Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Apia and Majuro

For one person, living is cheaper in Apia: $851 a month against $2,127 in Majuro, rent and utilities included – about $15,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Apia
🇼🇸 Samoa
$851
/mo nomad
Majuro
🇲🇭 Marshall Islands
$2,127
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Apia and in Majuro

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Apia and in Majuro actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $851 in Apia versus $2,127 in Majuro.

  • Apia $851
  • Majuro $2,127

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,281 in Apia versus $2,970 in Majuro.

  • Apia $2,281
  • Majuro $2,970

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,711 in Apia versus $3,812 in Majuro.

  • Apia $3,711
  • Majuro $3,812

Living in Apia costs roughly 60% less than in Majuro, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Apia is 36% below, Majuro is 59% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Apia
Majuro
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$47.76 WST 133
$9.92 $9.92
381.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.89 WST 103
$29.92 $29.92
23.30%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.51 WST 40.39
$10.56 $10.56
37.41%
Cappuccino
$2.93 WST 8.15
$4.35 $4.35
-32.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 WST 5.01
$1.79 $1.79
0.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39 WST 3.88
$2.02 $2.02
-31.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.51 WST 9.78
$4.48 $4.48
-21.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.67 WST 10.20
$5.14 $5.14
-28.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Apia
Majuro
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.83 WST 5.09
$2.23 $2.23
-17.94%
White Bread (500g)
$0.84 WST 2.34
$3.44 $3.44
-75.58%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.86 WST 5.17
$1.77 $1.77
5.08%
Eggs
$4.15 WST 11.55
$5.14 $5.14
-19.26%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$0.94 WST 2.62
$30.83 $30.83
-96.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.67 WST 10.21
$11.07 $11.07
-66.85%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.60 WST 23.92
$18.03 $18.03
-52.30%
Apples (1kg)
$5.22 WST 14.54
$4.28 $4.28
21.96%
Banana (1kg)
$1.79 WST 4.99
$7.14 $7.14
-74.93%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.87 WST 5.21
$8.93 $8.93
-79.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.34 WST 12.07
$12.84 $12.84
-66.20%
Potato (1kg)
$3.70 WST 10.29
$5.16 $5.16
-28.29%
Onion (1kg)
$1.11 WST 3.10
$5.60 $5.60
-80.18%
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$3.79 $3.79
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.22 WST 3.40
$1.88 $1.88
-35.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.31 WST 17.55
$5.98 $5.98
5.52%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.32 WST 45.41
$9.99 $9.99
63.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.87 WST 5.19
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 WST 10.24
$2.50 $2.50
47.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Apia
Majuro
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.57 WST 9.94
$2.91 $2.91
22.68%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.33 WST 14.84
$2.68 $2.68
98.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$5.42 WST 15.08
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.64 WST 60.2
$5.11 $5.11
323.48%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.06 WST 2.95
$1.77 $1.77
-40.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$25.1K $25.1K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$34.8K $34.8K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Apia
Majuro
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$18.16 WST 50.6
$252 $252
-92.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.40 WST 51.2
$37.28 $37.28
-50.64%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.53 WST 102
$80.2 $80.2
-54.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Apia
Majuro
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$37.80 $37.80
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Apia
Majuro
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$148 $148
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$2,635 $2,635
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Apia
Majuro
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$70.8 $70.8
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$40.02 $40.02
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$30.23 $30.23
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$50.1 $50.1
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Apia
Majuro
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$790 $790
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$883 $883
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,334 $1,334
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,790 WST 4,982
$1,262 $1,262
41.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Apia
Majuro
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$1,007 $1,007
-

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

Last update for Apia: October 6, 2026

Last update for Majuro: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Apia
–
Majuro
$883
Groceries & Markets
Apia
–
Majuro
$540 *
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Apia
–
Majuro
$370
Eating Out
Apia
–
Majuro
$211
Clothing & Footwear
Apia
–
Majuro
$86
Sport & Entertainment
Apia
–
Majuro
$38 *
Getting Around
Apia
–
Majuro
$14 *

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $37.00 in Apia vs $30.00 in Majuro. Groceries flip the comparison at $241 vs $540, with Apia cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇼🇸 Apia
🇲🇭 Majuro
🕒 Local time
19:23 7:23 PM
18:23 6:23 PM
1 h behind Apia
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
36,000 Capital
26,000 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to WST – Samoan Tala Converter

Samoan Tala exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 2.78 WST (1 WST = 0.359 USD). 1 EUR = 3.12 WST (1 WST = 0.32 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Apia Majuro 2,980 km ≈ 4 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Apia
  • Majuro

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Apia vs Majuro: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Apia or Majuro?
Apia wins on cost – living expenses run 150% lower than in Majuro. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Apia the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Apia and in Majuro?
You'd need roughly $1,277 in Apia and $3,190 in Majuro to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does it cost to live in Apia compared to Majuro?
All in, you'll spend $851 per month in Apia versus $2,127 in Majuro – a 150% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Are groceries more expensive in Apia or in Majuro?
Supermarket bills run roughly 124% higher in Majuro. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Apia or in Majuro?
At $851 in Apia versus $2,127 in Majuro, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Apia but tight or insufficient in Majuro. The gap between the two cities makes Apia the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Apia or Majuro?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
How safe is Apia compared to Majuro?
Safety-wise, Apia and Majuro are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Apia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 150% less than in Majuro. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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