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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,437 per month in Okinawa vs $1,277 in Nishinomiya, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,214 per month in Okinawa vs $2,032 in Nishinomiya, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,992 per month in Okinawa vs $2,786 in Nishinomiya, rent included.

Okinawa costs about 13% more than Nishinomiya, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Okinawa sits 8% above the global median, while Nishinomiya is 4% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.18 ¥1,329

$6.88 ¥1,117

18.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.94 ¥6,815

$35.15 ¥5,711

19.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.98 ¥971

$4.83 ¥785

23.81%

Cappuccino

$3.34 ¥543

$3.02 ¥491

10.60%

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

$1.32 ¥215

$1.12 ¥182

17.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.93 ¥152

$0.75 ¥121

24.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.50 ¥569

$2.82 ¥458

24.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.91 ¥797

$3.18 ¥516

54.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ¥317

$1.60 ¥260

21.87%

White Bread (500g)

$2.37 ¥385

$1.72 ¥279

37.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.87 ¥791

Eggs

$2.00 ¥325

$2.38 ¥386

-15.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.39 ¥2,663

$10.75 ¥1,746

52.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.84 ¥1,761

$7.82 ¥1,270

38.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$26.48 ¥4,303

$32.78 ¥5,326

-19.22%

Apples (1kg)

$5.06 ¥822

$5.43 ¥882

-6.81%

Banana (1kg)

$2.59 ¥420

$2.10 ¥341

23.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.13 ¥509

$3.40 ¥552

-7.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.64 ¥916

$6.71 ¥1,090

-15.95%

Potato (1kg)

$3.50 ¥568

$1.70 ¥276

105.88%

Onion (1kg)

$2.89 ¥469

$2.64 ¥429

9.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.59 ¥258

$1.33 ¥216

19.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 ¥143

$0.82 ¥133

7.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.92 ¥799

$3.39 ¥550

45.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.09 ¥989

$9.46 ¥1,538

-35.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 ¥281

$2.73 ¥443

-36.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 ¥473

$2.34 ¥381

24.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.63 ¥265

$1.35 ¥219

20.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.91 ¥5,673

$55.9 ¥9,087

-37.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.11 ¥668

$3.52 ¥572

16.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.62 ¥587

$2.96 ¥481

22.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.58 ¥2,044

$17.63 ¥2,865

-28.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ¥202

$1.23 ¥201

0.81%

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

$23.3K ¥3.8M

$22.9K ¥3.7M

2.06%

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

$16.7K ¥2.7M

$17.2K ¥2.8M

-3.04%

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

$173 ¥28.2K

$134 ¥21.7K

29.53%

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

$27.25 ¥4,428

$27.03 ¥4,391

0.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.66 ¥5,145

$30.77 ¥5,000

2.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.7 ¥8,723

$51.8 ¥8,419

3.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.04 ¥1,144

$13.65 ¥2,218

-48.42%

Cinema Ticket

$12.45 ¥2,022

$12.59 ¥2,046

-1.11%

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

$346 ¥56.2K

$69.9 ¥11.4K

394.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.2K ¥2.1M

$10.2K ¥1.7M

28.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.75 ¥7,758

$44.40 ¥7,215

7.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.25 ¥4,753

$29.59 ¥4,808

-1.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.5 ¥11.9K

$56.4 ¥9,166

30.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.9 ¥14.8K

$91.0 ¥14.8K

-0.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$445 ¥72.2K

$467 ¥75.9K

-4.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$400 ¥64.9K

$335 ¥54.4K

19.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$946 ¥153.7K

$870 ¥141.3K

8.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$748 ¥121.5K

$653 ¥106.2K

14.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,584 ¥1.4M

$3,818 ¥620.3K

124.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,221 ¥198.4K

$1,940 ¥315.1K

-37.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,769 ¥287.4K

$1,947 ¥316.3K

-9.14%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Nishinomiya: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $445 in Okinawa versus $467 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 10% 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 $42.00 in Okinawa versus $35.00 in Nishinomiya. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $395 vs $381 – 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 13%, 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 $2,155 per month in Okinawa and $1,915 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 $42.00 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 $1,437 in Okinawa and $1,277 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 $1,277, than in Okinawa at $1,437. 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.