4.03 ¥645

-24.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.65 ¥904

$6.10 ¥975

-7.38%

Potato (1kg)

$3.69 ¥590

$2.75 ¥439

34.18%

Onion (1kg)

$2.90 ¥464

$2.23 ¥357

30.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.60 ¥256

$0.70 ¥112

128.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 ¥151

$0.57 ¥90.4

64.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.82 ¥771

$4.06 ¥650

18.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.11 ¥978

$9.38 ¥1,501

-34.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 ¥275

$1.84 ¥295

-6.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 ¥461

$2.03 ¥325

42.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.67 ¥268

$1.56 ¥250

7.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.27 ¥5,642

$54.4 ¥8,699

-35.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.19 ¥671

$3.37 ¥539

24.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.77 ¥603

$2.38 ¥380

58.40%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.74 ¥2,037

$22.04 ¥3,525

-42.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 ¥192

$1.19 ¥191

0.84%

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

$22.8K ¥3.6M

$23.1K ¥3.7M

-1.32%

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

$17.0K ¥2.7M

$18.2K ¥2.9M

-6.52%

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

$173 ¥27.7K

$143 ¥22.9K

20.82%

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

$27.72 ¥4,434

$27.74 ¥4,437

-0.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.51 ¥5,200

$33.75 ¥5,398

-3.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.4 ¥8,547

$55.6 ¥8,893

-3.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.76 ¥1,081

$14.14 ¥2,261

-52.19%

Cinema Ticket

$12.60 ¥2,016

$13.57 ¥2,171

-7.15%

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

$347 ¥55.5K

$281 ¥45.0K

23.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.5K ¥2.2M

$13.9K ¥2.2M

-2.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.84 ¥7,813

$41.98 ¥6,715

16.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.28 ¥4,683

$28.95 ¥4,631

1.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.9 ¥11.7K

$60.6 ¥9,684

20.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$93.1 ¥14.9K

$111 ¥17.7K

-15.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$437 ¥69.9K

$636 ¥101.7K

-31.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$394 ¥63.1K

$436 ¥69.8K

-9.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$944 ¥150.9K

$838 ¥134.0K

12.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$750 ¥119.9K

$525 ¥84.0K

42.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,543 ¥1.4M

$4,667 ¥746.4K

83.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,187 ¥189.8K

$2,247 ¥359.4K

-47.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,292 ¥206.6K

$2,486 ¥397.6K

-48.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.05

-2.44%

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

Last update for Okinawa: June 1, 2026

Last update for Kashiwa: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $437 in Okinawa versus $636 in Kashiwa. 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 92% higher in Kashiwa, 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 $28.00 in Kashiwa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $398 vs $279 – making Kashiwa 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 Kashiwa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,430 in Okinawa, $1,325 in Kashiwa – roughly 8% apart. Okinawa costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,145 per month in Okinawa and $1,987 in Kashiwa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $347 per month in Okinawa and $281 in Kashiwa. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 43% more in Okinawa, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Kashiwa, where all-in costs run around $1,325, than in Okinawa at $1,430. In Kashiwa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Okinawa it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Okinawa has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,325 in Kashiwa to $1,430 in Okinawa. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Kashiwa. 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.