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: $1,430 in Okinawa versus $1,284 in Nara.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,196 in Okinawa versus $1,928 in Nara.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,961 in Okinawa versus $2,572 in Nara.

Living in Okinawa is roughly 11% more expensive than Nara, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Okinawa is 7% above, Nara is 4% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.57 ¥1,370

$6.77 ¥1,082

26.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.32 ¥6,609

$34.37 ¥5,498

20.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.12 ¥978

$5.66 ¥905

8.13%

Cappuccino

$3.31 ¥529

$3.03 ¥484

9.24%

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

$1.32 ¥211

$1.09 ¥174

21.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 ¥137

$0.72 ¥115

19.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.48 ¥557

$3.40 ¥544

2.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.81 ¥769

$3.21 ¥514

49.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ¥299

$1.53 ¥244

22.22%

White Bread (500g)

$2.30 ¥367

$1.50 ¥240

53.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.83 ¥772

$4.63 ¥740

4.32%

Eggs

$2.01 ¥321

$2.46 ¥393

-18.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.33 ¥2,613

$10.63 ¥1,700

53.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.13 ¥1,780

$6.34 ¥1,014

75.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$26.95 ¥4,310

$20.80 ¥3,326

29.57%

Apples (1kg)

$5.27 ¥842

$3.66 ¥586

43.99%

Banana (1kg)

$2.61 ¥418

$2.18 ¥349

19.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.03 ¥485

$2.52 ¥404

20.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.65 ¥904

$4.32 ¥691

30.79%

Potato (1kg)

$3.69 ¥590

$1.73 ¥276

113.29%

Onion (1kg)

$2.90 ¥464

$1.29 ¥206

124.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.60 ¥256

$1.37 ¥219

16.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 ¥151

$0.90 ¥144

4.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.82 ¥771

$3.38 ¥541

42.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.11 ¥978

$9.36 ¥1,496

-34.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 ¥275

$2.06 ¥330

-16.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 ¥461

$2.36 ¥378

22.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.67 ¥268

$2.24 ¥358

-25.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.27 ¥5,642

$56.2 ¥8,987

-37.22%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.19 ¥671

$3.41 ¥546

22.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.77 ¥603

$2.95 ¥472

27.80%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.74 ¥2,037

$17.42 ¥2,786

-26.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 ¥192

$1.19 ¥190

0.84%

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

$22.8K ¥3.6M

$23.1K ¥3.7M

-1.51%

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

$17.0K ¥2.7M

$17.1K ¥2.7M

-0.44%

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

$173 ¥27.7K

$135 ¥21.6K

28.35%

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

$27.72 ¥4,434

$27.21 ¥4,352

1.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.51 ¥5,200

$30.70 ¥4,910

5.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.4 ¥8,547

$81.2 ¥13.0K

-34.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.76 ¥1,081

$8.21 ¥1,313

-17.66%

Cinema Ticket

$12.60 ¥2,016

$12.41 ¥1,985

1.53%

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

$347 ¥55.5K

$69.9 ¥11.2K

396.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.5K ¥2.2M

$10.3K ¥1.6M

31.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.84 ¥7,813

$44.02 ¥7,040

10.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.28 ¥4,683

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.9 ¥11.7K

$55.6 ¥8,900

31.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$93.1 ¥14.9K

$90.8 ¥14.5K

2.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$437 ¥69.9K

$435 ¥69.5K

0.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$394 ¥63.1K

$370 ¥59.1K

6.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$944 ¥150.9K

$624 ¥99.9K

51.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$750 ¥119.9K

$554 ¥88.6K

35.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,543 ¥1.4M

$2,724 ¥435.7K

213.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,187 ¥189.8K

$1,984 ¥317.3K

-40.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,292 ¥206.6K

$1,131 ¥180.9K

14.18%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Nara: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $437 in Okinawa and $435 in Nara. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Okinawa pays 14% 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: $41.00 in Okinawa vs $34.00 in Nara for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $398 vs $305 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 11% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Okinawa pays 14% more on average, 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: $437 in Okinawa versus $435 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 $34.00 versus $41.00 in Okinawa. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,430 per month in Okinawa versus $1,284 in Nara – a 11% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,284 in Nara versus $1,430 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 11% less than in Okinawa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.