Cost of Living Comparison Between Nago, Okinawa and Osaka Cost of Living Comparison Between Nago, Okinawa and Osaka

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,253 per month in Nago, Okinawa vs $1,346 in Osaka, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,929 per month in Nago, Okinawa vs $1,976 in Osaka, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,605 per month in Nago, Okinawa vs $2,606 in Osaka, rent included.

Nago, Okinawa is about 7% cheaper than Osaka, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Nago, Okinawa and Osaka are more affordable than the global median – Nago, Okinawa 9% lower, Osaka 2% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.77 ¥1,053

$6.13 ¥954

10.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.39 ¥5,352

$30.75 ¥4,786

11.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.45 ¥847

$4.81 ¥748

13.31%

Cappuccino

$3.06 ¥476

$2.93 ¥456

4.44%

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

$1.08 ¥168

$1.43 ¥223

-24.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 ¥127

$0.69 ¥108

18.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.03 ¥316

$2.63 ¥409

-22.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 ¥493

$3.64 ¥567

-12.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.51 ¥236

$1.43 ¥222

5.59%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ¥248

$1.28 ¥199

25.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.78 ¥743

$5.25 ¥817

-8.95%

Eggs

$2.31 ¥359

$2.10 ¥327

10.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.20 ¥1,587

$9.80 ¥1,525

4.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.49 ¥1,010

$9.18 ¥1,429

-29.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.51 ¥2,413

$18.09 ¥2,816

-14.26%

Apples (1kg)

$5.33 ¥829

$3.38 ¥526

57.69%

Banana (1kg)

$2.53 ¥394

$1.91 ¥298

32.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.10 ¥639

$1.98 ¥308

107.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.52 ¥704

$3.89 ¥605

16.20%

Potato (1kg)

$3.29 ¥512

$1.54 ¥239

113.64%

Onion (1kg)

$2.67 ¥415

$1.17 ¥182

128.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.33 ¥207

$1.29 ¥200

3.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.81 ¥126

$0.81 ¥127

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ¥658

$3.84 ¥597

10.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.65 ¥1,035

$9.50 ¥1,479

-30.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 ¥310

$1.87 ¥290

6.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 ¥352

$3.22 ¥502

-29.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.59 ¥247

$1.36 ¥212

16.91%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.4 ¥8,625

$31.99 ¥4,979

73.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.54 ¥551

$3.77 ¥587

-6.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.03 ¥471

$3.04 ¥473

-0.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.00 ¥3,269

$21.01 ¥3,270

-0.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ¥192

$1.09 ¥170

12.84%

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

$23.1K ¥3.6M

$21.4K ¥3.3M

7.87%

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

$17.0K ¥2.6M

$15.1K ¥2.4M

12.11%

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

$140 ¥21.7K

$136 ¥21.2K

2.50%

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

$27.30 ¥4,250

$23.92 ¥3,722

14.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.82 ¥5,263

$30.63 ¥4,767

10.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.3 ¥8,912

$48.60 ¥7,563

17.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.01 ¥2,181

$17.90 ¥2,786

-21.73%

Cinema Ticket

$13.24 ¥2,061

$12.04 ¥1,874

9.97%

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

$286 ¥44.5K

$520 ¥80.9K

-45.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.6K ¥2.1M

$13.2K ¥2.1M

3.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$43.03 ¥6,697

$44.15 ¥6,872

-2.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.23 ¥4,549

$29.71 ¥4,624

-1.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.5 ¥9,415

$72.6 ¥11.3K

-16.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.5 ¥14.1K

$88.8 ¥13.8K

1.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$470 ¥73.2K

$699 ¥108.8K

-32.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$326 ¥50.7K

$507 ¥78.9K

-35.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$869 ¥135.3K

$1,682 ¥261.8K

-48.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$665 ¥103.6K

$761 ¥118.4K

-12.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,793 ¥434.7K

$5,636 ¥877.2K

-50.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,084 ¥324.3K

$1,822 ¥283.6K

14.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,245 ¥349.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.81

2.21

-18.10%

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

Last update for Nago, Okinawa: August 30, 2026

Last update for Osaka: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $470 in Nago, Okinawa versus $699 in Osaka. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $34.00 in Nago, Okinawa versus $31.00 in Osaka. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $308 vs $298 – making Osaka 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

Nago, Okinawa vs Osaka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Osaka is pricier by about 7%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,879 per month in Nago, Okinawa and $2,019 in Osaka. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Nago, Okinawa, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 73% less in Nago, Okinawa. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $286 per month in Nago, Okinawa and $520 in Osaka. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Nago, Okinawa, where all-in costs run around $1,253, than in Osaka at $1,346. In Nago, Okinawa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Osaka it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Nago, Okinawa – 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 Nago, Okinawa. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Osaka makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.