Kobe vs Naha (Okinawa)
for digital nomads
Under balanced weights Naha (Okinawa) edges it, 71 to 69, winning 2 of the 9 factors. Kobe is stronger on getting there & around; Naha (Okinawa) on climate. Change the weights in the ranker to see which one wins for you.
Cosmopolitan port squeezed between mountains and sea
Full Kobe profile →Where to stay in Kobe →Japan's subtropical island capital
Full Naha (Okinawa) profile →Where to stay in Naha (Okinawa) →Where they differ
- Climate. Naha (Okinawa) leads on climate, 58 to 17, against Kobe. Comfortable months: 2 vs 7.
- Getting there & around. Kobe leads on getting there & around, 77 to 57, against Naha (Okinawa). Non-stop airport destinations: 69 vs 41.
- Internet. Kobe leads on internet, 88 to 80, against Naha (Okinawa). Measured download: 81.6 Mbps vs 55.2 Mbps.
Where they are close. Within five points on cost of living, safety, healthcare, visa ease, quality of life.
Pick Kobe if you want
- faster internet (81.6 Mbps measured)
- more flights and easier getting around
Pick Naha (Okinawa) if you want
- a longer comfortable season (7 months against 2)
Factor scores (0–100, balanced weights)
| Metric | Kobe | Naha (Okinawa) |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living | 21 | 21 |
| Safety | 94 | 94 |
| Healthcare | 92 | 92 |
| Internet | 88 ✓ | 80 |
| Visa ease | 65 | 65 |
| Getting there & around | 77 ✓ | 57 |
| Climate | 17 | 58 ✓ |
| Air quality | 90 | 97 ✓ |
| Quality of life | 74 | 74 |
Cost
| Metric | Kobe | Naha (Okinawa) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost, one personcountry-level estimate for at least one city | $2,700 | $2,700 |
| Central one-bedroom rent | no data | no data |
Safety and health (country-level)
| Metric | Kobe | Naha (Okinawa) |
|---|---|---|
| Homicides per 100k | 0.23 | 0.23 |
| Political stability (0–100) | 87.7 | 87.7 |
| UHC service coverage (0–100) | 86 | 86 |
| Life expectancy | 84.5 yrs | 84.5 yrs |
Internet (M-Lab measured medians)
| Metric | Kobe | Naha (Okinawa) |
|---|---|---|
| Download | 81.6 Mbps ✓ | 55.2 Mbps |
| Upload | 78.4 Mbps ✓ | 47.9 Mbps |
Visa
| Metric | Kobe | Naha (Okinawa) |
|---|---|---|
| Nomad visa | Digital nomad visa (Designated Activities) | Digital nomad visa (Designated Activities) |
| Minimum income for the visa | $5,285/mo | $5,285/mo |
| Entry, US passport | 90 days | 90 days |
| Entry, EU passport | 90 days | 90 days |
| Entry, UK passport | 90 days | 90 days |
Getting there and around
| Metric | Kobe | Naha (Okinawa) |
|---|---|---|
| Non-stop airport destinations | 69 ✓ | 41 |
| Walkability (1–5, editorial) | 4 ✓ | 3 |
| Transit (1–5, editorial) | 5 ✓ | 3 |
Climate and air
| Metric | Kobe | Naha (Okinawa) |
|---|---|---|
| Comfortable months per year | 2 | 7 ✓ |
| Annual mean PM2.5 | 9.7 µg/m³ | 6.3 µg/m³ ✓ |
✓ marks the better value in each row; ties and missing data are left unmarked.
Frequently asked
- Which is cheaper, Kobe or Naha (Okinawa)?
- Naha (Okinawa) is cheaper: about $2,700 per month versus $2,700 for one person.
- Is Kobe or Naha (Okinawa) safer?
- Kobe scores higher on safety (94 vs 94), based on national homicide rates and World Bank political-stability scores.
- Where is the internet faster, Kobe or Naha (Okinawa)?
- Kobe: a measured median of 81.6 Mbps versus 55.2 Mbps (M-Lab, 2024).
More comparisons
Sources: Cost of Living Global 2026 (city rows); 2026 Cost of Living Index (country level); Worldwide Governance Indicators — Political Stability and Absence of Violence (score 0–100); Victims of intentional homicide per 100,000 population (national data, latest year); UHC service coverage index; Life expectancy at birth (years), both sexes; M-Lab NDT statistics (city aggregates, 2024); Airport destinations (Wikipedia airline and destination tables); NASA POWER climatology (2001–2020 monthly means); WHO Ambient Air Quality Database, June 2026 update (V8); SatPM2.5 satellite-derived annual PM2.5 (V6.GL.02.04); Human Development Index (HDR 2025, HDI 2023); EF English Proficiency Index 2024 (band); Walkability and transit ratings (editorial); Passport Index dataset (visa requirements, 199 passports × 199 destinations); OpenStreetMap restaurants (Overpass API); Nostos long-stay visa guides; Starlink availability map. Dataset 2026.10.7. See each city page for per-metric footnotes and the methodology.