Cost of Living Comparison Between Wakayama and Okinawa Cost of Living Comparison Between Wakayama and Okinawa

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,344 per month in Wakayama vs $1,430 in Okinawa, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,118 per month in Wakayama vs $2,196 in Okinawa, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,893 per month in Wakayama vs $2,961 in Okinawa, rent included.

Wakayama is about 6% cheaper than Okinawa, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Wakayama and Okinawa sit above the global median – Wakayama by 0%, Okinawa by 7%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.98 ¥1,116

$8.57 ¥1,370

-18.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.10 ¥5,614

$41.32 ¥6,609

-15.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.27 ¥1,003

$6.12 ¥978

2.45%

Cappuccino

$3.07 ¥491

$3.31 ¥529

-7.25%

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

$1.19 ¥191

$1.32 ¥211

-9.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 ¥122

$0.86 ¥137

-11.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.38 ¥541

$3.48 ¥557

-2.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 ¥329

$4.81 ¥769

-57.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.69 ¥270

$1.87 ¥299

-9.63%

White Bread (500g)

$1.80 ¥288

$2.30 ¥367

-21.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.10 ¥817

$4.83 ¥772

5.59%

Eggs

$2.55 ¥408

$2.01 ¥321

26.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.23 ¥2,756

$16.33 ¥2,613

5.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.43 ¥1,189

$11.13 ¥1,780

-33.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.25 ¥2,439

$26.95 ¥4,310

-43.41%

Apples (1kg)

$8.90 ¥1,424

$5.27 ¥842

68.88%

Banana (1kg)

$2.80 ¥448

$2.61 ¥418

7.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.88 ¥781

$3.03 ¥485

61.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$9.57 ¥1,531

$5.65 ¥904

69.38%

Potato (1kg)

$3.99 ¥638

$3.69 ¥590

8.13%

Onion (1kg)

$2.61 ¥417

$2.90 ¥464

-10.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.34 ¥214

$1.60 ¥256

-16.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.40 ¥224

$0.94 ¥151

48.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.46 ¥553

$4.82 ¥771

-28.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.17 ¥1,467

$6.11 ¥978

50.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.86 ¥458

$1.72 ¥275

66.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 ¥363

$2.89 ¥461

-21.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.66 ¥266

$1.67 ¥268

-0.60%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.0 ¥8,800

$35.27 ¥5,642

56.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.43 ¥548

$4.19 ¥671

-18.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.95 ¥472

$3.77 ¥603

-21.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.57 ¥2,810

$12.74 ¥2,037

37.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ¥198

$1.20 ¥192

3.33%

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

$23.1K ¥3.7M

$22.8K ¥3.6M

1.49%

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

$16.9K ¥2.7M

$17.0K ¥2.7M

-0.22%

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

$138 ¥22.1K

$173 ¥27.7K

-19.94%

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

$26.81 ¥4,289

$27.72 ¥4,434

-3.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.21 ¥5,472

$32.51 ¥5,200

5.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.9 ¥8,938

$53.4 ¥8,547

4.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.65 ¥2,183

$6.76 ¥1,081

101.92%

Cinema Ticket

$12.47 ¥1,994

$12.60 ¥2,016

-1.03%

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

$474 ¥75.8K

$347 ¥55.5K

36.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.3K ¥1.8M

$13.5K ¥2.2M

-16.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.82 ¥7,488

$48.84 ¥7,813

-4.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.66 ¥5,224

$29.28 ¥4,683

11.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$55.8 ¥8,929

$72.9 ¥11.7K

-23.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.1 ¥14.6K

$93.1 ¥14.9K

-2.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$462 ¥73.9K

$437 ¥69.9K

5.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$325 ¥52.0K

$394 ¥63.1K

-17.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$859 ¥137.4K

$944 ¥150.9K

-8.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$652 ¥104.3K

$750 ¥119.9K

-13.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,458 ¥713.1K

$8,543 ¥1.4M

-47.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,039 ¥326.2K

$1,187 ¥189.8K

71.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,832 ¥612.9K

$1,292 ¥206.6K

196.67%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.67

-16.50%

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

Last update for Wakayama: June 1, 2026

Last update for Okinawa: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $462 in Wakayama 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 197% higher in Wakayama, 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 Wakayama versus $41.00 in Okinawa. Groceries tell a different story – $405 in Wakayama vs $398 in Okinawa – so Okinawa wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Wakayama vs Okinawa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Okinawa is pricier by about 6%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,015 per month in Wakayama 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 Wakayama, 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 Wakayama 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 $1,344 in Wakayama and $1,430 in Okinawa. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Wakayama, where all-in costs run around $1,344, than in Okinawa at $1,430. In Wakayama it covers expenses comfortably, while in Okinawa it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Wakayama – 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 Wakayama. 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.