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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,684 per month in Tokyo vs $1,252 in Nago, Okinawa, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,693 per month in Tokyo vs $1,962 in Nago, Okinawa, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,703 per month in Tokyo vs $2,672 in Nago, Okinawa, rent included.

Tokyo costs about 34% more than Nago, Okinawa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Tokyo sits 26% above the global median, while Nago, Okinawa is 7% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.09 ¥1,297

$7.03 ¥1,127

15.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.31 ¥7,743

$34.41 ¥5,516

40.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.69 ¥912

$5.49 ¥880

3.64%

Cappuccino

$3.57 ¥572

$3.07 ¥492

16.29%

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

$1.26 ¥202

$1.14 ¥183

10.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.93 ¥148

$0.80 ¥128

16.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.25 ¥682

$2.04 ¥328

108.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.30 ¥850

$3.18 ¥510

66.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.58 ¥253

$1.54 ¥246

2.60%

White Bread (500g)

$1.59 ¥254

$1.66 ¥266

-4.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.32 ¥853

$4.87 ¥780

9.24%

Eggs

$2.41 ¥386

$2.23 ¥357

8.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.04 ¥2,571

$9.89 ¥1,586

62.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.85 ¥1,258

$6.16 ¥988

27.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.16 ¥3,712

$15.68 ¥2,513

47.70%

Apples (1kg)

$5.23 ¥838

$5.24 ¥840

-0.19%

Banana (1kg)

$2.57 ¥412

$2.56 ¥410

0.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.73 ¥919

$3.90 ¥625

46.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.97 ¥957

$4.48 ¥717

33.26%

Potato (1kg)

$3.21 ¥515

$3.22 ¥516

-0.31%

Onion (1kg)

$3.51 ¥563

$2.68 ¥430

30.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.48 ¥237

$1.34 ¥215

10.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 ¥144

$0.88 ¥141

2.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ¥685

$4.07 ¥652

4.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.39 ¥1,505

$6.55 ¥1,050

43.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 ¥344

$1.99 ¥318

8.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 ¥462

$2.29 ¥367

25.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.48 ¥237

$1.65 ¥264

-10.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$84.9 ¥13.6K

$54.9 ¥8,803

54.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.49 ¥560

$3.37 ¥540

3.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.87 ¥459

$3.02 ¥483

-4.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.77 ¥4,291

$21.14 ¥3,388

26.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ¥195

$1.19 ¥190

2.52%

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

$23.5K ¥3.8M

$23.6K ¥3.8M

-0.51%

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

$17.4K ¥2.8M

0.35%

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

$164 ¥26.2K

$142 ¥22.8K

15.16%

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

$26.63 ¥4,268

$26.68 ¥4,277

-0.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.94 ¥5,440

$34.57 ¥5,541

-1.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.0 ¥11.1K

$57.9 ¥9,280

19.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.11 ¥3,224

$13.92 ¥2,231

44.47%

Cinema Ticket

$13.06 ¥2,093

$12.92 ¥2,071

1.08%

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

$506 ¥81.1K

$283 ¥45.4K

78.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K ¥2.5M

$13.2K ¥2.1M

19.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.1 ¥9,632

$42.50 ¥6,813

41.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.31 ¥6,462

$29.71 ¥4,762

35.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.7 ¥10.4K

$60.7 ¥9,730

6.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.2 ¥14.6K

$92.4 ¥14.8K

-1.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,094 ¥175.3K

$465 ¥74.6K

135.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$596 ¥95.6K

$327 ¥52.4K

82.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,609 ¥418.3K

$859 ¥137.6K

203.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,339 ¥214.6K

$653 ¥104.6K

105.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.8K ¥1.7M

$2,854 ¥457.5K

278.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,974 ¥797.3K

$1,834 ¥294.0K

171.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,501 ¥400.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.72

1.81

-4.97%

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

Last update for Tokyo: May 30, 2026

Last update for Nago, Okinawa: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,094 in Tokyo 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 $48.00 in Tokyo versus $34.00 in Nago, Okinawa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $382 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

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

Yes – Tokyo is pricier by about 34%, 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 $2,526 per month in Tokyo and $1,878 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 55% less in Nago, Okinawa. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $506 per month in Tokyo and $283 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 $1,252, than in Tokyo at $1,684. In Nago, Okinawa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tokyo 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, Tokyo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.