Oita vs Shiga: Which City Wins for Expats in 2026?
Oita costs roughly 2% less than Shiga. Shiga has significantly faster average internet speeds (150 Mbps vs 55 Mbps). Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Oita is approximately 1% less expensive than Shiga based on cost of living including rent. This makes Oita a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Oita has a FIRE Score of 81/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 90, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Oita is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
About Oita
Oita is a quiet, affordable corner of Japan where a city-center one-bedroom runs $439/mo and a single adult can live on a budget tier of $456/mo, but the trade-off is real: English proficiency is limited and the expat community is very few. The local average net salary of $1,004/mo makes the numbers work only if you bring remote income or a pension, and the Japan Digital Nomad Visa's $6,667/mo income floor shuts out most freelancers. Safety is outstanding at a 90/100 index and healthcare quality is excellent, so retirees and FIRE-minded savers should take it seriously. Digital nomads, however, will find the 65/100 score and 55 Mbps internet honest warnings.
About Japan
Safe, efficient, and financially punishing for anyone chasing early retirement. A 1BR in central Tokyo runs $531.81/mo, cheap by American standards, but progressive income tax up to ~55% (incl. local) erases most remote-work savings. No retirement visa exists, and the digital nomad route requires $6,667/mo income with zero path to permanent residency or citizenship without a long, difficult grind.
$2,320/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
About Shiga
Shiga is the rare Japanese prefecture where a single adult can live on a budget tier of $552/mo, and a 1-bedroom outside the center costs just $190/mo, which is almost absurdly cheap for a place 11 km from KIX. The catch is the local average net salary of $1,215/mo, so unless you are remote or retired, the math gets tight fast, and the limited English proficiency plus a small expat community in Otsu and Kusatsu will test your patience. Still, with a safety index of 92/100, a crime index of 8/100, excellent healthcare, and an overall expat score of 81/100, Shiga rewards anyone who values calm, cheap living over big-city convenience.
About Japan
Safe, efficient, and financially punishing for anyone chasing early retirement. A 1BR in central Tokyo runs $531.81/mo, cheap by American standards, but progressive income tax up to ~55% (incl. local) erases most remote-work savings. No retirement visa exists, and the digital nomad route requires $6,667/mo income with zero path to permanent residency or citizenship without a long, difficult grind.
$2,230/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
Which visa fits your move?
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| Metric | Oita | Shiga |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $439.18 | $442.86 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $250.96 | $189.8 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $752.88 | $948.98 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $467.95 | $506.12 |
| Safety Index | 90 | 92 |
| Internet Speed | 55Mbps | 150Mbps |
| Walkability Score | N/A | N/A |
Monthly cost by categoryOne person, computed from each city's own average prices
| Category | Oita | Shiga |
|---|---|---|
| Total (rent included) | $945/mo | $886/mo |
| Excluding rent | $694/mo | $696/mo |
| Rent | $251/mo | $190/mo |
| Groceries | $169/mo | $145/mo |
| Dining out | $73.00/mo | $63.00/mo |
| Entertainment & lifestyle | $130/mo | $116/mo |
| Utilities & connectivity | $270/mo | $182/mo |
| Transport | $52.00/mo | $190/mo |
Usage-based estimates from this city's own average prices. A row marked N/A means that city is missing data, so no figure is shown instead of a stale one.
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