Cost of Living Comparison Between Okinawa and Wakayama Cost of Living Comparison Between Okinawa and Wakayama

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,463 per month in Okinawa vs $1,329 in Wakayama, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,234 per month in Okinawa vs $2,097 in Wakayama, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,004 per month in Okinawa vs $2,866 in Wakayama, rent included.

Okinawa costs about 10% more than Wakayama, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Okinawa and Wakayama sit above the global median – Okinawa by 10%, Wakayama by 0%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.50 ¥1,372

$6.95 ¥1,121

22.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.40 ¥6,839

$34.09 ¥5,498

24.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.86 ¥945

$6.25 ¥1,008

-6.24%

Cappuccino

$3.41 ¥550

$2.98 ¥480

14.43%

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

$1.32 ¥212

$1.16 ¥188

13.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.92 ¥149

$0.70 ¥114

31.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.42 ¥552

$3.48 ¥561

-1.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.78 ¥771

$2.05 ¥331

133.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ¥302

$1.68 ¥271

11.31%

White Bread (500g)

$2.34 ¥377

$1.71 ¥276

36.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.68 ¥755

$5.03 ¥812

-6.96%

Eggs

$2.11 ¥340

$2.56 ¥412

-17.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.36 ¥2,638

$17.52 ¥2,826

-6.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.01 ¥1,776

$7.74 ¥1,248

42.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$26.29 ¥4,240

$15.50 ¥2,500

69.61%

Apples (1kg)

$4.99 ¥805

$8.90 ¥1,436

-43.93%

Banana (1kg)

$2.69 ¥433

$2.91 ¥470

-7.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.03 ¥489

$4.99 ¥805

-39.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.76 ¥930

$9.82 ¥1,584

-41.34%

Potato (1kg)

$3.59 ¥578

$3.91 ¥630

-8.18%

Onion (1kg)

$2.78 ¥448

$2.60 ¥419

6.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.54 ¥249

$1.32 ¥213

16.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 ¥142

$1.44 ¥232

-38.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.97 ¥802

$3.57 ¥576

39.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.08 ¥981

$9.25 ¥1,493

-34.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ¥291

$2.77 ¥446

-35.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 ¥462

$2.29 ¥370

25.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.69 ¥272

$1.65 ¥266

2.42%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.10 ¥5,661

$56.2 ¥9,068

-37.57%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.14 ¥668

$3.39 ¥547

22.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.59 ¥578

$2.96 ¥478

21.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.62 ¥2,035

$17.66 ¥2,848

-28.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 ¥194

$1.24 ¥200

-3.23%

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

$23.4K ¥3.8M

$23.5K ¥3.8M

-0.41%

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

$17.2K ¥2.8M

$17.1K ¥2.8M

0.88%

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

$173 ¥27.9K

$139 ¥22.4K

24.77%

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

$27.81 ¥4,485

$26.96 ¥4,348

3.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.37 ¥5,221

$34.12 ¥5,503

-5.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.9 ¥8,376

$54.9 ¥8,860

-5.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.08 ¥1,142

$14.04 ¥2,264

-49.57%

Cinema Ticket

$12.67 ¥2,043

$12.68 ¥2,044

-0.08%

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

$345 ¥55.7K

$473 ¥76.2K

-26.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.4K ¥2.2M

$11.5K ¥1.9M

16.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.62 ¥7,681

$46.77 ¥7,543

1.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.93 ¥4,666

$32.44 ¥5,232

-10.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.0 ¥11.6K

$56.6 ¥9,135

27.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.9 ¥14.8K

$91.3 ¥14.7K

0.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$453 ¥73.0K

$475 ¥76.6K

-4.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$402 ¥64.9K

$324 ¥52.3K

24.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$939 ¥151.5K

$875 ¥141.1K

7.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$731 ¥117.9K

$654 ¥105.4K

11.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,521 ¥1.4M

$4,013 ¥647.2K

112.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,189 ¥191.8K

$2,382 ¥384.1K

-50.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,791 ¥288.9K

$3,899 ¥628.8K

-54.06%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.67

19.76%

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

Last update for Okinawa: June 14, 2026

Last update for Wakayama: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $453 in Okinawa versus $475 in Wakayama. 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 118% higher in Wakayama, 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 $34.00 in Wakayama. Groceries tell a different story – $394 in Okinawa vs $409 in Wakayama – so Okinawa wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Wakayama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Okinawa is pricier by about 10%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $1,993 in Wakayama. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Wakayama, 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 $34.00 in Wakayama. 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 $1,329 in Wakayama. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Wakayama, where all-in costs run around $1,329, than in Okinawa at $1,463. In Wakayama it covers expenses comfortably, while in Okinawa it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Wakayama – 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 Wakayama. 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.