Cost of Living Comparison Between Okinawa and Niigata Cost of Living Comparison Between Okinawa and Niigata

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,427 in Okinawa versus $768 in Niigata.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,228 in Okinawa versus $1,162 in Niigata.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,030 in Okinawa versus $1,556 in Niigata.

Living in Okinawa is roughly 86% more expensive than in Niigata, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Okinawa is 4% above, Niigata is 44% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.68 ¥1,511

$6.37 ¥994

51.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.32 ¥6,292

$16.41 ¥2,561

145.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.94 ¥1,082

$5.07 ¥790

36.88%

Cappuccino

$4.18 ¥653

$2.67 ¥417

56.55%

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

$1.47 ¥230

$1.65 ¥258

-10.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.01 ¥158

$0.83 ¥130

21.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.00 ¥313

$2.53 ¥395

-20.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.46 ¥696

$2.69 ¥420

65.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.59 ¥249

$1.26 ¥196

26.19%

White Bread (500g)

$2.20 ¥344

$0.93 ¥146

136.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.98 ¥620

$2.65 ¥413

50.19%

Eggs

$1.81 ¥282

$2.24 ¥350

-19.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.99 ¥2,807

$7.71 ¥1,202

133.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.05 ¥788

$7.53 ¥1,175

-32.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.90 ¥3,574

$18.56 ¥2,895

23.38%

Apples (1kg)

$3.73 ¥582

$3.32 ¥518

12.35%

Banana (1kg)

$2.78 ¥434

$1.28 ¥200

117.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.30 ¥358

$2.55 ¥399

-9.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.27 ¥822

$2.24 ¥349

135.27%

Potato (1kg)

$2.45 ¥382

$1.99 ¥310

23.12%

Onion (1kg)

$2.53 ¥394

$1.90 ¥297

33.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.35 ¥211

$1.01 ¥158

33.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 ¥120

$0.62 ¥96.4

24.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.93 ¥614

$3.98 ¥621

-1.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.51 ¥1,015

$4.50 ¥702

44.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.96 ¥306

$1.77 ¥275

10.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 ¥538

$1.89 ¥295

82.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.46 ¥229

$1.30 ¥203

12.31%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$68.1 ¥10.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.94 ¥614

$2.61 ¥407

50.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.59 ¥560

$3.20 ¥499

12.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.87 ¥1,853

$18.99 ¥2,962

-37.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 ¥177

$1.13 ¥176

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

$21.9K ¥3.4M

$19.5K ¥3.0M

12.19%

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

$15.4K ¥2.4M

$13.0K ¥2.0M

18.53%

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

$165 ¥25.7K

$157 ¥24.5K

5.06%

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

$25.69 ¥4,009

$22.59 ¥3,525

13.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.8 ¥8,550

$26.29 ¥4,102

108.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$74.0 ¥11.6K

$53.2 ¥8,295

39.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$56.5 ¥8,814

$6.59 ¥1,029

757.21%

Cinema Ticket

$12.50 ¥1,951

$12.43 ¥1,940

0.56%

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

$345 ¥53.8K

$65.6 ¥10.2K

425.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,827 ¥909.1K

$18.1K ¥2.8M

-67.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.7 ¥8,063

$32.83 ¥5,123

57.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.12 ¥3,763

$32.65 ¥5,094

-26.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.1 ¥12.7K

$39.55 ¥6,170

105.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.9 ¥15.0K

$66.0 ¥10.3K

45.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$411 ¥64.2K

$363 ¥56.6K

13.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$332 ¥51.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$863 ¥134.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$694 ¥108.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,703 ¥1.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,200 ¥187.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,861 ¥290.4K

$1,313 ¥204.8K

41.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.23

1.48

50.68%

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

Last update for Okinawa: September 13, 2026

Last update for Niigata: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $411 in Okinawa and $363 in Niigata. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Okinawa pays 42% 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: $40.00 in Okinawa vs $16.00 in Niigata for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $337 vs $246 per month, with Niigata 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 Niigata: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Okinawa and Niigata differ by about 86% in total monthly costs ($1,427 vs $768 including rent). Niigata is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 42% higher in Okinawa, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $411 in Okinawa versus $363 in Niigata. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 37% higher in Okinawa. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,427 per month in Okinawa versus $768 in Niigata – a 86% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $768 in Niigata versus $1,427 in Okinawa, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Niigata but tight or insufficient in Okinawa. The gap between the two cities makes Niigata the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Okinawa and Niigata are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Niigata gentler on the wallet – expenses run 86% less than in Okinawa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.