Cost of Living Comparison Between Okinawa and Otsu Cost of Living Comparison Between Okinawa and Otsu

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,437 per month in Okinawa vs $1,223 in Otsu, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,214 per month in Okinawa vs $1,920 in Otsu, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,992 per month in Okinawa vs $2,617 in Otsu, rent included.

Okinawa costs about 17% more than Otsu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.18 ¥1,329

$8.50 ¥1,382

-3.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.94 ¥6,815

$34.39 ¥5,587

21.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.98 ¥971

$5.47 ¥888

9.32%

Cappuccino

$3.34 ¥543

$3.01 ¥490

10.96%

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

$1.32 ¥215

$0.91 ¥149

45.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.93 ¥152

$0.72 ¥117

29.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.50 ¥569

$3.45 ¥560

1.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.91 ¥797

$3.20 ¥520

53.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ¥317

$1.69 ¥275

15.38%

White Bread (500g)

$2.37 ¥385

$1.71 ¥278

38.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.87 ¥791

$3.10 ¥503

57.10%

Eggs

$2.00 ¥325

$2.34 ¥379

-14.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.39 ¥2,663

$9.56 ¥1,554

71.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.84 ¥1,761

$7.71 ¥1,253

40.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$26.48 ¥4,303

$15.61 ¥2,537

69.63%

Apples (1kg)

$5.06 ¥822

$5.46 ¥887

-7.33%

Banana (1kg)

$2.59 ¥420

$2.60 ¥422

-0.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.13 ¥509

$4.83 ¥785

-35.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.64 ¥916

$3.94 ¥641

43.15%

Potato (1kg)

$3.50 ¥568

$1.60 ¥260

118.75%

Onion (1kg)

$2.89 ¥469

$2.37 ¥385

21.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.59 ¥258

$1.31 ¥212

21.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 ¥143

$1.01 ¥164

-12.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.92 ¥799

$4.06 ¥660

21.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.09 ¥989

$9.06 ¥1,472

-32.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 ¥281

$1.80 ¥292

-3.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 ¥473

$2.40 ¥390

21.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.63 ¥265

$1.59 ¥258

2.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.91 ¥5,673

$54.9 ¥8,916

-36.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.11 ¥668

$3.44 ¥559

19.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.62 ¥587

$2.93 ¥475

23.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.58 ¥2,044

$17.07 ¥2,773

-26.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ¥202

$1.19 ¥194

4.20%

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

$23.3K ¥3.8M

$22.8K ¥3.7M

2.30%

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

$16.7K ¥2.7M

$17.1K ¥2.8M

-2.37%

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

$173 ¥28.2K

$110 ¥17.9K

57.48%

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

$27.25 ¥4,428

$26.63 ¥4,326

2.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.66 ¥5,145

$33.78 ¥5,488

-6.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.7 ¥8,723

$54.9 ¥8,916

-2.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.04 ¥1,144

$13.64 ¥2,216

-48.39%

Cinema Ticket

$12.45 ¥2,022

$12.54 ¥2,037

-0.72%

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

$346 ¥56.2K

$374 ¥60.7K

-7.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.2K ¥2.1M

$7,474 ¥1.2M

76.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.75 ¥7,758

$45.41 ¥7,378

5.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.25 ¥4,753

$31.67 ¥5,146

-7.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.5 ¥11.9K

$56.1 ¥9,119

30.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.9 ¥14.8K

$92.5 ¥15.0K

-1.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$445 ¥72.2K

$468 ¥76.1K

-5.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$400 ¥64.9K

$323 ¥52.5K

23.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$946 ¥153.7K

$856 ¥139.1K

10.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$748 ¥121.5K

$669 ¥108.8K

11.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,584 ¥1.4M

$4,318 ¥701.6K

98.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,221 ¥198.4K

$2,079 ¥337.7K

-41.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,769 ¥287.4K

$1,769 ¥287.5K

-0.04%

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 Otsu: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $445 in Okinawa versus $468 in Otsu. 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 0% higher in Otsu, 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 $34.00 in Otsu. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $395 vs $311 – making Otsu 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 Otsu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Okinawa is pricier by about 17%, 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 $2,155 per month in Okinawa and $1,835 in Otsu. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Otsu, 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 $34.00 in Otsu. 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 $1,223 in Otsu. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Otsu, where all-in costs run around $1,223, than in Okinawa at $1,437. In Otsu it covers expenses comfortably, while in Okinawa it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Otsu – 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 Otsu. 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.