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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,427 per month in Okinawa vs $1,210 in Yamanashi, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,228 per month in Okinawa vs $1,921 in Yamanashi, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,030 per month in Okinawa vs $2,632 in Yamanashi, rent included.

Okinawa costs about 18% more than Yamanashi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Okinawa sits 4% above the global median, while Yamanashi is 12% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.68 ¥1,512

$8.63 ¥1,348

12.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.32 ¥6,297

$32.74 ¥5,113

23.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.94 ¥1,083

$5.06 ¥790

37.15%

Cappuccino

$4.18 ¥653

$2.43 ¥379

72.02%

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

$1.47 ¥230

$1.29 ¥202

13.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.01 ¥158

$0.86 ¥134

17.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.00 ¥313

$3.31 ¥517

-39.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.46 ¥697

$3.19 ¥498

39.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.59 ¥249

$1.00 ¥157

59.00%

White Bread (500g)

$2.20 ¥344

$0.81 ¥127

171.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.98 ¥621

$1.29 ¥201

208.53%

Eggs

$1.81 ¥282

$1.61 ¥251

12.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.99 ¥2,809

$13.10 ¥2,047

37.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.05 ¥789

$5.42 ¥846

-6.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.90 ¥3,577

$17.59 ¥2,746

30.19%

Apples (1kg)

$3.73 ¥583

$5.09 ¥795

-26.72%

Banana (1kg)

$2.78 ¥434

$3.17 ¥495

-12.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.30 ¥359

$1.89 ¥295

21.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.27 ¥823

$3.80 ¥593

38.68%

Potato (1kg)

$2.45 ¥382

$1.77 ¥277

38.42%

Onion (1kg)

$2.53 ¥394

$2.40 ¥375

5.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.35 ¥211

$1.13 ¥177

19.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 ¥120

$0.73 ¥114

5.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.93 ¥614

$3.95 ¥617

-0.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.51 ¥1,016

$9.80 ¥1,530

-33.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.96 ¥306

$2.56 ¥400

-23.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 ¥539

$2.20 ¥344

56.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.46 ¥229

$1.38 ¥216

5.80%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$68.1 ¥10.6K

$62.0 ¥9,684

9.76%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.94 ¥615

$3.18 ¥497

23.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.59 ¥560

$2.87 ¥449

25.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.87 ¥1,854

$16.32 ¥2,548

-27.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 ¥177

$1.08 ¥169

4.63%

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

$21.9K ¥3.4M

$22.0K ¥3.4M

-0.35%

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

$15.4K ¥2.4M

$15.3K ¥2.4M

0.59%

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

$165 ¥25.8K

$120 ¥18.8K

37.33%

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

$25.69 ¥4,012

$23.53 ¥3,675

9.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.8 ¥8,558

$31.90 ¥4,981

71.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$74.0 ¥11.6K

$57.9 ¥9,035

27.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$56.5 ¥8,822

Cinema Ticket

$12.50 ¥1,952

$11.60 ¥1,812

7.76%

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

$345 ¥53.9K

$597 ¥93.2K

-42.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,827 ¥909.9K

$15.0K ¥2.3M

-61.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.7 ¥8,070

$51.3 ¥8,017

0.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.12 ¥3,766

$36.54 ¥5,706

-33.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.1 ¥12.7K

$63.1 ¥9,856

28.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.9 ¥15.0K

$101 ¥15.7K

-4.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$411 ¥64.2K

$529 ¥82.6K

-22.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$332 ¥51.8K

$385 ¥60.2K

-13.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$863 ¥134.8K

$1,083 ¥169.2K

-20.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$694 ¥108.3K

$691 ¥107.9K

0.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,703 ¥1.4M

$3,427 ¥535.2K

153.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,200 ¥187.4K

$1,812 ¥282.9K

-33.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,861 ¥290.6K

$4,537 ¥708.6K

-58.98%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.23

1.66

34.34%

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

Last update for Okinawa: September 13, 2026

Last update for Yamanashi: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $411 in Okinawa versus $529 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 144% 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 $40.00 in Okinawa versus $33.00 in Yamanashi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $337 vs $280 – 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 18%, 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 $2,140 per month in Okinawa and $1,815 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 $40.00 in Okinawa and $33.00 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 $1,427 in Okinawa and $1,210 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 $1,210, than in Okinawa at $1,427. 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.