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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,418 per month in Okinawa vs $1,118 in Saitama, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,190 per month in Okinawa vs $1,859 in Saitama, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,962 per month in Okinawa vs $2,599 in Saitama, rent included.

Okinawa costs about 27% more than Saitama, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Okinawa sits 6% above the global median, while Saitama is 17% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.49 ¥1,359

$6.07 ¥971

39.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.68 ¥6,672

$35.23 ¥5,640

18.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.06 ¥971

$4.95 ¥792

22.42%

Cappuccino

$3.45 ¥553

$3.15 ¥505

9.52%

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

$1.37 ¥219

$0.71 ¥113

92.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.85 ¥136

$0.73 ¥116

16.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.40 ¥544

$2.04 ¥327

66.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.97 ¥795

$3.16 ¥505

57.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.94 ¥311

$1.50 ¥240

29.33%

White Bread (500g)

$2.35 ¥376

$1.73 ¥276

35.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.64 ¥743

$3.08 ¥493

50.65%

Eggs

$2.07 ¥332

$2.28 ¥364

-9.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.49 ¥2,640

$10.14 ¥1,623

62.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.02 ¥1,765

$6.11 ¥978

80.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$26.68 ¥4,271

$15.30 ¥2,449

74.38%

Apples (1kg)

$5.15 ¥825

$5.92 ¥948

-13.01%

Banana (1kg)

$2.58 ¥413

$1.35 ¥216

91.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.00 ¥480

$3.90 ¥625

-23.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.64 ¥903

$6.19 ¥991

-8.89%

Potato (1kg)

$3.57 ¥572

$3.23 ¥517

10.53%

Onion (1kg)

$2.81 ¥450

$1.76 ¥282

59.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.55 ¥247

$1.35 ¥215

14.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 ¥146

$0.86 ¥138

5.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.93 ¥789

$4.27 ¥684

15.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.50 ¥1,360

$9.21 ¥1,474

-7.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.81 ¥289

$1.74 ¥279

4.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.99 ¥479

$2.06 ¥329

45.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.64 ¥263

$1.69 ¥271

-2.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.66 ¥5,548

$55.5 ¥8,886

-37.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.28 ¥685

$3.53 ¥565

21.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.64 ¥582

$2.89 ¥463

25.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.70 ¥2,033

$21.86 ¥3,499

-41.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 ¥194

$1.19 ¥190

1.68%

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

$23.2K ¥3.7M

$23.3K ¥3.7M

-0.33%

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

$17.3K ¥2.8M

$18.3K ¥2.9M

-5.45%

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

$177 ¥28.3K

$146 ¥23.4K

21.10%

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

$27.99 ¥4,480

$19.59 ¥3,135

42.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.04 ¥5,129

$34.19 ¥5,474

-6.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.9 ¥8,466

$67.5 ¥10.8K

-21.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.00 ¥1,121

$13.80 ¥2,209

-49.28%

Cinema Ticket

$12.28 ¥1,966

$12.00 ¥1,921

2.33%

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

$343 ¥54.9K

$284 ¥45.4K

20.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.2K ¥2.1M

$13.7K ¥2.2M

-3.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.74 ¥7,642

$37.47 ¥5,999

27.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.65 ¥4,587

$28.12 ¥4,501

1.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.4 ¥11.6K

$60.1 ¥9,626

20.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$93.1 ¥14.9K

$70.1 ¥11.2K

32.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$452 ¥72.4K

$429 ¥68.6K

5.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$402 ¥64.4K

$255 ¥40.8K

57.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$945 ¥151.3K

$874 ¥139.9K

8.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$751 ¥120.2K

$656 ¥105.0K

14.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,673 ¥1.4M

$4,955 ¥793.2K

75.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,203 ¥192.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,316 ¥210.7K

$1,523 ¥243.8K

-13.58%

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: April 25, 2026

Last update for Saitama: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $452 in Okinawa versus $429 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 16% higher in Saitama, 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 Saitama. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $401 vs $305 – 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 27%, 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 $1,677 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 $1,418 in Okinawa and $1,118 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 $1,118, than in Okinawa at $1,418. 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.