Cost of Living Comparison Between Okinawa and Maebashi Cost of Living Comparison Between Okinawa and Maebashi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,427 per month in Okinawa vs $1,231 in Maebashi, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,228 per month in Okinawa vs $1,977 in Maebashi, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,030 per month in Okinawa vs $2,724 in Maebashi, rent included.

Okinawa costs about 16% more than Maebashi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Okinawa sits 4% above the global median, while Maebashi is 10% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Okinawa
Maebashi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.68 ¥1,520
$4.62 ¥726
109.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.32 ¥6,331
$32.93 ¥5,170
22.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.94 ¥1,089
$5.09 ¥799
36.35%
Cappuccino
$4.18 ¥657
$2.54 ¥398
64.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47 ¥231
$0.80 ¥125
83.75%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.01 ¥159
$0.62 ¥97.9
62.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.00 ¥315
$2.32 ¥365
-13.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46 ¥701
$3.21 ¥503
38.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Okinawa
Maebashi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.59 ¥250
$1.25 ¥197
27.20%
White Bread (500g)
$2.20 ¥346
$1.58 ¥249
39.24%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.98 ¥624
$1.34 ¥210
197.01%
Eggs
$1.81 ¥284
$1.74 ¥273
4.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.99 ¥2,824
$15.98 ¥2,508
12.58%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.05 ¥793
$4.73 ¥743
6.77%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$22.90 ¥3,596
$17.92 ¥2,814
27.79%
Apples (1kg)
$3.73 ¥586
$8.39 ¥1,317
-55.54%
Banana (1kg)
$2.78 ¥436
$3.09 ¥486
-10.03%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.30 ¥361
$5.17 ¥812
-55.51%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.27 ¥827
$8.13 ¥1,276
-35.18%
Potato (1kg)
$2.45 ¥384
$4.12 ¥647
-40.53%
Onion (1kg)
$2.53 ¥396
$4.81 ¥755
-47.40%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.35 ¥213
$1.20 ¥189
12.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77 ¥121
$0.47 ¥74.1
63.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.93 ¥618
$4.00 ¥628
-1.75%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.51 ¥1,021
$9.45 ¥1,484
-31.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.96 ¥308
$2.57 ¥404
-23.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.45 ¥542
$2.15 ¥338
60.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Okinawa
Maebashi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.46 ¥230
$1.52 ¥239
-3.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$68.1 ¥10.7K
$57.5 ¥9,030
18.34%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.94 ¥618
$3.26 ¥512
20.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.59 ¥563
$2.88 ¥452
24.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.87 ¥1,864
$32.52 ¥5,106
-63.50%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.13 ¥178
$1.08 ¥169
4.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.9K ¥3.4M
$22.6K ¥3.5M
-2.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.4K ¥2.4M
$15.8K ¥2.5M
-2.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Okinawa
Maebashi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$165 ¥25.9K
$121 ¥19.0K
36.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.69 ¥4,034
$24.14 ¥3,790
6.42%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.8 ¥8,604
$32.52 ¥5,105
68.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Okinawa
Maebashi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$74.0 ¥11.6K
$52.9 ¥8,312
39.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$56.5 ¥8,869
$32.80 ¥5,150
72.23%
Cinema Ticket
$12.50 ¥1,963
$11.57 ¥1,816
8.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Okinawa
Maebashi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$345 ¥54.2K
$594 ¥93.2K
-41.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,827 ¥914.8K
$14.8K ¥2.3M
-60.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Okinawa
Maebashi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.7 ¥8,113
$51.6 ¥8,103
0.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.12 ¥3,786
$36.55 ¥5,738
-34.01%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$81.1 ¥12.7K
$63.1 ¥9,903
28.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.9 ¥15.1K
$99.1 ¥15.6K
-3.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Okinawa
Maebashi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$411 ¥64.6K
$518 ¥81.4K
-20.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$332 ¥52.1K
$333 ¥52.2K
-0.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$863 ¥135.5K
$1,041 ¥163.4K
-17.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$694 ¥108.9K
$745 ¥117.0K
-6.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,703 ¥1.4M
$3,352 ¥526.3K
159.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,200 ¥188.5K
$1,861 ¥292.3K
-35.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Okinawa
Maebashi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,861 ¥292.2K
$1,757 ¥275.8K
5.95%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.23
1.66
34.34%

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

Last update for Okinawa: September 13, 2026

Last update for Maebashi: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $411 in Okinawa versus $518 in Maebashi. 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 6% higher in Okinawa, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $40.00 in Okinawa versus $33.00 in Maebashi. Groceries tell a different story – $337 in Okinawa vs $356 in Maebashi – so Okinawa wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Maebashi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Maebashi cheaper than Okinawa?
Yes – Okinawa is pricier by about 16%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,140 per month in Okinawa and $1,846 in Maebashi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Maebashi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Okinawa or in Maebashi?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $40.00 in Okinawa and $33.00 in Maebashi. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Okinawa and in Maebashi?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,427 in Okinawa and $1,231 in Maebashi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Okinawa or in Maebashi?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Maebashi, where all-in costs run around $1,231, than in Okinawa at $1,427. In Maebashi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Okinawa it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Okinawa or Maebashi more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Maebashi – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Okinawa or Maebashi?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Maebashi. 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.

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