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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,463 per month in Okinawa vs $1,132 in Saitama, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,234 per month in Okinawa vs $1,844 in Saitama, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,004 per month in Okinawa vs $2,556 in Saitama, rent included.

Okinawa costs about 29% more than Saitama, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Okinawa sits 10% above the global median, while Saitama is 15% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.50 ¥1,364

$5.72 ¥917

48.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.40 ¥6,802

$35.20 ¥5,647

20.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.86 ¥940

$4.84 ¥776

21.07%

Cappuccino

$3.41 ¥547

$3.21 ¥515

6.23%

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

$1.32 ¥211

$0.68 ¥110

94.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.92 ¥148

$0.69 ¥111

33.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.42 ¥549

$2.05 ¥328

66.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.78 ¥767

$3.04 ¥487

57.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ¥301

$1.50 ¥241

24.67%

White Bread (500g)

$2.34 ¥375

$1.73 ¥277

35.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.68 ¥751

$2.92 ¥468

60.27%

Eggs

$2.11 ¥338

$2.28 ¥366

-7.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.36 ¥2,624

$9.91 ¥1,589

65.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.01 ¥1,766

$6.11 ¥981

80.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$26.29 ¥4,217

$15.51 ¥2,488

69.50%

Apples (1kg)

$4.99 ¥800

$5.91 ¥948

-15.57%

Banana (1kg)

$2.69 ¥431

$1.36 ¥218

97.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.03 ¥487

$4.04 ¥648

-25.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.76 ¥925

$6.05 ¥971

-4.79%

Potato (1kg)

$3.59 ¥575

$3.27 ¥525

9.79%

Onion (1kg)

$2.78 ¥446

$1.76 ¥282

57.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.54 ¥247

$1.32 ¥212

16.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 ¥142

$0.87 ¥139

1.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.97 ¥797

$4.06 ¥651

22.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.08 ¥975

$8.46 ¥1,357

-28.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ¥289

$1.84 ¥295

-2.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 ¥460

$2.11 ¥338

36.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.69 ¥270

$1.63 ¥262

3.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.10 ¥5,630

$55.0 ¥8,820

-36.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.14 ¥665

$3.50 ¥562

18.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.59 ¥575

$2.87 ¥461

25.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.62 ¥2,024

$22.05 ¥3,537

-42.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 ¥193

$1.24 ¥199

-3.23%

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

$23.4K ¥3.8M

$23.5K ¥3.8M

-0.25%

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

$17.2K ¥2.8M

$18.6K ¥3.0M

-7.44%

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

$173 ¥27.7K

$146 ¥23.4K

18.59%

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

$27.81 ¥4,460

$20.09 ¥3,222

38.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.37 ¥5,192

$34.37 ¥5,513

-5.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.9 ¥8,330

$68.8 ¥11.0K

-24.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.08 ¥1,136

$13.91 ¥2,232

-49.10%

Cinema Ticket

$12.67 ¥2,032

$12.15 ¥1,949

4.28%

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

$345 ¥55.4K

$285 ¥45.7K

21.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.4K ¥2.2M

$13.8K ¥2.2M

-2.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.62 ¥7,640

$37.85 ¥6,072

25.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.93 ¥4,640

$27.36 ¥4,388

5.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.0 ¥11.5K

$58.9 ¥9,442

22.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.9 ¥14.7K

$68.5 ¥11.0K

34.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$453 ¥72.6K

$430 ¥68.9K

5.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$402 ¥64.5K

$255 ¥41.0K

57.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$939 ¥150.7K

$867 ¥139.1K

8.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$731 ¥117.3K

$671 ¥107.6K

9.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,521 ¥1.4M

$4,281 ¥686.7K

99.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,189 ¥190.8K

$2,699 ¥433.0K

-55.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,791 ¥287.3K

$1,521 ¥243.9K

17.81%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.86

7.53%

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

Last update for Okinawa: June 14, 2026

Last update for Saitama: June 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $453 in Okinawa versus $430 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 $42.00 in Okinawa versus $35.00 in Saitama. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $394 vs $303 – 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 29%, 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 $2,195 per month in Okinawa and $1,698 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 $42.00 in Okinawa and $35.00 in Saitama. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,463 in Okinawa and $1,132 in Saitama. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Saitama, where all-in costs run around $1,132, than in Okinawa at $1,463. 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.