Cost of Living Comparison Between Okinawa and Nara Cost of Living Comparison Between Okinawa and Nara

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,437 in Okinawa versus $1,269 in Nara.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,214 in Okinawa versus $1,902 in Nara.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,992 in Okinawa versus $2,536 in Nara.

Living in Okinawa is roughly 13% more expensive than in Nara, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Okinawa is 8% above, Nara is 5% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.18 ¥1,329

$6.92 ¥1,124

18.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.94 ¥6,815

$34.80 ¥5,654

20.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.98 ¥971

$5.65 ¥917

5.84%

Cappuccino

$3.34 ¥543

$3.12 ¥507

7.05%

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

$1.32 ¥215

$1.13 ¥184

16.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.93 ¥152

$0.73 ¥118

27.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.50 ¥569

$3.37 ¥548

3.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.91 ¥797

$3.04 ¥493

61.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ¥317

$1.60 ¥260

21.87%

White Bread (500g)

$2.37 ¥385

$1.42 ¥231

66.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.87 ¥791

$4.81 ¥782

1.25%

Eggs

$2.00 ¥325

$2.43 ¥395

-17.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.39 ¥2,663

$10.37 ¥1,686

58.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.84 ¥1,761

$6.47 ¥1,051

67.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$26.48 ¥4,303

$20.42 ¥3,318

29.68%

Apples (1kg)

$5.06 ¥822

$3.50 ¥568

44.57%

Banana (1kg)

$2.59 ¥420

$2.19 ¥355

18.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.13 ¥509

$2.61 ¥424

19.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.64 ¥916

$4.40 ¥716

28.18%

Potato (1kg)

$3.50 ¥568

$1.64 ¥266

113.41%

Onion (1kg)

$2.89 ¥469

$1.24 ¥202

133.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.59 ¥258

$1.38 ¥224

15.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 ¥143

$0.84 ¥136

4.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.92 ¥799

$3.53 ¥573

39.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.09 ¥989

$9.04 ¥1,469

-32.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 ¥281

$2.15 ¥349

-19.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 ¥473

$2.38 ¥386

22.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.63 ¥265

$2.19 ¥355

-25.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.91 ¥5,673

$55.7 ¥9,049

-37.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.11 ¥668

$3.38 ¥549

21.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.62 ¥587

$2.90 ¥470

24.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.58 ¥2,044

$17.13 ¥2,782

-26.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ¥202

$1.23 ¥199

0.81%

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

$23.3K ¥3.8M

$22.7K ¥3.7M

2.79%

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

$16.7K ¥2.7M

$16.8K ¥2.7M

-0.39%

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

$173 ¥28.2K

$131 ¥21.2K

32.56%

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

$27.25 ¥4,428

$27.56 ¥4,478

-1.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.66 ¥5,145

$29.79 ¥4,840

6.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.7 ¥8,723

$80.9 ¥13.1K

-33.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.04 ¥1,144

$8.17 ¥1,327

-13.83%

Cinema Ticket

$12.45 ¥2,022

$12.27 ¥1,993

1.47%

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

$346 ¥56.2K

$68.5 ¥11.1K

405.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.2K ¥2.1M

$10.5K ¥1.7M

25.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.75 ¥7,758

$44.58 ¥7,243

7.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.25 ¥4,753

$29.03 ¥4,717

0.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.5 ¥11.9K

$56.8 ¥9,226

29.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.9 ¥14.8K

$90.3 ¥14.7K

0.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$445 ¥72.2K

$434 ¥70.5K

2.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$400 ¥64.9K

$369 ¥60.0K

8.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$946 ¥153.7K

$623 ¥101.2K

51.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$748 ¥121.5K

$546 ¥88.7K

37.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,584 ¥1.4M

$2,685 ¥436.3K

219.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,221 ¥198.4K

$1,939 ¥315.0K

-37.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,769 ¥287.4K

$1,119 ¥181.9K

58.00%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.78

12.36%

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

Last update for Okinawa: July 13, 2026

Last update for Nara: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $445 in Okinawa and $434 in Nara. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Okinawa pays 58% 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: $42.00 in Okinawa vs $35.00 in Nara for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $395 vs $303 per month, with Nara cheaper across the board.

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 Nara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Nara is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 13% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 58% higher in Okinawa, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $445 in Okinawa versus $434 in Nara. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Nara – a meal for two runs $35.00 versus $42.00 in Okinawa. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,437 per month in Okinawa versus $1,269 in Nara – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,269 in Nara versus $1,437 in Okinawa, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Nara but tight or insufficient in Okinawa. The gap between the two cities makes Nara the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Okinawa and Nara are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Nara gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Okinawa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.