Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Utsunomiya and Okinawa

For one person, living is cheaper in Utsunomiya: $1,316 a month against $1,388 in Okinawa, rent and utilities included – about $860 less a year. The total is higher in Okinawa despite lower rent and utilities.

Utsunomiya, Japan
Okinawa, Japan
Utsunomiya
🇯🇵 Japan
$1,316
/mo nomad
Okinawa
🇯🇵 Japan
$1,388
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Utsunomiya 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 Utsunomiya and in Okinawa actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,316 per month in Utsunomiya vs $1,388 in Okinawa, rent included.

  • Utsunomiya $1,316
  • Okinawa $1,388

A couple spends around $1,971 per month in Utsunomiya vs $2,184 in Okinawa, rent included.

  • Utsunomiya $1,971
  • Okinawa $2,184

A family of three spends $2,625 per month in Utsunomiya vs $2,980 in Okinawa, rent included.

  • Utsunomiya $2,625
  • Okinawa $2,980

Utsunomiya is about 5% cheaper than Okinawa, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Utsunomiya sits 3% below the global median, while Okinawa is 2% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Utsunomiya
Okinawa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.07 ¥958
$10.12 ¥1,598
-40.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.88 ¥2,666
$40.24 ¥6,353
-58.05%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.86 ¥768
$7.04 ¥1,112
-30.97%
Cappuccino
$3.52 ¥556
$4.11 ¥649
-14.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.07 ¥169
$1.40 ¥221
-23.57%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 ¥133
$0.92 ¥145
-8.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.11 ¥490
$2.51 ¥396
23.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86 ¥293
$5.27 ¥832
-64.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Utsunomiya
Okinawa
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.45 ¥229
$1.58 ¥249
-8.23%
White Bread (500g)
$1.67 ¥264
$2.05 ¥324
-18.54%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.63 ¥888
$3.76 ¥594
49.73%
Eggs
$2.25 ¥356
$1.84 ¥290
22.28%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.56 ¥1,825
$17.99 ¥2,841
-35.74%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.80 ¥1,074
$4.79 ¥757
41.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.74 ¥2,644
$22.45 ¥3,545
-25.43%
Apples (1kg)
$4.85 ¥766
$3.81 ¥602
27.30%
Banana (1kg)
$2.27 ¥358
$2.62 ¥413
-13.36%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.25 ¥672
$2.20 ¥347
93.18%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.27 ¥832
$5.26 ¥831
0.19%
Potato (1kg)
$3.40 ¥536
$2.39 ¥377
42.26%
Onion (1kg)
$3.01 ¥476
$2.56 ¥404
17.58%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 ¥187
$1.28 ¥201
-7.81%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 ¥124
$0.77 ¥122
2.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96 ¥626
$3.90 ¥617
1.54%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.70 ¥1,531
$6.40 ¥1,011
51.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 ¥265
$1.95 ¥308
-13.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 ¥434
$3.34 ¥528
-17.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Utsunomiya
Okinawa
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.25 ¥198
$1.44 ¥227
-13.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$64.4 ¥10.2K
$65.1 ¥10.3K
-1.08%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.08 ¥486
$3.82 ¥603
-19.37%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.13 ¥495
$3.54 ¥559
-11.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.99 ¥2,998
$11.23 ¥1,772
69.10%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.06 ¥167
$1.11 ¥175
-4.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8K ¥3.6M
$20.9K ¥3.3M
9.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.2K ¥2.4M
$15.5K ¥2.5M
-1.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Utsunomiya
Okinawa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$150 ¥23.6K
$163 ¥25.7K
-8.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.41 ¥3,696
$25.35 ¥4,003
-7.65%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.11 ¥4,754
$53.1 ¥8,379
-43.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Utsunomiya
Okinawa
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$50.5 ¥7,980
$73.0 ¥11.5K
-30.79%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.49 ¥1,972
$54.9 ¥8,670
-77.26%
Cinema Ticket
$13.12 ¥2,072
$11.98 ¥1,892
9.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Utsunomiya
Okinawa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,408 ¥222.3K
$327 ¥51.7K
330.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.2K ¥2.9M
$5,668 ¥894.9K
220.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Utsunomiya
Okinawa
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.1 ¥8,694
$48.88 ¥7,718
12.64%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.60 ¥5,148
$23.35 ¥3,687
39.61%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$64.8 ¥10.2K
$81.2 ¥12.8K
-20.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.1 ¥11.4K
$95.7 ¥15.1K
-24.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Utsunomiya
Okinawa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$609 ¥96.2K
$411 ¥64.9K
48.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$388 ¥61.3K
$332 ¥52.4K
17.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$893 ¥141.0K
$852 ¥134.6K
4.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$721 ¥113.9K
$678 ¥107.0K
6.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,783 ¥597.2K
$8,422 ¥1.3M
-55.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,111 ¥333.3K
$1,185 ¥187.1K
78.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Utsunomiya
Okinawa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$1,798 ¥283.8K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.25
2.23
0.90%

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

Last update for Utsunomiya: October 26, 2026

Last update for Okinawa: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Utsunomiya
$388
Okinawa
$332 14.6% $57
Groceries & Markets
Utsunomiya
$327
Okinawa
$330 1% $3.2
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Utsunomiya
$203
Okinawa
$241 18.8% $38
Eating Out
Utsunomiya
$132
Okinawa
$184 38.9% $52
Clothing & Footwear
Utsunomiya
$101
Okinawa
$112 10.9% $11
Getting Around
Utsunomiya
$88
Okinawa
$92 4.8% $4.2
Sport & Entertainment
Utsunomiya
$77
Okinawa
$97 26.3% $20

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $609 in Utsunomiya 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 $17 in Utsunomiya versus $40 in Okinawa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $327 vs $330 – making Utsunomiya the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇯🇵 Utsunomiya
🇯🇵 Okinawa
🕒 Local time
03:04 3:04 AM
03:04 3:04 AM
Same time as Utsunomiya
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
519,217
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
  • Utsunomiya Okinawa 1,590 km ≈ 2 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Utsunomiya
  • 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
Utsunomiya vs Okinawa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Utsunomiya cheaper than Okinawa?
Yes – Okinawa is pricier by about 5%, 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 $1,974 per month in Utsunomiya and $2,082 in Okinawa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Okinawa, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $411 there versus $609 in Utsunomiya.
Is eating out cheaper in Utsunomiya or in Okinawa?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $17 in Utsunomiya 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 kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $1,408 per month in Utsunomiya and $327 in Okinawa. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is it better to live in Utsunomiya or in Okinawa?
It depends on your priorities. Okinawa has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,316 in Utsunomiya to $1,388 in Okinawa. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Which city is safer, Utsunomiya or Okinawa?
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.

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