Cost of Living Comparison Between Okinawa and Osaka Cost of Living Comparison Between Okinawa and Osaka

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,418 per month in Okinawa vs $1,352 in Osaka, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,190 per month in Okinawa vs $2,031 in Osaka, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,962 per month in Okinawa vs $2,710 in Osaka, rent included.

Okinawa costs about 5% more than Osaka, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Okinawa and Osaka sit above the global median – Okinawa by 6%, Osaka by 1%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.49 ¥1,354

$6.95 ¥1,109

22.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.68 ¥6,649

$34.82 ¥5,555

19.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.06 ¥967

$4.95 ¥789

22.42%

Cappuccino

$3.45 ¥551

$3.32 ¥530

3.92%

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

$1.37 ¥219

$1.09 ¥173

25.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.85 ¥135

$0.72 ¥115

18.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.40 ¥543

$2.79 ¥446

21.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.97 ¥793

$4.37 ¥697

13.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.94 ¥310

$1.58 ¥253

22.78%

White Bread (500g)

$2.35 ¥375

$1.47 ¥235

59.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.64 ¥741

$4.65 ¥741

-0.22%

Eggs

$2.07 ¥331

$2.36 ¥377

-12.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.49 ¥2,631

$10.40 ¥1,659

58.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.02 ¥1,759

$6.50 ¥1,036

69.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$26.68 ¥4,257

$19.26 ¥3,073

38.53%

Apples (1kg)

$5.15 ¥822

$3.63 ¥580

41.87%

Banana (1kg)

$2.58 ¥412

$2.09 ¥333

23.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.00 ¥478

$2.47 ¥394

21.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.64 ¥900

$4.35 ¥693

29.66%

Potato (1kg)

$3.57 ¥570

$1.65 ¥263

116.36%

Onion (1kg)

$2.81 ¥448

$1.30 ¥207

116.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.55 ¥247

$1.34 ¥214

15.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 ¥145

$0.84 ¥135

8.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.93 ¥786

$3.81 ¥607

29.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.50 ¥1,356

$9.20 ¥1,468

-7.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.81 ¥289

$2.08 ¥331

-12.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.99 ¥477

$2.98 ¥475

0.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.64 ¥262

$1.58 ¥252

3.80%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.66 ¥5,529

$35.89 ¥5,727

-3.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.28 ¥683

$4.49 ¥716

-4.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.64 ¥580

$3.39 ¥540

7.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.70 ¥2,026

$23.90 ¥3,813

-46.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 ¥193

$1.23 ¥197

-1.63%

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

$23.2K ¥3.7M

$23.4K ¥3.7M

-0.64%

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

$17.3K ¥2.8M

$17.2K ¥2.7M

0.25%

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

$177 ¥28.2K

$130 ¥20.8K

35.56%

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

$27.99 ¥4,465

$27.23 ¥4,344

2.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.04 ¥5,112

$30.85 ¥4,921

3.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.9 ¥8,438

$58.6 ¥9,343

-9.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.00 ¥1,117

$20.43 ¥3,260

-65.74%

Cinema Ticket

$12.28 ¥1,960

$12.38 ¥1,975

-0.81%

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

$343 ¥54.7K

$69.4 ¥11.1K

394.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.2K ¥2.1M

$10.4K ¥1.7M

26.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.74 ¥7,616

$43.94 ¥7,010

8.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.65 ¥4,572

$29.63 ¥4,727

-3.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.4 ¥11.5K

$68.8 ¥11.0K

5.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$93.1 ¥14.8K

$94.8 ¥15.1K

-1.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$452 ¥72.1K

$733 ¥117.0K

-38.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$402 ¥64.1K

$467 ¥74.5K

-13.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$945 ¥150.8K

$1,275 ¥203.4K

-25.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$751 ¥119.8K

$822 ¥131.2K

-8.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,673 ¥1.4M

$5,986 ¥954.9K

44.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,203 ¥191.8K

$2,086 ¥332.8K

-42.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,316 ¥210.0K

$1,989 ¥317.3K

-33.82%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.81

10.50%

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

Last update for Okinawa: April 25, 2026

Last update for Osaka: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $452 in Okinawa versus $733 in Osaka. 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 51% higher in Osaka, 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 Osaka. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $401 vs $300 – making Osaka 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 Osaka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Okinawa is pricier by about 5%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,127 per month in Okinawa and $2,027 in Osaka. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Osaka, 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 Osaka. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,418 in Okinawa and $1,352 in Osaka. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Osaka, where all-in costs run around $1,352, than in Okinawa at $1,418. In Osaka it covers expenses comfortably, while in Okinawa it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Osaka – 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 Osaka. 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.