😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,430 in Okinawa versus $1,163 in Matsudo.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,196 in Okinawa versus $1,837 in Matsudo.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,961 in Okinawa versus $2,511 in Matsudo.
😐Living in Okinawa is roughly 23% more expensive than Matsudo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Okinawa is 7% above, Matsudo is 13% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Okinawa
Matsudo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.57¥1,370
$6.96¥1,113
23.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.32¥6,609
$34.74¥5,556
18.94%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.12¥978
$5.35¥856
14.39%
Cappuccino
$3.31¥529
$3.19¥511
3.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32¥211
$1.13¥181
16.81%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86¥137
$0.76¥121
13.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.48¥557
$2.03¥325
71.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.81¥769
$2.10¥336
129.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Okinawa
Matsudo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.87¥299
$1.50¥239
24.67%
White Bread(500g)
$2.30¥367
$1.66¥265
38.55%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.83¥772
$4.85¥776
-0.41%
Eggs
$2.01¥321
$1.55¥248
29.68%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.33¥2,613
$9.92¥1,586
64.62%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.13¥1,780
$6.21¥993
79.23%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$26.95¥4,310
$15.23¥2,436
76.95%
Apples(1kg)
$5.27¥842
$5.99¥958
-12.02%
Banana(1kg)
$2.61¥418
$3.09¥493
-15.53%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.03¥485
$4.14¥662
-26.81%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.65¥904
$4.62¥738
22.29%
Potato(1kg)
$3.69¥590
$3.32¥531
11.14%
Onion(1kg)
$2.90¥464
$3.56¥569
-18.54%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.60¥256
$1.33¥213
20.30%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.94¥151
$0.87¥139
8.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.82¥771
$4.08¥653
18.14%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.11¥978
$9.64¥1,541
-36.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72¥275
$1.84¥295
-6.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89¥461
$2.11¥338
36.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Okinawa
Matsudo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.67¥268
$1.60¥256
4.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$35.27¥5,642
$54.5¥8,722
-35.32%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.19¥671
$3.41¥545
22.87%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.77¥603
$2.89¥463
30.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$12.74¥2,037
$22.09¥3,533
-42.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.20¥192
$1.15¥183
4.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8K¥3.6M
$23.1K¥3.7M
-1.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.0K¥2.7M
$18.2K¥2.9M
-6.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Okinawa
Matsudo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$173¥27.7K
$84.5¥13.5K
104.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.72¥4,434
$27.96¥4,472
-0.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.51¥5,200
$17.25¥2,759
88.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Okinawa
Matsudo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.4¥8,547
$56.7¥9,068
-5.73%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.76¥1,081
$13.60¥2,176
-50.29%
Cinema Ticket
$12.60¥2,016
$11.40¥1,823
10.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Okinawa
Matsudo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$347¥55.5K
$283¥45.3K
22.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.5K¥2.2M
$14.0K¥2.2M
-3.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Okinawa
Matsudo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.84¥7,813
$40.94¥6,548
19.30%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.28¥4,683
$29.67¥4,746
-1.31%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$72.9¥11.7K
$60.3¥9,639
20.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$93.1¥14.9K
$95.8¥15.3K
-2.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Okinawa
Matsudo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$437¥69.9K
$476¥76.2K
-8.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$394¥63.1K
$332¥53.1K
18.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$944¥150.9K
$878¥140.5K
7.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$750¥119.9K
$663¥106.1K
13.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,543¥1.4M
$4,662¥745.6K
83.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,187¥189.8K
$2,596¥415.2K
-54.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Okinawa
Matsudo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,292¥206.6K
$1,996¥319.3K
-35.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2
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 Matsudo: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $437 in Okinawa and $476 in Matsudo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Matsudo pays 55% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $41.00 in Okinawa vs $35.00 in Matsudo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $398 vs $317 per month, with Matsudo cheaper across the board.
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 Matsudo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Matsudo cheaper than Okinawa?
Matsudo is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 23% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Okinawa or Matsudo?
On paper, Matsudo earns 55% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Okinawa and Matsudo?
Rent for a central apartment: $437 in Okinawa versus $476 in Matsudo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Matsudo runs roughly 55% less than in Okinawa. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $347 in Okinawa versus $283 in Matsudo. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Okinawa or Matsudo?
At $1,163 in Matsudo versus $1,430 in Okinawa, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Matsudo but tight or insufficient in Okinawa. The gap between the two cities makes Matsudo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Okinawa or Matsudo?
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.
Which city is safer, Okinawa or Matsudo?
Safety-wise, Okinawa and Matsudo are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Matsudo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 23% less than in Okinawa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.