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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Okinawa costs about 22% more than Nagano, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.57 ¥1,370

$6.76 ¥1,082

26.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.32 ¥6,609

$35.32 ¥5,650

16.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.12 ¥978

$4.09 ¥655

49.63%

Cappuccino

$3.31 ¥529

$3.51 ¥562

-5.70%

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

$1.32 ¥211

$1.09 ¥174

21.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 ¥137

$0.64 ¥102

34.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.48 ¥557

$2.10 ¥336

65.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.81 ¥769

$2.06 ¥330

133.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ¥299

$1.25 ¥200

49.60%

White Bread (500g)

$2.30 ¥367

$1.22 ¥194

88.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.83 ¥772

$4.67 ¥748

3.43%

Eggs

$2.01 ¥321

$1.52 ¥243

32.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.33 ¥2,613

$12.24 ¥1,957

33.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.13 ¥1,780

$12.25 ¥1,959

-9.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$26.95 ¥4,310

$16.89 ¥2,702

59.56%

Apples (1kg)

$5.27 ¥842

$7.52 ¥1,202

-29.92%

Banana (1kg)

$2.61 ¥418

$2.57 ¥412

1.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.03 ¥485

$4.55 ¥729

-33.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.65 ¥904

$4.44 ¥710

27.25%

Potato (1kg)

$3.69 ¥590

$3.73 ¥597

-1.07%

Onion (1kg)

$2.90 ¥464

$3.60 ¥575

-19.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.60 ¥256

$1.07 ¥171

49.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 ¥151

$0.66 ¥106

42.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.82 ¥771

$5.58 ¥892

-13.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.11 ¥978

$9.13 ¥1,460

-33.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 ¥275

$2.50 ¥399

-31.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 ¥461

$3.56 ¥570

-18.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.67 ¥268

$1.49 ¥238

12.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.27 ¥5,642

$56.0 ¥8,960

-37.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.19 ¥671

$3.14 ¥502

33.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.77 ¥603

$3.00 ¥480

25.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.74 ¥2,037

$20.41 ¥3,265

-37.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 ¥192

$1.16 ¥185

3.45%

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

$22.8K ¥3.6M

$23.8K ¥3.8M

-4.23%

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

$17.0K ¥2.7M

$17.4K ¥2.8M

-2.26%

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

$173 ¥27.7K

$82.9 ¥13.3K

108.69%

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

$27.72 ¥4,434

$29.54 ¥4,724

-6.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.51 ¥5,200

$17.05 ¥2,728

90.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.4 ¥8,547

$56.0 ¥8,949

-4.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.76 ¥1,081

$14.08 ¥2,253

-51.99%

Cinema Ticket

$12.60 ¥2,016

$11.51 ¥1,841

9.47%

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

$347 ¥55.5K

$281 ¥45.0K

23.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.5K ¥2.2M

$13.3K ¥2.1M

1.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.84 ¥7,813

$44.14 ¥7,060

10.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.28 ¥4,683

$29.58 ¥4,731

-1.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.9 ¥11.7K

$60.2 ¥9,630

21.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$93.1 ¥14.9K

$96.0 ¥15.3K

-2.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$437 ¥69.9K

$483 ¥77.2K

-9.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$394 ¥63.1K

$275 ¥43.9K

43.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$944 ¥150.9K

$854 ¥136.6K

10.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$750 ¥119.9K

$665 ¥106.4K

12.72%

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)

$1,292 ¥206.6K

$633 ¥101.3K

103.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Okinawa: June 1, 2026

Last update for Nagano: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $437 in Okinawa versus $483 in Nagano. 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 $41.00 in Okinawa versus $35.00 in Nagano. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $398 vs $360 – 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

Okinawa vs Nagano: 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 $2,145 per month in Okinawa and $1,764 in Nagano. 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 $41.00 in Okinawa and $35.00 in Nagano. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,430 in Okinawa and $1,176 in Nagano. 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.