Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nago, Okinawa and Cebu

For one person, living is cheaper in Cebu: $915 a month against $1,231 in Nago, Okinawa, rent and utilities included – about $3,800 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Nago, Okinawa
🇯🇵 Japan
$1,231
/mo nomad
Cebu
🇵🇭 Philippines
$915
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nago, Okinawa and in Cebu

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Nago, Okinawa and in Cebu actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,231 in Nago, Okinawa versus $915 in Cebu.

  • Nago, Okinawa $1,231
  • Cebu $915

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,923 in Nago, Okinawa versus $1,418 in Cebu.

  • Nago, Okinawa $1,923
  • Cebu $1,418

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,614 in Nago, Okinawa versus $1,921 in Cebu.

  • Nago, Okinawa $2,614
  • Cebu $1,921

Living in Nago, Okinawa is roughly 35% more expensive than in Cebu, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Nago, Okinawa 9% lower, Cebu 33% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nago, Okinawa
Cebu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.82 ¥1,077
$3.05 ₱192
123.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.35 ¥5,586
$24.00 ₱1,511
47.29%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.68 ¥898
$3.99 ₱251
42.36%
Cappuccino
$3.03 ¥479
$2.50 ₱157
21.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 ¥173
$1.54 ₱97.1
-28.57%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 ¥121
$0.50 ₱31.37
52.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.10 ¥332
$1.78 ₱112
17.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.05 ¥482
$2.17 ₱136
40.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nago, Okinawa
Cebu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.52 ¥239
$2.00 ₱126
-24.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.64 ¥259
$1.37 ₱86.2
19.71%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.67 ¥738
$1.03 ₱64.9
353.40%
Eggs
$2.28 ¥361
$2.03 ₱128
12.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.13 ¥1,601
$10.20 ₱642
-0.69%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.15 ¥971
$4.45 ₱280
38.20%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.49 ¥2,448
$7.67 ₱483
101.96%
Apples (1kg)
$5.36 ¥847
$3.31 ₱208
61.93%
Banana (1kg)
$2.55 ¥402
$1.46 ₱91.8
74.66%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.13 ¥652
$2.32 ₱146
78.02%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.53 ¥716
$1.49 ₱94.0
204.03%
Potato (1kg)
$3.24 ¥511
$2.34 ₱147
38.46%
Onion (1kg)
$2.56 ¥404
$1.94 ₱122
31.96%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.38 ¥217
$1.16 ₱73.0
18.97%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88 ¥140
$0.68 ₱42.89
29.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26 ¥674
$2.99 ₱188
42.47%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.50 ¥1,027
$6.24 ₱393
4.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.91 ¥302
$1.23 ₱77.3
55.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 ¥375
$1.73 ₱109
36.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Nago, Okinawa
Cebu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.58 ¥250
$0.23 ₱14.36
586.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$56.0 ¥8,840
$12.34 ₱777
353.40%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.43 ¥542
$0.79 ₱49.96
334.18%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.87 ¥454
$0.22 ₱13.86
1204.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.07 ¥3,329
$4.54 ₱286
364.10%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 ¥194
$1.32 ₱82.9
-6.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.5K ¥3.7M
$21.0K ₱1.3M
11.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.9K ¥2.7M
$19.4K ₱1.2M
-13.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nago, Okinawa
Cebu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$139 ¥21.9K
$119 ₱7,464
16.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.18 ¥4,294
$14.22 ₱896
91.14%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.51 ¥5,452
$27.47 ₱1,730
25.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nago, Okinawa
Cebu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.1 ¥9,012
$32.31 ₱2,034
76.57%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.97 ¥2,207
$6.50 ₱409
114.92%
Cinema Ticket
$13.04 ¥2,061
$5.40 ₱340
141.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nago, Okinawa
Cebu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$285 ¥45.0K
$276 ₱17.4K
3.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.5K ¥2.1M
$7,866 ₱495.3K
72.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nago, Okinawa
Cebu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.95 ¥6,944
$49.37 ₱3,108
-10.98%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.96 ¥4,575
$24.58 ₱1,548
17.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$59.0 ¥9,328
$76.6 ₱4,825
-22.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.2 ¥14.6K
$58.9 ₱3,706
56.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nago, Okinawa
Cebu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$461 ¥72.8K
$503 ₱31.7K
-8.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$328 ¥51.9K
$305 ₱19.2K
7.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$878 ¥138.6K
$1,075 ₱67.7K
-18.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$659 ¥104.1K
$632 ₱39.8K
4.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,826 ¥446.5K
$2,870 ₱180.7K
-1.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,726 ¥272.6K
$1,877 ₱118.2K
-8.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nago, Okinawa
Cebu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$336 ₱21.1K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
1.81
7.2
-74.86%

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

Last update for Nago, Okinawa: October 19, 2026

Last update for Cebu: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nago, Okinawa
$328
Cebu
$305 7.3% $24
Groceries & Markets
Nago, Okinawa
$306
Cebu
$210 31.6% $97
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nago, Okinawa
$200
Cebu
$160 20% $40
Eating Out
Nago, Okinawa
$132
Cebu
$88 33.5% $44
Clothing & Footwear
Nago, Okinawa
$101
Cebu
$94 6.6% $6.6
Sport & Entertainment
Nago, Okinawa
$83
Cebu
$43 48.2% $40
Getting Around
Nago, Okinawa
$80
Cebu
$15 81.1% $65

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $461 in Nago, Okinawa and $503 in Cebu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $35.00 in Nago, Okinawa vs $24.00 in Cebu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $306 vs $210 per month, with Cebu cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇯🇵 Nago, Okinawa
🇵🇭 Cebu
🕒 Local time
01:16 1:16 AM
00:16 12:16 AM
1 h behind Nago, Okinawa
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
63,554
964,169
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PHP, USD, EUR to JPY – Japanese Yen Converter

Japanese Yen exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 158 JPY (1,000 JPY = 6.33 USD). 1 EUR = 178 JPY (1,000 JPY = 5.63 EUR).

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 62.96 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.78 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nago, Okinawa Cebu 1,860 km ≈ 2 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Nago, Okinawa
  • Cebu

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
Nago, Okinawa vs Cebu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cebu cheaper than Nago, Okinawa?
Cebu is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 35% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,847 in Nago, Okinawa and $1,372 in Cebu to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Nago, Okinawa and Cebu?
Rent for a central apartment: $461 in Nago, Okinawa versus $503 in Cebu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Nago, Okinawa and in Cebu?
All in, you'll spend $1,231 per month in Nago, Okinawa versus $915 in Cebu – a 35% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Cebu runs roughly 353% less than in Nago, Okinawa. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Nago, Okinawa or in Cebu?
At $915 in Cebu versus $1,231 in Nago, Okinawa, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cebu but tight or insufficient in Nago, Okinawa. The gap between the two cities makes Cebu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Nago, Okinawa or Cebu more family-friendly?
For families, Cebu is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Nago, Okinawa, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Nago, Okinawa or Cebu?
Safety-wise, Nago, Okinawa and Cebu are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Cebu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 35% less than in Nago, Okinawa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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