Cost of Living Comparison Between Nagano and Okinawa Cost of Living Comparison Between Nagano and Okinawa

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,176 per month in Nagano vs $1,430 in Okinawa, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,896 per month in Nagano vs $2,196 in Okinawa, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,616 per month in Nagano vs $2,961 in Okinawa, rent included.

Nagano is about 18% cheaper than Okinawa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Nagano sits 12% below the global median, while Okinawa is 7% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.76 ¥1,082

$8.57 ¥1,370

-21.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.32 ¥5,650

$41.32 ¥6,609

-14.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.09 ¥655

$6.12 ¥978

-33.17%

Cappuccino

$3.51 ¥562

$3.31 ¥529

6.04%

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

$1.09 ¥174

$1.32 ¥211

-17.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.64 ¥102

$0.86 ¥137

-25.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.10 ¥336

$3.48 ¥557

-39.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 ¥330

$4.81 ¥769

-57.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 ¥200

$1.87 ¥299

-33.16%

White Bread (500g)

$1.22 ¥194

$2.30 ¥367

-46.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.67 ¥748

$4.83 ¥772

-3.31%

Eggs

$1.52 ¥243

$2.01 ¥321

-24.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.24 ¥1,957

$16.33 ¥2,613

-25.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.25 ¥1,959

$11.13 ¥1,780

10.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.89 ¥2,702

$26.95 ¥4,310

-37.33%

Apples (1kg)

$7.52 ¥1,202

$5.27 ¥842

42.69%

Banana (1kg)

$2.57 ¥412

$2.61 ¥418

-1.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.55 ¥729

$3.03 ¥485

50.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.44 ¥710

$5.65 ¥904

-21.42%

Potato (1kg)

$3.73 ¥597

$3.69 ¥590

1.08%

Onion (1kg)

$3.60 ¥575

$2.90 ¥464

24.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 ¥171

$1.60 ¥256

-33.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 ¥106

$0.94 ¥151

-29.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.58 ¥892

$4.82 ¥771

15.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.13 ¥1,460

$6.11 ¥978

49.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.50 ¥399

$1.72 ¥275

45.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.56 ¥570

$2.89 ¥461

23.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.49 ¥238

$1.67 ¥268

-10.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$56.0 ¥8,960

$35.27 ¥5,642

58.83%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.14 ¥502

$4.19 ¥671

-25.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.00 ¥480

$3.77 ¥603

-20.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$20.41 ¥3,265

$12.74 ¥2,037

60.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ¥185

$1.20 ¥192

-3.33%

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

$23.8K ¥3.8M

$22.8K ¥3.6M

4.41%

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

$17.4K ¥2.8M

$17.0K ¥2.7M

2.32%

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

$82.9 ¥13.3K

$173 ¥27.7K

-52.08%

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

$29.54 ¥4,724

$27.72 ¥4,434

6.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.05 ¥2,728

$32.51 ¥5,200

-47.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.0 ¥8,949

$53.4 ¥8,547

4.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.08 ¥2,253

$6.76 ¥1,081

108.28%

Cinema Ticket

$11.51 ¥1,841

$12.60 ¥2,016

-8.65%

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

$281 ¥45.0K

$347 ¥55.5K

-18.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.3K ¥2.1M

$13.5K ¥2.2M

-1.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.14 ¥7,060

$48.84 ¥7,813

-9.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.58 ¥4,731

$29.28 ¥4,683

1.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.2 ¥9,630

$72.9 ¥11.7K

-17.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.0 ¥15.3K

$93.1 ¥14.9K

3.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$483 ¥77.2K

$437 ¥69.9K

10.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$275 ¥43.9K

$394 ¥63.1K

-30.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$854 ¥136.6K

$944 ¥150.9K

-9.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$665 ¥106.4K

$750 ¥119.9K

-11.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,543 ¥1.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,187 ¥189.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$633 ¥101.3K

$1,292 ¥206.6K

-50.97%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Nagano: May 31, 2026

Last update for Okinawa: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $483 in Nagano 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 104% higher in Okinawa, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Nagano versus $41.00 in Okinawa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $360 vs $398 – making Nagano 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

Nagano vs Okinawa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Okinawa costs about 22% more than Nagano, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,764 per month in Nagano 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 Nagano, 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 Nagano 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 $1,176 in Nagano and $1,430 in Okinawa. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Nagano, where all-in costs run around $1,176, than in Okinawa at $1,430. In Nagano it covers expenses comfortably, while in Okinawa it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Nagano – 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 Nagano. 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.