Cost of Living Comparison Between Okinawa and Saitama Cost of Living Comparison Between Okinawa and Saitama

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,427 per month in Okinawa vs $1,034 in Saitama, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,228 per month in Okinawa vs $1,384 in Saitama, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,030 per month in Okinawa vs $1,734 in Saitama, rent included.

Okinawa costs about 38% more than Saitama, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Okinawa sits 4% above the global median, while Saitama is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.68 ¥1,511

$5.90 ¥920

64.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.32 ¥6,292

$31.76 ¥4,955

26.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.94 ¥1,082

$4.74 ¥740

46.41%

Cappuccino

$4.18 ¥653

$3.09 ¥483

35.28%

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

$1.47 ¥230

$0.76 ¥118

93.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.01 ¥158

$0.66 ¥103

53.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.00 ¥313

$2.62 ¥408

-23.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.46 ¥696

$3.17 ¥494

40.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.59 ¥249

$1.49 ¥232

6.71%

White Bread (500g)

$2.20 ¥344

$1.76 ¥274

25.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.98 ¥620

$2.83 ¥442

40.64%

Eggs

$1.81 ¥282

$2.07 ¥323

-12.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.99 ¥2,807

$12.28 ¥1,917

46.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.05 ¥788

$5.51 ¥860

-8.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.90 ¥3,574

$14.82 ¥2,312

54.52%

Apples (1kg)

$3.73 ¥582

$5.74 ¥896

-35.02%

Banana (1kg)

$2.78 ¥434

$2.33 ¥363

19.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.30 ¥358

$2.94 ¥458

-21.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.27 ¥822

$4.33 ¥675

21.71%

Potato (1kg)

$2.45 ¥382

$2.62 ¥409

-6.49%

Onion (1kg)

$2.53 ¥394

$1.67 ¥260

51.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.35 ¥211

$1.31 ¥205

3.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 ¥120

$0.80 ¥125

-3.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.93 ¥614

$3.87 ¥604

1.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.51 ¥1,015

$6.41 ¥1,000

1.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.96 ¥306

$1.84 ¥287

6.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 ¥538

$2.12 ¥331

62.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.46 ¥229

$3.49 ¥544

-58.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$68.1 ¥10.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.94 ¥614

$3.15 ¥492

25.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.59 ¥560

$2.61 ¥407

37.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.87 ¥1,853

$20.99 ¥3,275

-43.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 ¥177

$1.09 ¥171

3.67%

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

$21.9K ¥3.4M

$22.0K ¥3.4M

-0.51%

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

$15.4K ¥2.4M

$14.6K ¥2.3M

5.44%

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

$165 ¥25.7K

$135 ¥21.1K

22.07%

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

$25.69 ¥4,009

$18.80 ¥2,933

36.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.8 ¥8,550

$33.38 ¥5,209

64.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$74.0 ¥11.6K

$65.0 ¥10.1K

13.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$56.5 ¥8,814

Cinema Ticket

$12.50 ¥1,951

$11.24 ¥1,754

11.21%

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

$345 ¥53.8K

$658 ¥102.7K

-47.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,827 ¥909.1K

$14.9K ¥2.3M

-60.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.7 ¥8,063

$35.40 ¥5,523

45.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.12 ¥3,763

$25.64 ¥4,001

-5.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.1 ¥12.7K

$56.5 ¥8,819

43.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.9 ¥15.0K

$64.3 ¥10.0K

49.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$411 ¥64.2K

$421 ¥65.7K

-2.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$332 ¥51.8K

$237 ¥37.0K

39.97%

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

$1,580 ¥246.5K

17.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.23

2.06

8.25%

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

Last update for Okinawa: September 13, 2026

Last update for Saitama: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $411 in Okinawa versus $421 in Saitama. 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 18% higher in Okinawa, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $40.00 in Okinawa versus $32.00 in Saitama. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $337 vs $289 – making Saitama 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 Saitama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Okinawa is pricier by about 38%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,140 per month in Okinawa and $1,551 in Saitama. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Saitama, 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 $40.00 in Okinawa and $32.00 in Saitama. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 16% more in Okinawa, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Saitama, where all-in costs run around $1,034, than in Okinawa at $1,427. In Saitama it covers expenses comfortably, while in Okinawa it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Saitama – 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 Saitama. 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.