Ishigaki vs Niigata
for digital nomads
Under balanced weights Ishigaki edges it, 68 to 67, winning 2 of the 9 factors. Ishigaki is stronger on climate; Niigata on internet. Change the weights in the ranker to see which one wins for you.
Subtropical island base for diving and the Yaeyama archipelago
Full Ishigaki profile →Hotels in Japan →Rice, sake and the Sea of Japan, 2 hours from Tokyo
Full Niigata profile →Where to stay in Niigata →Factor scores (0–100, balanced weights)
| Metric | Ishigaki | Niigata |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living | 21 | 21 |
| Safety | 94 | 94 |
| Healthcare | 92 | 92 |
| Internet | 76 | 88 ✓ |
| Visa ease | 65 | 65 |
| Getting there & around | 35 | 44 ✓ |
| Climate | 58 ✓ | 33 |
| Air quality | 95 ✓ | 93 |
| Quality of life | 74 | 74 |
Cost
| Metric | Ishigaki | Niigata |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost, one personcountry-level estimate for at least one city | $2,700 | $2,700 |
| Central one-bedroom rent | no data | no data |
Safety and health (country-level)
| Metric | Ishigaki | Niigata |
|---|---|---|
| Homicides per 100k | 0.23 | 0.23 |
| Political stability (0–100) | 87.7 | 87.7 |
| UHC service coverage (0–100) | 86 | 86 |
| Life expectancy | 84.5 yrs | 84.5 yrs |
Internet (M-Lab measured medians)
| Metric | Ishigaki | Niigata |
|---|---|---|
| Download | 46.2 Mbps | 84 Mbps ✓ |
| Upload | 35.4 Mbps | 72.3 Mbps ✓ |
Visa
| Metric | Ishigaki | Niigata |
|---|---|---|
| Nomad visa | Digital nomad visa (Designated Activities) | Digital nomad visa (Designated Activities) |
| Minimum income for the visa | $5,285/mo | $5,285/mo |
| Entry, US passport | 90 days | 90 days |
| Entry, EU passport | 90 days | 90 days |
| Entry, UK passport | 90 days | 90 days |
Getting there and around
| Metric | Ishigaki | Niigata |
|---|---|---|
| Non-stop airport destinations | 12 ✓ | 11 |
| Walkability (1–5, editorial) | 2 | 3 ✓ |
| Transit (1–5, editorial) | 2 | 3 ✓ |
Climate and air
| Metric | Ishigaki | Niigata |
|---|---|---|
| Comfortable months per year | 7 ✓ | 4 |
| Annual mean PM2.5 | 7.3 µg/m³ ✓ | 8.2 µg/m³ |
✓ marks the better value in each row; ties and missing data are left unmarked.
Frequently asked
- Which is cheaper, Ishigaki or Niigata?
- Niigata is cheaper: about $2,700 per month versus $2,700 for one person.
- Is Ishigaki or Niigata safer?
- Ishigaki scores higher on safety (94 vs 94), based on national homicide rates and World Bank political-stability scores.
- Where is the internet faster, Ishigaki or Niigata?
- Niigata: a measured median of 84 Mbps versus 46.2 Mbps (M-Lab, 2024).
More comparisons
- Ishigaki vs Naha (Okinawa)
- Ishigaki vs Oranjestad
- Niigata vs Hiroshima
- Niigata vs Okayama
- All comparisons
Sources: Cost of Living Global 2026 (city rows); 2026 Cost of Living Index (country level); Worldwide Governance Indicators — Political Stability and Absence of Violence (score 0–100); Victims of intentional homicide per 100,000 population (national data, latest year); UHC service coverage index; Life expectancy at birth (years), both sexes; M-Lab NDT statistics (city aggregates, 2024); Airport destinations (Wikipedia airline and destination tables); NASA POWER climatology (2001–2020 monthly means); WHO Ambient Air Quality Database, June 2026 update (V8); SatPM2.5 satellite-derived annual PM2.5 (V6.GL.02.04); Human Development Index (HDR 2025, HDI 2023); EF English Proficiency Index 2024 (band); Walkability and transit ratings (editorial); Passport Index dataset (visa requirements, 199 passports × 199 destinations); OpenStreetMap restaurants (Overpass API); Nostos long-stay visa guides; Starlink availability map. Dataset 2026.10.7. See each city page for per-metric footnotes and the methodology.