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Nagano

長野県

At a Glance

Monthly Cost
¥415,550≈ $2,770/mo
Avg Rent (1K)
¥35,000/month
Avg Income
300万円/year
Vacant Houses
19.5%vacancy rate
Foreign Community
MediumMedium
Nomad Score
3/5
Safety
Safe
Affordability
86/100Very Affordable

Higher cost area, driven by manufacturing (precision) & agriculture, growing expat presence.

Estimated Monthly Cost of Living

¥415,550

≈ $2,770 USD / month

8% more expensive than national average

Budget

¥290,885

Minimal spending, shared housing, cooking at home

Moderate

¥415,550

Average lifestyle, own apartment, occasional dining

Comfortable

¥581,770

Spacious flat, dining out often, leisure activities

Monthly Spending Breakdown

Other
¥247,93959.7%
Food & Groceries
¥65,69015.8%
Transportation
¥29,4027.1%
Entertainment
¥17,8484.3%
Healthcare
¥15,0343.6%
Utilities
¥14,7053.5%
Housing & Rent
¥14,6753.5%
Clothing
¥5,8551.4%
Education
¥4,4021.1%

Price Details

Individual item prices in Nagano, sourced from e-Stat government data. Prices are in JPY.

Other(3 items)
Total Consumption Expenditure¥373,693
Other Consumption Expenditure¥64,300
Furniture & Household Utensils¥12,805
Food & Groceries(4 items)
Food¥111,278
Rice (Koshihikari)¥4,414
Food (average)¥3,204
Bread (white)¥541
Transportation(1 items)
Transportation & Communication¥53,458
Entertainment(1 items)
Culture & Recreation¥32,450
Healthcare(1 items)
Medical Care¥27,334
Utilities(1 items)
Fuel, Light & Water Charges¥26,737
Housing & Rent(1 items)
Housing¥26,682
Clothing(1 items)
Clothing & Footwear¥10,646
Education(1 items)
Education¥8,003

Foreign Community in Nagano

Medium Community35,000 foreign residents (1.7% of population)+11.5% growth

Top Nationalities

Vietnamese
Chinese
Brazilian

Source: Immigration Services Agency (出入国在留管理庁) end-of-2023 statistics. A larger foreign community often means more multilingual services, international shops, and established support networks for newcomers.

Lifestyle Profile

Top Industries

Manufacturing (precision)AgricultureTourismIT (emerging)

Local Specialties

Shinshu sobaShinshu misoApplesWasabi (Azumino)Oyaki dumplings

Lifestyle

Mountain lifestyleExcellent skiingClean airGrowing remote-work communityHealthy living

Events & Festivals

Aug

Suwa Lake Fireworks

40,000 fireworks over Suwa Lake — one of Japan's largest

Apr (every 6 years)

Onbashira Festival

Dangerous log-riding festival at Suwa Grand Shrine

Digital Nomad Score

3/5 — Good

Based on coworking availability, internet speed, and cafe culture.

Entrepreneur Score

3/5 — Good

Based on startup ecosystem, business support, and market access.

Outdoor & Activities

Skiing (Hakuba/Nozawa/Shiga)Hiking (Japan Alps)ClimbingMountain bikingCampingHot springs

Climate

Cold, snowy winters (mountain areas). Cool summers at elevation. Perfect for outdoor sports.

Foreign Community

Community SizeMedium
English Friendliness
3/5

Economic & Investment Profile

Investment Signal: Stable

Popular remote work relocation destination; ski resort tourism; Karuizawa premium market; high vacancy elsewhere.

Economic Overview

GDP

¥8.5T

+0.6% YoY

GDP per Capita

¥4.2M

Avg. Income

310万円

≈ ¥3,100,000/yr

Unemployment

2.2%

Below national avg

Startup Rate

3.8%

Below average

Real Estate Market

Avg. Rent (1K)

¥35,000

/month

Avg. Rent (2LDK)

¥54,000

/month

Land Price Trend

-0.3%

YoY change

Vacant House Rate

19.6%

Very high (akiya opportunity)

Demographics

Population Trend

↓ Declining

-0.7% YoY

Foreign Residents

35,000

+11.5% growth

Top Nationalities

1.Vietnamese2.Chinese3.Brazilian

Key Metrics at a Glance

GDP¥8.5T
GDP Growth+0.6%
Average Income310\u4E07\u5186
Land Price Change-0.3%
Vacant Houses19.6%
Foreign Residents35,000
Startup Rate3.8%

Sources: Cabinet Office (GDP), Ministry of Internal Affairs (population), Immigration Services Agency (foreign residents), MLIT (land prices, housing survey), National Tax Agency (income). Data from 2022-2024 publications.

International Schools in Nagano

1

Annual tuition fees for international schools in Nagano, sorted from most affordable to highest. Fees are approximate and may vary by grade level; check each school's website for current rates.

¥1,000,000 - ¥1,500,000

per year

IBPreK-9
English/Japanese|IBO

IB candidate school. Bilingual programme. Mountain environment with outdoor education focus.

Find an Apartment in Nagano

Search English-friendly property sites with listings in Nagano.

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Cities & Municipalities (0)

No city data available for this prefecture yet. Data coming soon.

Also Explore

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to live in Nagano?

The estimated monthly cost of living in Nagano for a single person is approximately ¥415,550 (≈ $2,770 USD). This includes rent, food, utilities, transportation, and other daily expenses based on government survey data.

What are specific item prices in Nagano?

The Price Details section below shows individual item prices in Nagano, grouped by category (food, housing, utilities, etc.). You can see exactly how much everyday items like rice, eggs, milk, and transit passes cost, sourced directly from Japan's e-Stat government data.

Is Nagano expensive compared to other prefectures?

Nagano is approximately 8% more expensive than the national average.