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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,252 per month in Nago, Okinawa vs $1,265 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,962 per month in Nago, Okinawa vs $2,297 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,672 per month in Nago, Okinawa vs $3,329 in Phuket, rent included.

Nago, Okinawa is about 1% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Nago, Okinawa and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Nago, Okinawa 7% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.03 ¥1,127

$4.70 ฿154

49.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.41 ¥5,516

$45.37 ฿1,488

-24.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.49 ¥880

$8.43 ฿276

-34.88%

Cappuccino

$3.07 ¥492

$2.93 ฿96.0

4.78%

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

$1.14 ¥183

$0.69 ฿22.48

65.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.80 ¥128

$0.37 ฿12.04

116.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.04 ¥328

$2.41 ฿79.0

-15.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ¥510

$3.72 ฿122

-14.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.54 ¥246

$2.23 ฿73.2

-30.94%

White Bread (500g)

$1.66 ¥266

$1.83 ฿60.1

-9.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.87 ¥780

$2.17 ฿71.1

124.42%

Eggs

$2.23 ¥357

$2.21 ฿72.6

0.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.89 ¥1,586

$19.74 ฿647

-49.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.16 ¥988

$3.63 ฿119

69.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.68 ¥2,513

$13.53 ฿444

15.89%

Apples (1kg)

$5.24 ¥840

$3.28 ฿107

59.76%

Banana (1kg)

$2.56 ¥410

$1.61 ฿52.8

59.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.90 ¥625

$2.41 ฿79.0

61.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.48 ¥717

$2.08 ฿68.3

115.38%

Potato (1kg)

$3.22 ¥516

$1.53 ฿50.1

110.46%

Onion (1kg)

$2.68 ¥430

$1.48 ฿48.56

81.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.34 ¥215

$0.99 ฿32.42

35.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 ¥141

$0.51 ฿16.73

72.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.07 ¥652

$4.41 ฿144

-7.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.55 ¥1,050

$19.38 ฿636

-66.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 ¥318

$1.78 ฿58.3

11.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 ¥367

$2.71 ฿88.9

-15.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.65 ¥264

$1.37 ฿44.96

20.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.9 ¥8,803

$11.39 ฿374

382.18%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.37 ¥540

$3.02 ฿99.0

11.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.02 ¥483

$0.99 ฿32.61

205.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.14 ¥3,388

$14.10 ฿462

49.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 ¥190

$1.36 ฿44.68

-12.50%

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

$23.6K ¥3.8M

$28.2K ฿924.7K

-16.40%

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

$17.4K ¥2.8M

$32.9K ฿1.1M

-47.21%

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

$142 ¥22.8K

$122 ฿3,991

16.71%

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

$26.68 ¥4,277

$13.57 ฿445

96.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.57 ¥5,541

$18.31 ฿600

88.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.9 ¥9,280

$60.2 ฿1,975

-3.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.92 ¥2,231

$17.14 ฿562

-18.79%

Cinema Ticket

$12.92 ¥2,071

$8.69 ฿285

48.68%

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

$283 ¥45.4K

$693 ฿22.7K

-59.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.2K ¥2.1M

$15.7K ฿514.4K

-16.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.50 ¥6,813

$59.5 ฿1,952

-28.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.71 ¥4,762

$34.77 ฿1,140

-14.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.7 ¥9,730

$115 ฿3,758

-47.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.4 ¥14.8K

$83.3 ฿2,731

10.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$465 ¥74.6K

$613 ฿20.1K

-24.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$327 ¥52.4K

$437 ฿14.3K

-25.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$859 ¥137.6K

$2,094 ฿68.7K

-59.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$653 ¥104.6K

$1,509 ฿49.5K

-56.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,854 ¥457.5K

$3,749 ฿122.9K

-23.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,834 ¥294.0K

$2,616 ฿85.8K

-29.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$508 ฿16.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.81

5.33

-66.04%

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

Last update for Nago, Okinawa: June 1, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $465 in Nago, Okinawa versus $613 in Phuket. 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 $45.00 in Phuket. Groceries tell a different story – $306 in Nago, Okinawa vs $293 in Phuket – so Phuket wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 1%, 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 $1,878 per month in Nago, Okinawa and $1,898 in Phuket. 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 382% less in Nago, Okinawa. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $283 per month in Nago, Okinawa and $693 in Phuket. 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 $1,252, than in Phuket at $1,265. In Nago, Okinawa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket 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, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.