Cost of Living Comparison Between Okinawa and Yamanashi Cost of Living Comparison Between Okinawa and Yamanashi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,437 per month in Okinawa vs $1,212 in Yamanashi, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,214 per month in Okinawa vs $1,893 in Yamanashi, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,992 per month in Okinawa vs $2,575 in Yamanashi, rent included.

Okinawa costs about 19% more than Yamanashi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Okinawa sits 8% above the global median, while Yamanashi is 9% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.18 ¥1,329

$8.28 ¥1,346

-1.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.94 ¥6,815

$34.65 ¥5,629

21.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.98 ¥971

$6.36 ¥1,033

-5.97%

Cappuccino

$3.34 ¥543

$3.06 ¥496

9.15%

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

$1.32 ¥215

$1.17 ¥189

12.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.93 ¥152

$0.70 ¥114

32.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.50 ¥569

$3.36 ¥545

4.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.91 ¥797

$3.09 ¥502

58.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ¥317

$1.06 ¥172

83.96%

White Bread (500g)

$2.37 ¥385

$0.91 ¥148

160.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.87 ¥791

$1.35 ¥220

260.74%

Eggs

$2.00 ¥325

$1.70 ¥277

17.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.39 ¥2,663

$13.95 ¥2,266

17.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.84 ¥1,761

$5.79 ¥941

87.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$26.48 ¥4,303

$15.67 ¥2,547

68.99%

Apples (1kg)

$5.06 ¥822

$5.57 ¥904

-9.16%

Banana (1kg)

$2.59 ¥420

$2.82 ¥457

-8.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.13 ¥509

$2.10 ¥341

49.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.64 ¥916

$4.10 ¥667

37.56%

Potato (1kg)

$3.50 ¥568

$1.85 ¥300

89.19%

Onion (1kg)

$2.89 ¥469

$2.60 ¥422

11.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.59 ¥258

$1.20 ¥195

32.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 ¥143

$0.79 ¥128

11.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.92 ¥799

$3.52 ¥572

39.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.09 ¥989

$9.48 ¥1,540

-35.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 ¥281

$2.87 ¥467

-39.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 ¥473

$2.32 ¥377

25.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.63 ¥265

$1.66 ¥269

-1.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.91 ¥5,673

$56.0 ¥9,094

-37.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.11 ¥668

$3.51 ¥571

17.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.62 ¥587

$2.85 ¥464

27.02%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.58 ¥2,044

$17.03 ¥2,767

-26.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ¥202

$1.20 ¥195

3.33%

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

$23.3K ¥3.8M

$23.1K ¥3.7M

1.19%

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

$16.7K ¥2.7M

$16.9K ¥2.7M

-1.32%

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

$173 ¥28.2K

$141 ¥22.8K

23.35%

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

$27.25 ¥4,428

$27.12 ¥4,406

0.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.66 ¥5,145

$33.56 ¥5,452

-5.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.7 ¥8,723

$55.4 ¥9,003

-3.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.04 ¥1,144

$13.64 ¥2,217

-48.39%

Cinema Ticket

$12.45 ¥2,022

$12.55 ¥2,039

-0.80%

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

$346 ¥56.2K

$475 ¥77.1K

-27.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.2K ¥2.1M

$11.3K ¥1.8M

16.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.75 ¥7,758

$46.64 ¥7,578

2.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.25 ¥4,753

$32.08 ¥5,213

-8.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.5 ¥11.9K

$56.2 ¥9,129

30.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.9 ¥14.8K

$91.0 ¥14.8K

-0.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$445 ¥72.2K

$471 ¥76.5K

-5.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$400 ¥64.9K

$329 ¥53.4K

21.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$946 ¥153.7K

$852 ¥138.5K

10.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$748 ¥121.5K

$660 ¥107.2K

13.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,584 ¥1.4M

$3,735 ¥606.8K

129.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,221 ¥198.4K

$2,143 ¥348.1K

-43.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,769 ¥287.4K

$4,537 ¥737.2K

-61.02%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.78

12.36%

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

Last update for Okinawa: July 13, 2026

Last update for Yamanashi: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $445 in Okinawa versus $471 in Yamanashi. 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 157% higher in Yamanashi, 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 Yamanashi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $395 vs $286 – making Yamanashi 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 Yamanashi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Okinawa is pricier by about 19%, 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 $2,155 per month in Okinawa and $1,818 in Yamanashi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Yamanashi, 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 Yamanashi. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,437 in Okinawa and $1,212 in Yamanashi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Yamanashi, where all-in costs run around $1,212, than in Okinawa at $1,437. In Yamanashi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Okinawa it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Yamanashi – 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 Yamanashi. 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.