Cost of Living Comparison Between Osaka and Okinawa Cost of Living Comparison Between Osaka and Okinawa

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,352 per month in Osaka vs $1,418 in Okinawa, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,031 per month in Osaka vs $2,190 in Okinawa, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,710 per month in Osaka vs $2,962 in Okinawa, rent included.

Osaka is about 5% cheaper than Okinawa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Osaka and Okinawa sit above the global median – Osaka by 1%, Okinawa by 6%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.95 ¥1,109

$8.49 ¥1,354

-18.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.82 ¥5,555

$41.68 ¥6,649

-16.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 ¥789

$6.06 ¥967

-18.32%

Cappuccino

$3.32 ¥530

$3.45 ¥551

-3.77%

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

$1.09 ¥173

$1.37 ¥219

-20.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 ¥115

$0.85 ¥135

-15.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.79 ¥446

$3.40 ¥543

-17.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.37 ¥697

$4.97 ¥793

-12.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.58 ¥253

$1.94 ¥310

-18.56%

White Bread (500g)

$1.47 ¥235

$2.35 ¥375

-37.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.65 ¥741

$4.64 ¥741

0.22%

Eggs

$2.36 ¥377

$2.07 ¥331

14.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.40 ¥1,659

$16.49 ¥2,631

-36.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.50 ¥1,036

$11.02 ¥1,759

-41.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.26 ¥3,073

$26.68 ¥4,257

-27.81%

Apples (1kg)

$3.63 ¥580

$5.15 ¥822

-29.51%

Banana (1kg)

$2.09 ¥333

$2.58 ¥412

-18.99%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.47 ¥394

$3.00 ¥478

-17.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.35 ¥693

$5.64 ¥900

-22.87%

Potato (1kg)

$1.65 ¥263

$3.57 ¥570

-53.78%

Onion (1kg)

$1.30 ¥207

$2.81 ¥448

-53.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.34 ¥214

$1.55 ¥247

-13.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 ¥135

$0.91 ¥145

-7.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.81 ¥607

$4.93 ¥786

-22.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.20 ¥1,468

$8.50 ¥1,356

8.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.08 ¥331

$1.81 ¥289

14.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 ¥475

$2.99 ¥477

-0.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.58 ¥252

$1.64 ¥262

-3.66%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.89 ¥5,727

$34.66 ¥5,529

3.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.49 ¥716

$4.28 ¥683

4.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.39 ¥540

$3.64 ¥580

-6.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.90 ¥3,813

$12.70 ¥2,026

88.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ¥197

$1.21 ¥193

1.65%

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

$23.4K ¥3.7M

$23.2K ¥3.7M

0.64%

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

$17.2K ¥2.7M

$17.3K ¥2.8M

-0.25%

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

$130 ¥20.8K

$177 ¥28.2K

-26.23%

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

$27.23 ¥4,344

$27.99 ¥4,465

-2.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.85 ¥4,921

$32.04 ¥5,112

-3.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$58.6 ¥9,343

$52.9 ¥8,438

10.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.43 ¥3,260

$7.00 ¥1,117

191.86%

Cinema Ticket

$12.38 ¥1,975

$12.28 ¥1,960

0.81%

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

$69.4 ¥11.1K

$343 ¥54.7K

-79.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.4K ¥1.7M

$13.2K ¥2.1M

-21.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$43.94 ¥7,010

$47.74 ¥7,616

-7.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.63 ¥4,727

$28.65 ¥4,572

3.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.8 ¥11.0K

$72.4 ¥11.5K

-4.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$94.8 ¥15.1K

$93.1 ¥14.8K

1.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$733 ¥117.0K

$452 ¥72.1K

62.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$467 ¥74.5K

$402 ¥64.1K

16.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,275 ¥203.4K

$945 ¥150.8K

34.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$822 ¥131.2K

$751 ¥119.8K

9.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,986 ¥954.9K

$8,673 ¥1.4M

-30.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,086 ¥332.8K

$1,203 ¥191.8K

73.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,989 ¥317.3K

$1,316 ¥210.0K

51.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.81

-9.50%

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

Last update for Osaka: April 27, 2026

Last update for Okinawa: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $733 in Osaka versus $452 in Okinawa. 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 51% higher in Osaka, 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 $35.00 in Osaka versus $42.00 in Okinawa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $300 vs $401 – making Osaka 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

Osaka vs Okinawa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Okinawa is pricier by about 5%, 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 $2,027 per month in Osaka and $2,127 in Okinawa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Osaka, 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 $35.00 in Osaka and $42.00 in Okinawa. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,352 in Osaka and $1,418 in Okinawa. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Osaka, where all-in costs run around $1,352, than in Okinawa at $1,418. In Osaka it covers expenses comfortably, while in Okinawa it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Osaka – 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 Osaka. 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.