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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,371 per month in Osaka vs $1,252 in Nago, Okinawa, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,038 per month in Osaka vs $1,962 in Nago, Okinawa, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,705 per month in Osaka vs $2,672 in Nago, Okinawa, rent included.

Osaka costs about 10% more than Nago, Okinawa, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Osaka sits 2% above the global median, while Nago, Okinawa is 7% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Osaka
Nago, Okinawa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.95 ¥1,115
$7.03 ¥1,127
-1.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.58 ¥5,543
$34.41 ¥5,516
0.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.98 ¥798
$5.49 ¥880
-9.29%
Cappuccino
$3.33 ¥533
$3.07 ¥492
8.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08 ¥173
$1.14 ¥183
-5.26%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 ¥122
$0.80 ¥128
-5.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.74 ¥439
$2.04 ¥328
34.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.35 ¥697
$3.18 ¥510
36.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Osaka
Nago, Okinawa
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.61 ¥257
$1.54 ¥246
4.55%
White Bread (500g)
$1.43 ¥229
$1.66 ¥266
-13.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.86 ¥779
$4.87 ¥780
-0.21%
Eggs
$2.46 ¥394
$2.23 ¥357
10.31%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.43 ¥1,672
$9.89 ¥1,586
5.46%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.38 ¥1,023
$6.16 ¥988
3.57%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.61 ¥2,984
$15.68 ¥2,513
18.69%
Apples (1kg)
$3.53 ¥565
$5.24 ¥840
-32.63%
Banana (1kg)
$2.19 ¥350
$2.56 ¥410
-14.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.48 ¥398
$3.90 ¥625
-36.41%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.31 ¥691
$4.48 ¥717
-3.79%
Potato (1kg)
$1.69 ¥272
$3.22 ¥516
-47.52%
Onion (1kg)
$1.28 ¥206
$2.68 ¥430
-52.24%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.39 ¥222
$1.34 ¥215
3.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85 ¥136
$0.88 ¥141
-3.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.93 ¥631
$4.07 ¥652
-3.44%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.27 ¥1,486
$6.55 ¥1,050
41.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.13 ¥341
$1.99 ¥318
7.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99 ¥480
$2.29 ¥367
30.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Osaka
Nago, Okinawa
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.61 ¥258
$1.65 ¥264
-2.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$36.32 ¥5,823
$54.9 ¥8,803
-33.87%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.56 ¥731
$3.37 ¥540
35.31%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.31 ¥531
$3.02 ¥483
9.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$23.95 ¥3,839
$21.14 ¥3,388
13.29%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.19 ¥191
$1.19 ¥190
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.6K ¥3.8M
$23.6K ¥3.8M
-0.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.9K ¥2.7M
$17.4K ¥2.8M
-2.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Osaka
Nago, Okinawa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$135 ¥21.6K
$142 ¥22.8K
-5.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.60 ¥4,424
$26.68 ¥4,277
3.45%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.37 ¥4,868
$34.57 ¥5,541
-12.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Osaka
Nago, Okinawa
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$59.1 ¥9,480
$57.9 ¥9,280
2.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.39 ¥3,269
$13.92 ¥2,231
46.48%
Cinema Ticket
$12.36 ¥1,982
$12.92 ¥2,071
-4.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Osaka
Nago, Okinawa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$68.1 ¥10.9K
$283 ¥45.4K
-75.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.5K ¥1.7M
$13.2K ¥2.1M
-19.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Osaka
Nago, Okinawa
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.08 ¥7,065
$42.50 ¥6,813
3.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.47 ¥4,723
$29.71 ¥4,762
-0.81%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$67.2 ¥10.8K
$60.7 ¥9,730
10.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.8 ¥15.2K
$92.4 ¥14.8K
2.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Osaka
Nago, Okinawa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$717 ¥115.0K
$465 ¥74.6K
54.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$483 ¥77.4K
$327 ¥52.4K
47.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,311 ¥210.1K
$859 ¥137.6K
52.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$807 ¥129.3K
$653 ¥104.6K
23.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,951 ¥953.9K
$2,854 ¥457.5K
108.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,055 ¥329.3K
$1,834 ¥294.0K
12.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Osaka
Nago, Okinawa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,944 ¥311.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
1.81
1.81
-

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

Last update for Osaka: May 30, 2026

Last update for Nago, Okinawa: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $717 in Osaka 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 $35.00 in Osaka versus $34.00 in Nago, Okinawa. Groceries tell a different story – $299 in Osaka vs $306 in Nago, Okinawa – so Osaka wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Osaka vs Nago, Okinawa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nago, Okinawa cheaper than Osaka?
Yes – Osaka is pricier by about 10%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,057 per month in Osaka and $1,878 in Nago, Okinawa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 51% less in Nago, Okinawa. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $68.1 per month in Osaka and $283 in Nago, Okinawa. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Osaka or Nago, Okinawa?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Nago, Okinawa, where all-in costs run around $1,252, than in Osaka at $1,371. In Nago, Okinawa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Osaka it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Osaka or Nago, Okinawa more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Osaka or Nago, Okinawa?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Nago, Okinawa. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Osaka makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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