Cost of Living Comparison Between Okinawa and Nishinomiya Cost of Living Comparison Between Okinawa and Nishinomiya

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,430 per month in Okinawa vs $1,299 in Nishinomiya, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,196 per month in Okinawa vs $2,016 in Nishinomiya, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,961 per month in Okinawa vs $2,732 in Nishinomiya, rent included.

Okinawa costs about 10% more than Nishinomiya, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Okinawa sits 7% above the global median, while Nishinomiya is 3% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.57 ¥1,370

$6.98 ¥1,116

22.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.32 ¥6,609

$35.32 ¥5,650

16.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.12 ¥978

$4.78 ¥764

28.03%

Cappuccino

$3.31 ¥529

$3.00 ¥480

10.33%

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

$1.32 ¥211

$1.08 ¥173

22.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 ¥137

$0.70 ¥112

22.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.48 ¥557

$2.84 ¥454

22.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.81 ¥769

$3.03 ¥485

58.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ¥299

$1.52 ¥243

23.03%

White Bread (500g)

$2.30 ¥367

$1.72 ¥275

33.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.83 ¥772

$4.79 ¥766

0.84%

Eggs

$2.01 ¥321

$2.41 ¥385

-16.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.33 ¥2,613

$10.57 ¥1,691

54.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.13 ¥1,780

$7.56 ¥1,209

47.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$26.95 ¥4,310

$32.07 ¥5,130

-15.97%

Apples (1kg)

$5.27 ¥842

$5.42 ¥867

-2.77%

Banana (1kg)

$2.61 ¥418

$2.19 ¥350

19.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.03 ¥485

$3.38 ¥541

-10.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.65 ¥904

$6.89 ¥1,102

-18.00%

Potato (1kg)

$3.69 ¥590

$1.77 ¥283

108.47%

Onion (1kg)

$2.90 ¥464

$2.65 ¥423

9.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.60 ¥256

$1.32 ¥211

21.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 ¥151

$0.84 ¥135

11.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.82 ¥771

$3.38 ¥540

42.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.11 ¥978

$9.31 ¥1,489

-34.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 ¥275

$2.77 ¥444

-37.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 ¥461

$2.28 ¥365

26.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.67 ¥268

$1.28 ¥205

30.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.27 ¥5,642

$54.5 ¥8,712

-35.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.19 ¥671

$3.44 ¥550

21.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.77 ¥603

$2.92 ¥467

29.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.74 ¥2,037

$17.26 ¥2,761

-26.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 ¥192

$1.23 ¥196

-2.44%

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

$22.8K ¥3.6M

$23.4K ¥3.7M

-2.69%

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

$17.0K ¥2.7M

$17.3K ¥2.8M

-1.60%

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

$173 ¥27.7K

$133 ¥21.3K

29.77%

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

$27.72 ¥4,434

$27.10 ¥4,335

2.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.51 ¥5,200

$30.40 ¥4,863

6.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.4 ¥8,547

$52.8 ¥8,441

1.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.76 ¥1,081

$13.65 ¥2,183

-50.48%

Cinema Ticket

$12.60 ¥2,016

$12.23 ¥1,957

3.03%

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

$347 ¥55.5K

$69.8 ¥11.2K

396.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.5K ¥2.2M

$10.5K ¥1.7M

29.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.84 ¥7,813

$44.38 ¥7,098

10.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.28 ¥4,683

$28.99 ¥4,636

1.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.9 ¥11.7K

$57.2 ¥9,144

27.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$93.1 ¥14.9K

$92.5 ¥14.8K

0.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$437 ¥69.9K

$461 ¥73.8K

-5.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$394 ¥63.1K

$335 ¥53.5K

17.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$944 ¥150.9K

$860 ¥137.5K

9.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$750 ¥119.9K

$657 ¥105.0K

14.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,543 ¥1.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,187 ¥189.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,292 ¥206.6K

$1,959 ¥313.4K

-34.07%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.78

12.36%

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

Last update for Okinawa: June 1, 2026

Last update for Nishinomiya: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $437 in Okinawa versus $461 in Nishinomiya. 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 52% higher in Nishinomiya, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $41.00 in Okinawa versus $35.00 in Nishinomiya. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $398 vs $378 – making Nishinomiya the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Nishinomiya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Okinawa is pricier by about 10%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,145 per month in Okinawa and $1,949 in Nishinomiya. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Nishinomiya, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $41.00 in Okinawa and $35.00 in Nishinomiya. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,430 in Okinawa and $1,299 in Nishinomiya. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Nishinomiya, where all-in costs run around $1,299, than in Okinawa at $1,430. In Nishinomiya it covers expenses comfortably, while in Okinawa it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Nishinomiya – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Nishinomiya. 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.