Cost of Living Comparison Between Okinawa and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Okinawa and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,430 in Okinawa versus $2,210 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,196 in Okinawa versus $3,311 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,961 in Okinawa versus $4,411 in Lisbon.

Living in Okinawa costs roughly 35% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Okinawa 7% above, Lisbon 65% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Okinawa
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.57 ¥1,370
$15.91 €13.70
-46.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.32 ¥6,609
$64.8 €55.8
-36.21%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.12 ¥978
$10.51 €9.05
-41.77%
Cappuccino
$3.31 ¥529
$2.87 €2.47
15.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32 ¥211
$2.24 €1.93
-41.07%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86 ¥137
$1.50 €1.30
-42.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.48 ¥557
$3.49 €3.01
-0.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.81 ¥769
$3.88 €3.34
23.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Okinawa
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.87 ¥299
$1.14 €0.98
64.04%
White Bread (500g)
$2.30 ¥367
$1.75 €1.51
31.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.83 ¥772
$1.76 €1.51
174.43%
Eggs
$2.01 ¥321
$3.22 €2.77
-37.58%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.33 ¥2,613
$13.49 €11.62
21.05%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.13 ¥1,780
$7.91 €6.81
40.71%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$26.95 ¥4,310
$15.87 €13.67
69.82%
Apples (1kg)
$5.27 ¥842
$2.31 €1.99
128.14%
Banana (1kg)
$2.61 ¥418
$1.70 €1.46
53.53%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.03 ¥485
$2.01 €1.73
50.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.65 ¥904
$2.46 €2.12
129.67%
Potato (1kg)
$3.69 ¥590
$1.84 €1.59
100.54%
Onion (1kg)
$2.90 ¥464
$2.00 €1.72
45.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.60 ¥256
$1.93 €1.66
-17.10%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.94 ¥151
$0.79 €0.68
18.99%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.82 ¥771
$6.61 €5.69
-27.08%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.11 ¥978
$5.72 €4.93
6.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 ¥275
$1.37 €1.18
25.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89 ¥461
$2.97 €2.56
-2.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Okinawa
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.67 ¥268
$2.37 €2.04
-29.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.27 ¥5,642
$45.56 €39.23
-22.59%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.19 ¥671
$4.29 €3.69
-2.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.77 ¥603
$0.82 €0.70
359.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$12.74 ¥2,037
$18.30 €15.76
-30.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.20 ¥192
$2.06 €1.78
-41.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8K ¥3.6M
$34.3K €29.5K
-33.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.0K ¥2.7M
$39.3K €33.8K
-56.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Okinawa
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$173 ¥27.7K
$148 €127
16.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.72 ¥4,434
$20.52 €17.67
35.09%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.51 ¥5,200
$39.61 €34.11
-17.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Okinawa
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.4 ¥8,547
$47.85 €41.20
11.68%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.76 ¥1,081
$18.92 €16.29
-64.27%
Cinema Ticket
$12.60 ¥2,016
$9.18 €7.91
37.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Okinawa
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$347 ¥55.5K
$614 €529
-43.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.5K ¥2.2M
$16.0K €13.8K
-15.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Okinawa
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.84 ¥7,813
$105 €90.1
-53.33%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.28 ¥4,683
$42.06 €36.22
-30.39%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$72.9 ¥11.7K
$94.0 €80.9
-22.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$93.1 ¥14.9K
$120 €103
-22.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Okinawa
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$437 ¥69.9K
$1,628 €1,402
-73.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$394 ¥63.1K
$1,255 €1,081
-68.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$944 ¥150.9K
$3,030 €2,609
-68.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$750 ¥119.9K
$2,020 €1,740
-62.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,543 ¥1.4M
$7,800 €6,716
9.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,187 ¥189.8K
$4,273 €3,679
-72.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Okinawa
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,292 ¥206.6K
$1,603 €1,381
-19.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2
3.81
-47.51%

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

Last update for Okinawa: June 1, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $437 in Okinawa and $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 24% 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: $41.00 in Okinawa vs $65.0 in Lisbon. Groceries flip the comparison at $398 vs $269, with Lisbon cheaper for home cooking.

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 Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Okinawa and Lisbon?
Okinawa and Lisbon differ by about 55% in total monthly costs ($1,430 vs $2,210 including rent). Okinawa is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Lisbon earns 24% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Okinawa and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $437 in Okinawa versus $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Okinawa and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $347 in Okinawa versus $614 in Lisbon. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Lisbon pay roughly 48% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,430 in Okinawa versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Okinawa but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Okinawa the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Okinawa and Lisbon?
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.
Is Okinawa or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Okinawa and Lisbon are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Okinawa or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Okinawa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 55% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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