Cost of Living Comparison Between Okinawa and Tottori Cost of Living Comparison Between Okinawa and Tottori

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,385 per month in Okinawa vs $1,199 in Tottori, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,168 per month in Okinawa vs $1,911 in Tottori, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,950 per month in Okinawa vs $2,623 in Tottori, rent included.

Okinawa costs about 16% more than Tottori, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Okinawa sits 1% above the global median, while Tottori is 13% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Okinawa
Tottori
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.17 ¥1,589
$9.30 ¥1,453
9.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.19 ¥6,278
$31.73 ¥4,958
26.66%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.98 ¥1,090
$5.12 ¥800
36.33%
Cappuccino
$4.17 ¥651
$3.25 ¥507
28.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47 ¥230
$0.82 ¥128
79.27%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93 ¥146
$0.74 ¥115
25.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.04 ¥319
$3.21 ¥502
-36.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.32 ¥675
$5.79 ¥905
-25.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Okinawa
Tottori
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.55 ¥242
$1.48 ¥231
4.73%
White Bread (500g)
$2.12 ¥332
$1.10 ¥171
92.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.76 ¥588
$5.65 ¥883
-33.45%
Eggs
$1.76 ¥275
$1.96 ¥306
-10.20%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.00 ¥2,812
$8.64 ¥1,351
108.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.78 ¥747
$6.10 ¥953
-21.64%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$22.13 ¥3,457
$11.28 ¥1,761
96.19%
Apples (1kg)
$3.66 ¥572
$4.64 ¥725
-21.12%
Banana (1kg)
$2.66 ¥415
$2.23 ¥349
19.28%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.14 ¥334
$5.03 ¥786
-57.46%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.19 ¥811
$3.45 ¥538
50.43%
Potato (1kg)
$2.38 ¥371
$1.89 ¥296
25.93%
Onion (1kg)
$2.55 ¥398
$1.71 ¥267
49.12%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.29 ¥201
$1.18 ¥185
9.32%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 ¥122
$0.90 ¥140
-13.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.84 ¥601
$3.81 ¥596
0.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.23 ¥973
$7.40 ¥1,156
-15.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.95 ¥305
$1.53 ¥240
27.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.16 ¥494
$2.52 ¥394
25.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Okinawa
Tottori
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.43 ¥223
$1.43 ¥224
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$64.6 ¥10.1K
$56.5 ¥8,829
14.26%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.73 ¥583
$3.26 ¥510
14.42%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.48 ¥544
$3.85 ¥601
-9.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.36 ¥1,774
$16.12 ¥2,519
-29.53%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.05 ¥164
$1.09 ¥171
-3.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.7K ¥3.2M
$20.7K ¥3.2M
-0.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$14.8K ¥2.3M
$15.2K ¥2.4M
-2.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Okinawa
Tottori
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$158 ¥24.8K
$99.8 ¥15.6K
58.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.07 ¥3,916
$23.34 ¥3,646
7.41%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.2 ¥8,309
$28.87 ¥4,509
84.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Okinawa
Tottori
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$71.8 ¥11.2K
$49.69 ¥7,762
44.54%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$54.2 ¥8,461
$12.32 ¥1,924
339.61%
Cinema Ticket
$12.09 ¥1,889
$12.08 ¥1,887
0.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Okinawa
Tottori
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$324 ¥50.6K
$307 ¥47.9K
5.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,516 ¥861.6K
$6,601 ¥1.0M
-16.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Okinawa
Tottori
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.91 ¥7,797
$45.69 ¥7,138
9.24%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.70 ¥3,546
$30.21 ¥4,719
-24.86%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.0 ¥12.3K
$63.4 ¥9,896
24.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.0 ¥14.8K
$95.3 ¥14.9K
-0.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Okinawa
Tottori
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$398 ¥62.2K
$275 ¥42.9K
44.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$317 ¥49.6K
$322 ¥50.3K
-1.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$828 ¥129.3K
$1,077 ¥168.3K
-23.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$653 ¥102.0K
$720 ¥112.5K
-9.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,509 ¥1.3M
$4,896 ¥764.9K
73.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,199 ¥187.2K
$1,770 ¥276.5K
-32.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Okinawa
Tottori
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,819 ¥284.2K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.23
1.74
28.16%

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

Last update for Okinawa: August 30, 2026

Last update for Tottori: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $398 in Okinawa versus $275 in Tottori. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $40.00 in Okinawa versus $32.00 in Tottori. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $327 vs $273 – making Tottori 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 Tottori: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tottori cheaper than Okinawa?
Yes – Okinawa is pricier by about 16%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,077 per month in Okinawa and $1,798 in Tottori. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Tottori, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Okinawa or in Tottori?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $40.00 in Okinawa and $32.00 in Tottori. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Okinawa and in Tottori?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,385 in Okinawa and $1,199 in Tottori. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Okinawa or in Tottori?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Tottori, where all-in costs run around $1,199, than in Okinawa at $1,385. In Tottori it covers expenses comfortably, while in Okinawa it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Okinawa or Tottori more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Tottori – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Okinawa or Tottori?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Tottori. 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.

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