Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Naha and Melbourne

For one person, living is cheaper in Naha: $1,343 a month against $2,853 in Melbourne, rent and utilities included – about $18,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Naha
🇯🇵 Japan
$1,343
/mo nomad
Melbourne
🇦🇺 Australia
$2,853
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Naha and in Melbourne

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,343 in Naha versus $2,853 in Melbourne.

  • Naha $1,343
  • Melbourne $2,853

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,092 in Naha versus $4,275 in Melbourne.

  • Naha $2,092
  • Melbourne $4,275

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,840 in Naha versus $5,697 in Melbourne.

  • Naha $2,840
  • Melbourne $5,697

Living in Naha costs roughly 53% less than in Melbourne, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Naha is 1% below, Melbourne is 111% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Naha
Melbourne
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.12 ¥808
$17.20 A$24.75
-70.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.17 ¥4,767
$83.1 A$120
-63.70%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.20 ¥821
$12.43 A$17.88
-58.17%
Cappuccino
$3.12 ¥493
$4.05 A$5.82
-22.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29 ¥203
$3.12 A$4.50
-58.65%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 ¥137
$2.46 A$3.54
-64.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.56 ¥405
$9.52 A$13.71
-73.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.92 ¥619
$8.16 A$11.74
-51.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Naha
Melbourne
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 ¥247
$1.56 A$2.25
-
White Bread (500g)
$2.07 ¥327
$2.90 A$4.18
-28.62%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.87 ¥612
$2.66 A$3.82
45.49%
Eggs
$1.74 ¥276
$5.37 A$7.72
-67.60%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.91 ¥2,829
$10.67 A$15.36
67.85%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.80 ¥758
$9.85 A$14.17
-51.27%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$22.38 ¥3,536
$15.36 A$22.11
45.70%
Apples (1kg)
$3.67 ¥580
$4.17 A$6.00
-11.99%
Banana (1kg)
$2.69 ¥425
$3.15 A$4.53
-14.60%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.22 ¥351
$3.26 A$4.69
-31.90%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.15 ¥814
$4.76 A$6.85
8.19%
Potato (1kg)
$2.39 ¥377
$3.06 A$4.41
-21.90%
Onion (1kg)
$2.47 ¥390
$2.47 A$3.55
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.24 ¥196
$2.45 A$3.52
-49.39%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 ¥124
$1.63 A$2.34
-51.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.88 ¥613
$45.17 A$65.0
-91.41%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.28 ¥992
$12.68 A$18.25
-50.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.92 ¥304
$5.69 A$8.18
-66.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23 ¥510
$5.23 A$7.53
-38.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Naha
Melbourne
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$3.87 A$5.57
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$142 A$204
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.96 ¥626
$4.54 A$6.53
-12.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.40 ¥537
$1.42 A$2.04
139.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.52 ¥1,820
$30.59 A$44.01
-62.34%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.06 ¥168
$1.47 A$2.11
-27.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K ¥3.3M
$28.9K A$41.5K
-27.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.5K ¥2.4M
$25.9K A$37.3K
-40.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Naha
Melbourne
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.0 ¥15.2K
$235 A$338
-59.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.81 ¥3,919
$27.45 A$39.51
-9.62%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.6 ¥8,305
$56.1 A$80.8
-6.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Naha
Melbourne
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$50.1 A$72.1
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$21.49 A$30.93
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.17 ¥1,922
$17.76 A$25.56
-31.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Naha
Melbourne
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$329 ¥52.0K
$2,385 A$3,432
-86.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,565 ¥879.2K
$29.7K A$42.7K
-81.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Naha
Melbourne
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.25 ¥7,782
$79.2 A$114
-37.78%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.99 ¥3,632
$49.49 A$71.2
-53.55%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.8 ¥12.4K
$118 A$170
-33.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.3 ¥15.2K
$132 A$190
-27.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Naha
Melbourne
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$717 ¥113.3K
$1,763 A$2,537
-59.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$562 ¥88.8K
$1,411 A$2,031
-60.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,158 ¥183.0K
$3,522 A$5,069
-67.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,138 ¥179.8K
$2,525 A$3,634
-54.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$7,136 A$10.3K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$6,355 A$9,144
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Naha
Melbourne
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,337 ¥211.2K
$4,258 A$6,128
-68.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.23
5.9
-62.20%

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

Last update for Naha: October 17, 2026

Last update for Melbourne: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Naha
$562
Melbourne
$1.4K 151% $849
Groceries & Markets
Naha
$328
Melbourne
$388 18.4% $60
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Naha
$173
Melbourne
$319 83.8% $145
Eating Out
Naha
$123
Melbourne
$310 151% $186
Clothing & Footwear
Naha
$111
Melbourne
$171 53.3% $59
Sport & Entertainment
Naha
$24 *
Melbourne
$86 252% $61
Getting Around
Naha
$21 *
Melbourne
$169 706% $148

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $717 in Naha and $1,763 in Melbourne. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Melbourne pays 219% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $30.00 in Naha vs $83.0 in Melbourne for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $328 vs $388 per month, with Naha cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇯🇵 Naha
🇦🇺 Melbourne
🕒 Local time
01:51 1:51 AM
03:51 3:51 AM
2 h ahead of Naha
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
317,625
5,031,195
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

AUD, 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).

Australian Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 1.44 AUD (1 AUD = 0.695 USD). 1 EUR = 1.62 AUD (1 AUD = 0.618 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Naha Melbourne 7,340 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Naha
  • Melbourne

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
Naha vs Melbourne: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Naha and in Melbourne?
Naha and Melbourne differ by about 112% in total monthly costs ($1,343 vs $2,853 including rent). Naha is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 219% lower in Melbourne. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Naha and in Melbourne?
Rent for a central apartment: $717 in Naha versus $1,763 in Melbourne. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 18% higher in Melbourne. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Naha or Melbourne?
All in, you'll spend $1,343 per month in Naha versus $2,853 in Melbourne – a 112% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,343 in Naha versus $2,853 in Melbourne, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Naha but tight or insufficient in Melbourne. The gap between the two cities makes Naha the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Naha and Melbourne?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Naha or Melbourne safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Naha and Melbourne are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Naha or Melbourne?
Expats usually find Naha gentler on the wallet – expenses run 112% less than in Melbourne. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Naha vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?