Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Otsu and Okinawa

For one person, living is cheaper in Otsu: $1,297 a month against $1,388 in Okinawa, rent and utilities included – about $1,100 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Otsu, Japan
Okinawa, Japan
Otsu
🇯🇵 Japan
$1,297
/mo nomad
Okinawa
🇯🇵 Japan
$1,388
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Otsu and in Okinawa

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Otsu and in Okinawa actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,297 per month in Otsu vs $1,388 in Okinawa, rent included.

  • Otsu $1,297
  • Okinawa $1,388

A couple spends around $1,890 per month in Otsu vs $2,184 in Okinawa, rent included.

  • Otsu $1,890
  • Okinawa $2,184

A family of three spends $2,482 per month in Otsu vs $2,980 in Okinawa, rent included.

  • Otsu $2,482
  • Okinawa $2,980

Otsu is about 7% cheaper than Okinawa, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Otsu sits 5% below the global median, while Okinawa is 2% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Otsu
Okinawa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.43 ¥1,330
$10.12 ¥1,598
-16.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.93 ¥5,041
$40.24 ¥6,353
-20.65%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.13 ¥810
$7.04 ¥1,112
-27.13%
Cappuccino
$3.12 ¥493
$4.11 ¥649
-24.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.18 ¥187
$1.40 ¥221
-15.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90 ¥142
$0.92 ¥145
-2.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.19 ¥504
$2.51 ¥396
27.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51 ¥712
$5.27 ¥832
-14.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Otsu
Okinawa
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.53 ¥242
$1.58 ¥249
-3.16%
White Bread (500g)
$1.55 ¥245
$2.05 ¥324
-24.39%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.52 ¥714
$3.76 ¥594
20.21%
Eggs
$2.14 ¥338
$1.84 ¥290
16.30%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.67 ¥2,474
$17.99 ¥2,841
-12.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.88 ¥1,086
$4.79 ¥757
43.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.21 ¥2,717
$22.45 ¥3,545
-23.34%
Apples (1kg)
$4.95 ¥781
$3.81 ¥602
29.92%
Banana (1kg)
$2.49 ¥392
$2.62 ¥413
-4.96%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.97 ¥784
$2.20 ¥347
125.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.42 ¥698
$5.26 ¥831
-15.97%
Potato (1kg)
$2.20 ¥348
$2.39 ¥377
-7.95%
Onion (1kg)
$1.87 ¥295
$2.56 ¥404
-26.95%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 ¥187
$1.28 ¥201
-7.03%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.87 ¥137
$0.77 ¥122
12.99%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97 ¥626
$3.90 ¥617
1.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.69 ¥1,529
$6.40 ¥1,011
51.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06 ¥325
$1.95 ¥308
5.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19 ¥345
$3.34 ¥528
-34.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Otsu
Okinawa
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.49 ¥235
$1.44 ¥227
3.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$57.5 ¥9,077
$65.1 ¥10.3K
-11.69%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.26 ¥514
$3.82 ¥603
-14.66%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.85 ¥449
$3.54 ¥559
-19.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.41 ¥4,485
$11.23 ¥1,772
152.98%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.12 ¥177
$1.11 ¥175
0.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.2K ¥3.5M
$20.9K ¥3.3M
5.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.3K ¥2.4M
$15.5K ¥2.5M
-1.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Otsu
Okinawa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$118 ¥18.6K
$163 ¥25.7K
-27.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.18 ¥3,660
$25.35 ¥4,003
-8.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.70 ¥4,848
$53.1 ¥8,379
-42.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Otsu
Okinawa
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$50.9 ¥8,039
$73.0 ¥11.5K
-30.27%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.46 ¥1,493
$54.9 ¥8,670
-82.77%
Cinema Ticket
$12.85 ¥2,029
$11.98 ¥1,892
7.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Otsu
Okinawa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$700 ¥110.6K
$327 ¥51.7K
113.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.6K ¥2.0M
$5,668 ¥894.9K
122.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Otsu
Okinawa
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.5 ¥8,764
$48.88 ¥7,718
13.56%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.05 ¥5,691
$23.35 ¥3,687
54.39%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$69.5 ¥11.0K
$81.2 ¥12.8K
-14.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.1 ¥15.3K
$95.7 ¥15.1K
1.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Otsu
Okinawa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$443 ¥69.9K
$411 ¥64.9K
7.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$366 ¥57.8K
$332 ¥52.4K
10.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$623 ¥98.3K
$852 ¥134.6K
-26.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$461 ¥72.8K
$678 ¥107.0K
-31.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,199 ¥662.9K
$8,422 ¥1.3M
-50.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,274 ¥359.1K
$1,185 ¥187.1K
91.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Otsu
Okinawa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,818 ¥287.0K
$1,798 ¥283.8K
1.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.1
2.23
-5.83%

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

Last update for Otsu: October 25, 2026

Last update for Okinawa: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Otsu
$366
Okinawa
$332 9.4% $34
Groceries & Markets
Otsu
$332
Okinawa
$330 0.6% $1.9
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Otsu
$172
Okinawa
$241 40.6% $70
Eating Out
Otsu
$154
Okinawa
$184 19.6% $30
Clothing & Footwear
Otsu
$116
Okinawa
$112 3.5% $4.1
Getting Around
Otsu
$81
Okinawa
$92 14.1% $11
Sport & Entertainment
Otsu
$77
Okinawa
$97 26.6% $20

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $443 in Otsu versus $411 in Okinawa. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32 in Otsu versus $40 in Okinawa. Groceries tell a different story – $332 in Otsu vs $330 in Okinawa – so Okinawa wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇯🇵 Otsu
🇯🇵 Okinawa
🕒 Local time
05:22 5:22 AM
05:22 5:22 AM
Same time as Otsu
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
341,314
142,752
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to JPY – Japanese Yen Converter

Japanese Yen exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 158 JPY (1,000 JPY = 6.33 USD). 1 EUR = 176 JPY (1,000 JPY = 5.69 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Otsu Okinawa 1,210 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Otsu
  • Okinawa

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Otsu vs Okinawa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Otsu cheaper than Okinawa?
Yes – Okinawa is pricier by about 7%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,945 per month in Otsu and $2,082 in Okinawa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What is the rent difference between Otsu and Okinawa?
A central 1-bedroom goes for about $443 in Otsu and $411 in Okinawa. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.
Is eating out cheaper in Otsu or in Okinawa?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $32 in Otsu and $40 in Okinawa. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 12% less in Otsu. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,000 enough to cover costs in Otsu or in Okinawa?
$1,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $1,297 in Otsu and $1,388 in Okinawa. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Is it better to live in Otsu or in Okinawa?
It depends on your priorities. Okinawa has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,297 in Otsu to $1,388 in Okinawa. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Which city is safer, Otsu or Okinawa?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

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