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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,437 per month in Okinawa vs $1,332 in Kashiwa, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,214 per month in Okinawa vs $1,855 in Kashiwa, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,992 per month in Okinawa vs $2,378 in Kashiwa, rent included.

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

Both Okinawa and Kashiwa sit above the global median – Okinawa by 8%, Kashiwa by 0%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.18 ¥1,329

$7.00 ¥1,138

16.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.94 ¥6,815

$27.50 ¥4,469

52.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.98 ¥971

$5.68 ¥923

5.28%

Cappuccino

$3.34 ¥543

$3.08 ¥500

8.44%

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

$1.32 ¥215

$0.82 ¥133

60.98%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.93 ¥152

$0.74 ¥121

25.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.50 ¥569

$2.03 ¥330

72.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.91 ¥797

$2.69 ¥437

82.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ¥317

$1.27 ¥206

53.54%

White Bread (500g)

$2.37 ¥385

$1.08 ¥176

119.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.87 ¥791

$4.98 ¥809

-2.21%

Eggs

$2.00 ¥325

$2.03 ¥330

-1.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.39 ¥2,663

$6.91 ¥1,123

137.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.84 ¥1,761

$6.22 ¥1,011

74.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$26.48 ¥4,303

$10.45 ¥1,698

153.40%

Apples (1kg)

$5.06 ¥822

$4.91 ¥798

3.05%

Banana (1kg)

$2.59 ¥420

$2.72 ¥442

-4.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.13 ¥509

$4.11 ¥668

-23.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.64 ¥916

$6.12 ¥995

-7.84%

Potato (1kg)

$3.50 ¥568

$2.74 ¥444

27.74%

Onion (1kg)

$2.89 ¥469

$2.31 ¥376

25.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.59 ¥258

$0.67 ¥110

137.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 ¥143

$0.53 ¥85.6

66.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.92 ¥799

$4.04 ¥656

21.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.09 ¥989

$9.02 ¥1,466

-32.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 ¥281

$1.76 ¥286

-1.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 ¥473

$2.07 ¥336

40.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.63 ¥265

$1.57 ¥255

3.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.91 ¥5,673

$56.4 ¥9,157

-38.06%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.11 ¥668

$3.51 ¥570

17.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.62 ¥587

$2.27 ¥369

59.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.58 ¥2,044

$22.36 ¥3,632

-43.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ¥202

$1.19 ¥194

4.20%

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

$23.3K ¥3.8M

$23.6K ¥3.8M

-0.99%

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

$16.7K ¥2.7M

$18.3K ¥3.0M

-8.99%

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

$173 ¥28.2K

$144 ¥23.4K

20.40%

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

$27.25 ¥4,428

$27.82 ¥4,521

-2.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.66 ¥5,145

$34.22 ¥5,560

-7.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.7 ¥8,723

$54.9 ¥8,915

-2.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.04 ¥1,144

$14.08 ¥2,288

-50.00%

Cinema Ticket

$12.45 ¥2,022

$13.53 ¥2,198

-7.98%

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

$346 ¥56.2K

$281 ¥45.7K

23.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.2K ¥2.1M

$14.1K ¥2.3M

-6.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.75 ¥7,758

$40.93 ¥6,651

16.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.25 ¥4,753

$29.62 ¥4,813

-1.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.5 ¥11.9K

$58.9 ¥9,569

24.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.9 ¥14.8K

$112 ¥18.2K

-18.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$445 ¥72.2K

$637 ¥103.5K

-30.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$400 ¥64.9K

$446 ¥72.4K

-10.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$946 ¥153.7K

$841 ¥136.6K

12.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$748 ¥121.5K

$524 ¥85.1K

42.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,584 ¥1.4M

$4,375 ¥710.8K

96.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,221 ¥198.4K

$2,349 ¥381.6K

-48.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,769 ¥287.4K

$2,402 ¥390.3K

-26.38%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Kashiwa: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $445 in Okinawa versus $637 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 36% 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 $42.00 in Okinawa versus $28.00 in Kashiwa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $395 vs $276 – 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: $1,437 in Okinawa, $1,332 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 $2,155 per month in Okinawa and $1,998 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 $346 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 $1,332, than in Okinawa at $1,437. 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 $1,332 in Kashiwa to $1,437 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.