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 $1,437 per month in Okinawa vs $1,248 in Nago, Okinawa, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,214 per month in Okinawa vs $1,911 in Nago, Okinawa, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,992 per month in Okinawa vs $2,574 in Nago, Okinawa, rent included.

Okinawa costs about 15% more than Nago, Okinawa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Okinawa sits 8% above the global median, while Nago, Okinawa is 7% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.18 ¥1,329

$6.82 ¥1,107

19.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.94 ¥6,815

$35.03 ¥5,691

19.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.98 ¥971

$5.40 ¥877

10.74%

Cappuccino

$3.34 ¥543

$3.13 ¥509

6.71%

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

$1.32 ¥215

$1.09 ¥178

21.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.93 ¥152

$0.82 ¥133

13.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.50 ¥569

$2.02 ¥329

73.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.91 ¥797

$3.18 ¥517

54.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ¥317

$1.51 ¥246

29.14%

White Bread (500g)

$2.37 ¥385

$1.65 ¥269

43.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.87 ¥791

$4.83 ¥785

0.83%

Eggs

$2.00 ¥325

$2.26 ¥367

-11.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.39 ¥2,663

$10.00 ¥1,625

63.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.84 ¥1,761

$6.15 ¥999

76.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$26.48 ¥4,303

$15.34 ¥2,493

72.62%

Apples (1kg)

$5.06 ¥822

$5.25 ¥853

-3.62%

Banana (1kg)

$2.59 ¥420

$2.66 ¥432

-2.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.13 ¥509

$3.98 ¥647

-21.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.64 ¥916

$4.59 ¥746

22.88%

Potato (1kg)

$3.50 ¥568

$3.22 ¥523

8.70%

Onion (1kg)

$2.89 ¥469

$2.63 ¥427

9.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.59 ¥258

$1.33 ¥216

19.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 ¥143

$0.83 ¥134

6.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.92 ¥799

$4.07 ¥662

20.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.09 ¥989

$6.71 ¥1,091

-9.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 ¥281

$1.96 ¥319

-11.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 ¥473

$2.37 ¥385

22.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.63 ¥265

$1.66 ¥270

-1.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.91 ¥5,673

$56.4 ¥9,163

-38.09%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.11 ¥668

$3.57 ¥580

15.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.62 ¥587

$3.00 ¥488

20.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.58 ¥2,044

$20.69 ¥3,362

-39.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ¥202

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

$23.3K ¥3.8M

$23.6K ¥3.8M

-1.19%

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

$16.7K ¥2.7M

$17.0K ¥2.8M

-1.79%

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

$173 ¥28.2K

$143 ¥23.3K

20.88%

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

$27.25 ¥4,428

$27.13 ¥4,409

0.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.66 ¥5,145

$33.39 ¥5,426

-5.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.7 ¥8,723

$57.0 ¥9,256

-5.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.04 ¥1,144

$13.99 ¥2,273

-49.68%

Cinema Ticket

$12.45 ¥2,022

$12.96 ¥2,105

-3.94%

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

$346 ¥56.2K

$285 ¥46.3K

21.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.2K ¥2.1M

-0.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.75 ¥7,758

$43.24 ¥7,026

10.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.25 ¥4,753

$30.01 ¥4,877

-2.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.5 ¥11.9K

$59.0 ¥9,586

24.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.9 ¥14.8K

$92.7 ¥15.1K

-1.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$445 ¥72.2K

$470 ¥76.4K

-5.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$400 ¥64.9K

$334 ¥54.2K

19.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$946 ¥153.7K

$861 ¥140.0K

9.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$748 ¥121.5K

$655 ¥106.4K

14.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,584 ¥1.4M

$2,839 ¥461.2K

202.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,221 ¥198.4K

$2,117 ¥344.0K

-42.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,769 ¥287.4K

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Nago, Okinawa: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $445 in Okinawa versus $470 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 $42.00 in Okinawa versus $35.00 in Nago, Okinawa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $395 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 15%, 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 $2,155 per month in Okinawa and $1,873 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 62% less in Nago, Okinawa. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $346 per month in Okinawa and $285 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 $1,248, than in Okinawa at $1,437. 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.