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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,430 per month in Okinawa vs $1,252 in Nago, Okinawa, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,196 per month in Okinawa vs $1,962 in Nago, Okinawa, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,961 per month in Okinawa vs $2,672 in Nago, Okinawa, rent included.

Okinawa costs about 14% more than Nago, Okinawa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.57 ¥1,373

$7.03 ¥1,127

21.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.32 ¥6,624

$34.41 ¥5,516

20.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.12 ¥981

$5.49 ¥880

11.48%

Cappuccino

$3.31 ¥530

$3.07 ¥492

7.82%

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

$1.32 ¥211

$1.14 ¥183

15.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 ¥138

$0.80 ¥128

7.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.48 ¥558

$2.04 ¥328

70.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.81 ¥770

$3.18 ¥510

51.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ¥299

$1.54 ¥246

21.43%

White Bread (500g)

$2.30 ¥368

$1.66 ¥266

38.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.83 ¥774

$4.87 ¥780

-0.82%

Eggs

$2.01 ¥322

$2.23 ¥357

-9.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.33 ¥2,618

$9.89 ¥1,586

65.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.13 ¥1,784

$6.16 ¥988

80.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$26.95 ¥4,319

$15.68 ¥2,513

71.88%

Apples (1kg)

$5.27 ¥844

$5.24 ¥840

0.57%

Banana (1kg)

$2.61 ¥419

$2.56 ¥410

1.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.03 ¥486

$3.90 ¥625

-22.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.65 ¥905

$4.48 ¥717

26.12%

Potato (1kg)

$3.69 ¥591

$3.22 ¥516

14.60%

Onion (1kg)

$2.90 ¥465

$2.68 ¥430

8.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.60 ¥257

$1.34 ¥215

19.40%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 ¥151

$0.88 ¥141

6.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.82 ¥772

$4.07 ¥652

18.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.11 ¥980

$6.55 ¥1,050

-6.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 ¥275

$1.99 ¥318

-13.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 ¥462

$2.29 ¥367

26.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.67 ¥268

$1.65 ¥264

1.21%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.27 ¥5,654

$54.9 ¥8,803

-35.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.19 ¥672

$3.37 ¥540

24.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.77 ¥605

$3.02 ¥483

24.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.74 ¥2,041

$21.14 ¥3,388

-39.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 ¥192

$1.19 ¥190

0.84%

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

$22.8K ¥3.7M

$23.6K ¥3.8M

-3.31%

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

$17.0K ¥2.7M

$17.4K ¥2.8M

-2.27%

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

$173 ¥27.7K

$142 ¥22.8K

21.77%

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

$27.72 ¥4,444

$26.68 ¥4,277

3.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.51 ¥5,211

$34.57 ¥5,541

-5.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.4 ¥8,566

$57.9 ¥9,280

-7.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.76 ¥1,084

$13.92 ¥2,231

-51.44%

Cinema Ticket

$12.60 ¥2,020

$12.92 ¥2,071

-2.48%

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

$347 ¥55.6K

$283 ¥45.4K

22.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.5K ¥2.2M

$13.2K ¥2.1M

2.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.84 ¥7,829

$42.50 ¥6,813

14.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.28 ¥4,693

$29.71 ¥4,762

-1.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.9 ¥11.7K

$60.7 ¥9,730

20.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$93.1 ¥14.9K

$92.4 ¥14.8K

0.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$437 ¥70.1K

$465 ¥74.6K

-6.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$394 ¥63.2K

$327 ¥52.4K

20.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$944 ¥151.3K

$859 ¥137.6K

9.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$750 ¥120.2K

$653 ¥104.6K

14.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,543 ¥1.4M

$2,854 ¥457.5K

199.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,187 ¥190.2K

$1,834 ¥294.0K

-35.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,292 ¥207.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.81

10.50%

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

Last update for Okinawa: June 1, 2026

Last update for Nago, Okinawa: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $437 in Okinawa versus $465 in Nago, Okinawa. 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 $41.00 in Okinawa versus $34.00 in Nago, Okinawa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $398 vs $306 – making Nago, Okinawa 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 Nago, Okinawa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Okinawa is pricier by about 14%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,145 per month in Okinawa and $1,878 in Nago, Okinawa. 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 56% less in Nago, Okinawa. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $347 per month in Okinawa and $283 in Nago, Okinawa. 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 Okinawa at $1,430. In Nago, Okinawa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Okinawa 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, Okinawa makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.