Cost of Living Comparison Between Tsukuba and Okinawa Cost of Living Comparison Between Tsukuba and Okinawa

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,148 per month in Tsukuba vs $1,430 in Okinawa, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,829 per month in Tsukuba vs $2,196 in Okinawa, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,511 per month in Tsukuba vs $2,961 in Okinawa, rent included.

Tsukuba is about 20% cheaper than Okinawa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Tsukuba sits 14% below the global median, while Okinawa is 7% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.24 ¥678

$8.57 ¥1,370

-50.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.23 ¥5,795

$41.32 ¥6,609

-12.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.42 ¥867

$6.12 ¥978

-11.44%

Cappuccino

$2.83 ¥452

$3.31 ¥529

-14.50%

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

$0.92 ¥147

$1.32 ¥211

-30.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.81 ¥130

$0.86 ¥137

-5.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.99 ¥318

$3.48 ¥557

-42.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.05 ¥488

$4.81 ¥769

-36.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.56 ¥250

$1.87 ¥299

-16.58%

White Bread (500g)

$1.74 ¥279

$2.30 ¥367

-24.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.50 ¥401

$4.83 ¥772

-48.24%

Eggs

$2.20 ¥353

$2.01 ¥321

9.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.30 ¥1,328

$16.33 ¥2,613

-49.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.07 ¥972

$11.13 ¥1,780

-45.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.14 ¥1,782

$26.95 ¥4,310

-58.66%

Apples (1kg)

$5.90 ¥943

$5.27 ¥842

11.95%

Banana (1kg)

$3.03 ¥485

$2.61 ¥418

16.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.93 ¥629

$3.03 ¥485

29.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.05 ¥328

$5.65 ¥904

-63.72%

Potato (1kg)

$3.39 ¥542

$3.69 ¥590

-8.13%

Onion (1kg)

$3.46 ¥553

$2.90 ¥464

19.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 ¥172

$1.60 ¥256

-33.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 ¥138

$0.94 ¥151

-8.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.00 ¥641

$4.82 ¥771

-17.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.42 ¥1,506

$6.11 ¥978

54.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 ¥279

$1.72 ¥275

1.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 ¥330

$2.89 ¥461

-28.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.49 ¥399

$1.67 ¥268

49.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.4 ¥8,697

$35.27 ¥5,642

54.15%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.44 ¥551

$4.19 ¥671

-17.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.89 ¥462

$3.77 ¥603

-23.34%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.87 ¥3,499

$12.74 ¥2,037

71.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 ¥189

$1.20 ¥192

-1.67%

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

$21.4K ¥3.4M

$22.8K ¥3.6M

-6.23%

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

$15.4K ¥2.5M

$17.0K ¥2.7M

-9.33%

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

$141 ¥22.6K

$173 ¥27.7K

-18.45%

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

$27.94 ¥4,469

$27.72 ¥4,434

0.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.60 ¥5,535

$32.51 ¥5,200

6.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.2 ¥9,624

$53.4 ¥8,547

12.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.79 ¥2,206

$6.76 ¥1,081

103.99%

Cinema Ticket

$13.60 ¥2,175

$12.60 ¥2,016

7.94%

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

$136 ¥21.8K

$347 ¥55.5K

-60.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.9K ¥1.9M

$13.5K ¥2.2M

-11.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.80 ¥6,685

$48.84 ¥7,813

-14.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.96 ¥4,792

$29.28 ¥4,683

2.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$42.14 ¥6,741

$72.9 ¥11.7K

-42.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.0 ¥15.3K

$93.1 ¥14.9K

3.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$503 ¥80.4K

$437 ¥69.9K

14.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$317 ¥50.8K

$394 ¥63.1K

-19.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,188 ¥190.0K

$944 ¥150.9K

25.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$697 ¥111.4K

$750 ¥119.9K

-7.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,365 ¥698.2K

$8,543 ¥1.4M

-48.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,137 ¥341.8K

$1,187 ¥189.8K

80.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,413 ¥226.1K

$1,292 ¥206.6K

9.42%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Tsukuba: June 1, 2026

Last update for Okinawa: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $503 in Tsukuba versus $437 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 9% higher in Tsukuba, 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 $36.00 in Tsukuba versus $41.00 in Okinawa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $278 vs $398 – making Tsukuba 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

Tsukuba vs Okinawa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Okinawa is pricier by about 25%, 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 $1,721 per month in Tsukuba and $2,145 in Okinawa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Tsukuba, 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 $36.00 in Tsukuba and $41.00 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 $1,148 in Tsukuba and $1,430 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 Tsukuba, where all-in costs run around $1,148, than in Okinawa at $1,430. In Tsukuba it covers expenses comfortably, while in Okinawa it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Tsukuba – 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 Tsukuba. 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.