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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,430 per month in Okinawa vs $1,231 in Yamanashi, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,196 per month in Okinawa vs $1,893 in Yamanashi, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,961 per month in Okinawa vs $2,555 in Yamanashi, rent included.

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

Okinawa sits 7% above the global median, while Yamanashi is 8% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.57 ¥1,370

$8.52 ¥1,362

0.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.32 ¥6,609

$35.03 ¥5,603

17.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.12 ¥978

$6.22 ¥995

-1.61%

Cappuccino

$3.31 ¥529

$3.10 ¥496

6.77%

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

$1.32 ¥211

$1.19 ¥190

10.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 ¥137

$0.70 ¥112

22.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.48 ¥557

$3.35 ¥536

3.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.81 ¥769

$3.16 ¥506

52.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ¥299

$1.06 ¥170

76.42%

White Bread (500g)

$2.30 ¥367

$0.94 ¥151

144.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.83 ¥772

$1.36 ¥217

255.15%

Eggs

$2.01 ¥321

$1.73 ¥276

16.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.33 ¥2,613

$14.08 ¥2,252

15.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.13 ¥1,780

$5.77 ¥922

92.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$26.95 ¥4,310

$15.43 ¥2,468

74.66%

Apples (1kg)

$5.27 ¥842

$5.59 ¥894

-5.72%

Banana (1kg)

$2.61 ¥418

$2.87 ¥460

-9.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.03 ¥485

$2.10 ¥336

44.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.65 ¥904

$4.04 ¥647

39.85%

Potato (1kg)

$3.69 ¥590

$1.92 ¥307

92.19%

Onion (1kg)

$2.90 ¥464

$2.60 ¥415

11.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.60 ¥256

$1.21 ¥193

32.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 ¥151

$0.73 ¥117

28.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.82 ¥771

$3.49 ¥558

38.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.11 ¥978

$9.33 ¥1,492

-34.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 ¥275

$2.86 ¥457

-39.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 ¥461

$2.28 ¥365

26.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.67 ¥268

$1.67 ¥267

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.27 ¥5,642

$54.9 ¥8,778

-35.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.19 ¥671

$3.51 ¥561

19.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.77 ¥603

$2.93 ¥468

28.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.74 ¥2,037

$17.52 ¥2,803

-27.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 ¥192

$1.18 ¥189

1.69%

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

$22.8K ¥3.6M

$23.0K ¥3.7M

-0.85%

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

$17.0K ¥2.7M

$16.8K ¥2.7M

0.95%

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

$173 ¥27.7K

$138 ¥22.1K

24.90%

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

$27.72 ¥4,434

$27.00 ¥4,318

2.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.51 ¥5,200

$34.38 ¥5,499

-5.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.4 ¥8,547

$55.5 ¥8,873

-3.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.76 ¥1,081

$13.92 ¥2,226

-51.44%

Cinema Ticket

$12.60 ¥2,016

$12.62 ¥2,019

-0.16%

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

$347 ¥55.5K

$469 ¥75.0K

-26.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.5K ¥2.2M

$11.4K ¥1.8M

18.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.84 ¥7,813

$46.40 ¥7,421

5.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.28 ¥4,683

$32.10 ¥5,135

-8.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.9 ¥11.7K

$56.2 ¥8,981

29.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$93.1 ¥14.9K

$91.7 ¥14.7K

1.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$437 ¥69.9K

$472 ¥75.4K

-7.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$394 ¥63.1K

$335 ¥53.5K

17.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$944 ¥150.9K

$870 ¥139.2K

8.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$750 ¥119.9K

$668 ¥106.8K

12.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,543 ¥1.4M

$4,666 ¥746.4K

83.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,187 ¥189.8K

$2,725 ¥435.8K

-56.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,292 ¥206.6K

$4,567 ¥730.5K

-71.72%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Yamanashi: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $437 in Okinawa versus $472 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 254% 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 $41.00 in Okinawa versus $35.00 in Yamanashi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $398 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 16%, 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 $2,145 per month in Okinawa and $1,847 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 $41.00 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 $1,430 in Okinawa and $1,231 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 $1,231, than in Okinawa at $1,430. 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.