😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,427 in Okinawa versus $1,187 in Matsudo.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,228 in Okinawa versus $1,947 in Matsudo.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,030 in Okinawa versus $2,707 in Matsudo.
🌍Living in Okinawa is roughly 20% more expensive than in Matsudo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Okinawa is 4% above, Matsudo is 13% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Okinawa
Matsudo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.68¥1,512
$6.40¥1,000
51.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.32¥6,297
$38.62¥6,031
4.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.94¥1,083
$5.14¥803
35.02%
Cappuccino
$4.18¥653
$3.62¥566
15.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47¥230
$1.09¥170
34.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.01¥158
$0.81¥127
24.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.00¥313
$2.65¥413
-24.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46¥697
$3.27¥511
36.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Okinawa
Matsudo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.59¥249
$1.48¥231
7.43%
White Bread(500g)
$2.20¥344
$1.69¥265
30.18%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.98¥621
$3.67¥573
8.45%
Eggs
$1.81¥282
$2.12¥331
-14.62%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.99¥2,809
$11.01¥1,720
63.40%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.05¥789
$6.39¥998
-20.97%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$22.90¥3,577
$15.00¥2,343
52.67%
Apples(1kg)
$3.73¥583
$5.15¥804
-27.57%
Banana(1kg)
$2.78¥434
$2.43¥380
14.40%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.30¥359
$2.88¥449
-20.14%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.27¥823
$4.26¥665
23.71%
Potato(1kg)
$2.45¥382
$2.62¥410
-6.49%
Onion(1kg)
$2.53¥394
$2.66¥415
-4.89%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.35¥211
$1.26¥197
7.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77¥120
$0.82¥128
-6.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.93¥614
$3.84¥599
2.34%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.51¥1,016
$6.40¥1,000
1.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.96¥306
$1.81¥282
8.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.45¥539
$2.09¥327
65.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Okinawa
Matsudo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.46¥229
$1.56¥244
-6.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$68.1¥10.6K
$58.8¥9,186
15.71%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.94¥615
$3.30¥515
19.39%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.59¥560
$2.66¥415
34.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.87¥1,854
$19.38¥3,026
-38.75%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.13¥177
$1.09¥170
3.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.9K¥3.4M
$21.7K¥3.4M
0.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.4K¥2.4M
$15.5K¥2.4M
-0.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Okinawa
Matsudo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$165¥25.8K
$134¥20.9K
23.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.69¥4,012
$22.46¥3,508
14.38%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.8¥8,558
$31.04¥4,847
76.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Okinawa
Matsudo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$74.0¥11.6K
$47.29¥7,386
56.57%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$56.5¥8,822
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.50¥1,952
$13.18¥2,058
-5.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Okinawa
Matsudo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$345¥53.9K
$639¥99.8K
-45.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,827¥909.9K
$15.2K¥2.4M
-61.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Okinawa
Matsudo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.7¥8,070
$54.5¥8,513
-5.19%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.12¥3,766
$32.57¥5,087
-25.94%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$81.1¥12.7K
$63.2¥9,863
28.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.9¥15.0K
$72.1¥11.3K
33.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Okinawa
Matsudo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$411¥64.2K
$456¥71.2K
-9.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$332¥51.8K
$318¥49.7K
4.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$863¥134.8K
$906¥141.5K
-4.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$694¥108.3K
$751¥117.3K
-7.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,703¥1.4M
$4,048¥632.1K
115.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,200¥187.4K
$1,866¥291.4K
-35.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Okinawa
Matsudo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,861¥290.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.23
1.94
14.95%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Okinawa: September 13, 2026
Last update for Matsudo: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $411 in Okinawa and $456 in Matsudo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $40.00 in Okinawa vs $39.00 in Matsudo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $337 vs $292 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, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 20% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,140 in Okinawa and $1,781 in Matsudo to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Okinawa and Matsudo?
Rent for a central apartment: $411 in Okinawa versus $456 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 16% 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 $345 in Okinawa versus $639 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 living in Okinawa or in Matsudo?
At $1,187 in Matsudo versus $1,427 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 in 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 20% less than in Okinawa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.