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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,428 per month in Okinawa vs $1,178 in Nagano, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,217 per month in Okinawa vs $1,909 in Nagano, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,007 per month in Okinawa vs $2,641 in Nagano, rent included.

Okinawa costs about 21% more than Nagano, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Okinawa sits 7% above the global median, while Nagano is 11% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.47 ¥1,335

$7.08 ¥1,115

19.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.01 ¥6,620

$35.19 ¥5,545

19.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.84 ¥921

$4.02 ¥633

45.27%

Cappuccino

$3.33 ¥525

$3.40 ¥536

-2.06%

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

$1.35 ¥213

$1.13 ¥178

19.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 ¥136

$0.64 ¥100

34.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.56 ¥560

$2.04 ¥322

74.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.79 ¥754

$2.13 ¥335

124.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ¥298

$1.32 ¥207

43.18%

White Bread (500g)

$2.25 ¥355

$1.23 ¥194

82.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.60 ¥725

$4.77 ¥751

-3.56%

Eggs

$2.04 ¥322

$1.56 ¥247

30.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.45 ¥2,592

$12.03 ¥1,895

36.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.24 ¥1,771

$12.39 ¥1,952

-9.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$26.66 ¥4,200

$16.43 ¥2,589

62.26%

Apples (1kg)

$5.02 ¥791

$7.55 ¥1,189

-33.51%

Banana (1kg)

$2.69 ¥423

$2.58 ¥406

4.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.06 ¥482

$4.39 ¥692

-30.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.76 ¥907

$4.53 ¥715

27.15%

Potato (1kg)

$3.53 ¥556

$3.60 ¥568

-1.94%

Onion (1kg)

$2.77 ¥437

$3.67 ¥578

-24.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.52 ¥240

$1.01 ¥159

50.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 ¥138

$0.70 ¥111

25.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.76 ¥749

$5.71 ¥900

-16.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.27 ¥989

$9.42 ¥1,484

-33.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.81 ¥286

$2.49 ¥392

-27.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 ¥467

$3.41 ¥537

-13.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.68 ¥265

$1.50 ¥236

12.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.11 ¥5,533

$55.9 ¥8,812

-37.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.06 ¥640

$3.10 ¥488

30.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.77 ¥594

$2.86 ¥450

31.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.85 ¥2,025

$20.54 ¥3,237

-37.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 ¥197

$1.20 ¥190

4.17%

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

$23.2K ¥3.7M

$24.5K ¥3.9M

-5.45%

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

$17.0K ¥2.7M

$17.1K ¥2.7M

-0.97%

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

$176 ¥27.7K

$83.0 ¥13.1K

111.77%

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

$27.21 ¥4,287

$29.86 ¥4,705

-8.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.15 ¥5,066

$17.22 ¥2,713

86.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.4 ¥8,252

$56.5 ¥8,899

-7.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.11 ¥1,120

$13.96 ¥2,199

-49.07%

Cinema Ticket

$12.63 ¥1,990

$11.46 ¥1,805

10.21%

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

$346 ¥54.6K

$277 ¥43.7K

24.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.4K ¥2.1M

$13.1K ¥2.1M

2.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.92 ¥7,709

$44.95 ¥7,083

8.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.26 ¥4,610

$29.13 ¥4,590

0.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.9 ¥11.5K

$59.1 ¥9,317

23.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.5 ¥14.3K

$98.4 ¥15.5K

-7.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$453 ¥71.4K

$485 ¥76.4K

-6.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$400 ¥63.0K

$282 ¥44.4K

42.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$960 ¥151.3K

$857 ¥135.1K

12.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$737 ¥116.1K

$670 ¥105.6K

9.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,685 ¥1.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,206 ¥190.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,744 ¥274.8K

$623 ¥98.1K

180.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Okinawa: July 28, 2026

Last update for Nagano: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $453 in Okinawa versus $485 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 180% 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 $42.00 in Okinawa versus $35.00 in Nagano. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $396 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 21% 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 $2,141 per month in Okinawa and $1,767 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 $42.00 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 $1,428 in Okinawa and $1,178 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 $1,178, than in Okinawa at $1,428. 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.