Cost of Living Comparison Between Okinawa and Sapporo Cost of Living Comparison Between Okinawa and Sapporo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,418 per month in Okinawa vs $1,480 in Sapporo, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,190 per month in Okinawa vs $2,109 in Sapporo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,962 per month in Okinawa vs $2,738 in Sapporo, rent included.

Okinawa is about 4% cheaper than Sapporo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Okinawa and Sapporo sit above the global median – Okinawa by 6%, Sapporo by 11%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.49 ¥1,359

$9.61 ¥1,539

-11.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.68 ¥6,672

$27.68 ¥4,430

50.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.06 ¥971

$5.28 ¥846

14.77%

Cappuccino

$3.45 ¥553

$3.77 ¥603

-8.49%

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

$1.37 ¥219

$0.97 ¥155

41.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.85 ¥136

$0.83 ¥133

2.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.40 ¥544

$3.50 ¥561

-2.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.97 ¥795

$6.31 ¥1,010

-21.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.94 ¥311

$1.50 ¥241

29.33%

White Bread (500g)

$2.35 ¥376

$1.34 ¥214

75.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.64 ¥743

$7.23 ¥1,158

-35.82%

Eggs

$2.07 ¥332

$1.84 ¥295

12.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.49 ¥2,640

$8.47 ¥1,356

94.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.02 ¥1,765

$7.07 ¥1,133

55.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$26.68 ¥4,271

$20.76 ¥3,324

28.52%

Apples (1kg)

$5.15 ¥825

$3.54 ¥567

45.48%

Banana (1kg)

$2.58 ¥413

$2.98 ¥478

-13.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.00 ¥480

$4.18 ¥670

-28.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.64 ¥903

$3.91 ¥625

44.25%

Potato (1kg)

$3.57 ¥572

$2.80 ¥448

27.50%

Onion (1kg)

$2.81 ¥450

$2.18 ¥349

28.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.55 ¥247

$1.53 ¥245

1.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 ¥146

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.93 ¥789

$3.12 ¥499

58.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.50 ¥1,360

$8.00 ¥1,280

6.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.81 ¥289

$2.03 ¥325

-10.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.99 ¥479

$3.42 ¥547

-12.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.64 ¥263

$1.68 ¥269

-2.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.66 ¥5,548

$52.6 ¥8,416

-34.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.28 ¥685

$4.76 ¥761

-10.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.64 ¥582

$1.71 ¥273

112.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.70 ¥2,033

$20.98 ¥3,358

-39.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 ¥194

$1.22 ¥196

-0.82%

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

$23.2K ¥3.7M

$35.2K ¥5.6M

-33.93%

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

$17.3K ¥2.8M

$16.9K ¥2.7M

2.37%

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

$177 ¥28.3K

$310 ¥49.7K

-43.02%

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

$27.99 ¥4,480

$28.23 ¥4,519

-0.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.04 ¥5,129

$42.91 ¥6,869

-25.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.9 ¥8,466

$54.3 ¥8,697

-2.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.00 ¥1,121

$11.62 ¥1,861

-39.76%

Cinema Ticket

$12.28 ¥1,966

$13.01 ¥2,082

-5.61%

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

$343 ¥54.9K

$274 ¥43.8K

25.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.2K ¥2.1M

$11.0K ¥1.8M

19.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.74 ¥7,642

$41.49 ¥6,642

15.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.65 ¥4,587

$28.08 ¥4,495

2.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.4 ¥11.6K

$51.0 ¥8,164

41.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$93.1 ¥14.9K

$126 ¥20.2K

-26.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$452 ¥72.4K

$530 ¥84.8K

-14.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$402 ¥64.4K

$306 ¥49.0K

31.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$945 ¥151.3K

$736 ¥117.8K

28.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$751 ¥120.2K

$557 ¥89.2K

34.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,673 ¥1.4M

$2,219 ¥355.2K

290.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,203 ¥192.5K

$1,575 ¥252.1K

-23.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,316 ¥210.7K

$1,726 ¥276.4K

-23.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.83

9.29%

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

Last update for Okinawa: April 25, 2026

Last update for Sapporo: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $452 in Okinawa versus $530 in Sapporo. 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 31% higher in Sapporo, 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 $28.00 in Sapporo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $401 vs $322 – making Sapporo 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 Sapporo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Sapporo is pricier by about 4%, 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 $2,220 in Sapporo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Okinawa, 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 $28.00 in Sapporo. 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 $1,480 in Sapporo. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Okinawa, where all-in costs run around $1,418, than in Sapporo at $1,480. In Okinawa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sapporo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Okinawa – 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 Okinawa. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sapporo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.