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 $1,330 per month in Osaka vs $1,248 in Nago, Okinawa, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,038 per month in Osaka vs $1,911 in Nago, Okinawa, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,746 per month in Osaka vs $2,574 in Nago, Okinawa, rent included.

Osaka costs about 7% more than Nago, Okinawa, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Osaka sits 0% above the global median, while Nago, Okinawa is 7% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.07 ¥1,149

$6.82 ¥1,107

3.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.92 ¥5,674

$35.03 ¥5,691

-0.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.76 ¥773

$5.40 ¥877

-11.85%

Cappuccino

$3.22 ¥523

$3.13 ¥509

2.88%

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

$1.10 ¥179

$1.09 ¥178

0.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 ¥115

$0.82 ¥133

-13.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.84 ¥462

$2.02 ¥329

40.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.21 ¥683

$3.18 ¥517

32.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.54 ¥250

$1.51 ¥246

1.99%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ¥232

$1.65 ¥269

-13.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.62 ¥751

$4.83 ¥785

-4.35%

Eggs

$2.44 ¥396

$2.26 ¥367

7.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.56 ¥1,716

$10.00 ¥1,625

5.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.57 ¥1,068

$6.15 ¥999

6.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.71 ¥3,041

$15.34 ¥2,493

21.97%

Apples (1kg)

$3.69 ¥599

$5.25 ¥853

-29.71%

Banana (1kg)

$2.11 ¥343

$2.66 ¥432

-20.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.47 ¥401

$3.98 ¥647

-37.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.54 ¥738

$4.59 ¥746

-1.09%

Potato (1kg)

$1.64 ¥267

$3.22 ¥523

-49.07%

Onion (1kg)

$1.30 ¥212

$2.63 ¥427

-50.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.37 ¥223

$1.33 ¥216

3.01%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 ¥142

$0.83 ¥134

4.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.87 ¥629

$4.07 ¥662

-4.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.15 ¥1,487

$6.71 ¥1,091

36.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.10 ¥342

$1.96 ¥319

7.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 ¥466

$2.37 ¥385

21.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.67 ¥271

$1.66 ¥270

0.60%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.74 ¥5,807

$56.4 ¥9,163

-36.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.62 ¥751

$3.57 ¥580

29.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.27 ¥532

$3.00 ¥488

9.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.47 ¥3,814

$20.69 ¥3,362

13.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 ¥191

$1.24 ¥202

-4.84%

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

$22.8K ¥3.7M

$23.6K ¥3.8M

-3.48%

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

$17.3K ¥2.8M

$17.0K ¥2.8M

1.66%

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

$134 ¥21.8K

$143 ¥23.3K

-6.37%

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

$27.44 ¥4,458

$27.13 ¥4,409

1.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.41 ¥4,941

$33.39 ¥5,426

-8.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.8 ¥9,396

$57.0 ¥9,256

1.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.18 ¥3,441

$13.99 ¥2,273

51.39%

Cinema Ticket

$12.32 ¥2,002

$12.96 ¥2,105

-4.94%

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

$68.2 ¥11.1K

$285 ¥46.3K

-76.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.6K ¥1.7M

$13.2K ¥2.1M

-20.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.49 ¥7,229

$43.24 ¥7,026

2.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.52 ¥4,796

$30.01 ¥4,877

-1.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.7 ¥10.8K

$59.0 ¥9,586

13.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.8 ¥15.7K

$92.7 ¥15.1K

4.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$727 ¥118.1K

$470 ¥76.4K

54.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$476 ¥77.3K

$334 ¥54.2K

42.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,301 ¥211.3K

$861 ¥140.0K

51.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$827 ¥134.3K

$655 ¥106.4K

26.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,911 ¥960.3K

$2,839 ¥461.2K

108.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,051 ¥333.2K

$2,117 ¥344.0K

-3.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,865 ¥303.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.81

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

Last update for Osaka: July 12, 2026

Last update for Nago, Okinawa: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $727 in Osaka 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 $35.00 in Osaka versus $35.00 in Nago, Okinawa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $300 vs $306 – making Osaka 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

Osaka vs Nago, Okinawa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Osaka is pricier by about 7%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,994 per month in Osaka 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 58% less in Nago, Okinawa. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $68.2 per month in Osaka 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 Osaka at $1,330. In Nago, Okinawa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Osaka 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, Osaka makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.