Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Apia and Palikir

For one person, living is cheaper in Apia: $851 a month against $1,021 in Palikir, rent and utilities included – about $2,000 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

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Cost of Living Index in Palikir
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Palikir Living Index

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Apia

🇼🇸 Samoa

$851

/mo nomad

Palikir

🇫🇲 Micronesia

$1,021

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Apia and in Palikir

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 Palikir actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $851 in Apia versus $1,021 in Palikir.

Apia $851
Palikir $1,021

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,281 in Apia versus $1,593 in Palikir.

Apia $2,281
Palikir $1,593

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,711 in Apia versus $2,165 in Palikir.

Apia $3,711
Palikir $2,165

Living in Apia costs roughly 17% less than in Palikir, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Both cities sit below the global median: Apia 36% lower, Palikir 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$47.76 WST 133

$29.98 $29.98

59.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.89 WST 103

$45.63 $45.63

-19.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.51 WST 40.39

$5.88 $5.88

146.77%

Cappuccino

$2.93 WST 8.15

$2.92 $2.92

0.34%

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

$1.80 WST 5.01

$1.13 $1.13

59.29%

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

$0.99 $0.99

254.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 WST 10.20

$2.05 $2.05

79.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.83 WST 5.09

$0.22 $0.22

731.82%

White Bread (500g)

$0.84 WST 2.34

$2.19 $2.19

-61.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.86 WST 5.17

$2.14 $2.14

-13.08%

Eggs

$4.15 WST 11.55

$2.34 $2.34

77.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$0.94 WST 2.62

$4.31 $4.31

-78.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.67 WST 10.21

$4.33 $4.33

-15.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.60 WST 23.92

$6.59 $6.59

30.50%

Apples (1kg)

$5.22 WST 14.54

$3.57 $3.57

46.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.79 WST 4.99

$2.48 $2.48

-27.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.87 WST 5.21

$2.17 $2.17

-13.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.34 WST 12.07

$3.06 $3.06

41.83%

Potato (1kg)

$3.70 WST 10.29

$3.37 $3.37

9.79%

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 WST 3.10

$2.24 $2.24

-50.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.92 $1.92

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.22 WST 3.40

$1.11 $1.11

9.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.31 WST 17.55

$18.02 $18.02

-64.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.32 WST 45.41

$6.91 $6.91

136.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.87 WST 5.19

$1.44 $1.44

29.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 WST 10.24

$1.43 $1.43

157.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.57 WST 9.94

$0.81 $0.81

340.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$33.38 $33.38

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.33 WST 14.84

$6.34 $6.34

-15.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$5.42 WST 15.08

$1.70 $1.70

218.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.64 WST 60.2

$4.91 $4.91

340.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 WST 2.95

$3.20 $3.20

-66.88%

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

$4,053 $4,053

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

$4,073 $4,073

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

$18.16 WST 50.6

$39.98 $39.98

-54.58%

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

$18.40 WST 51.2

$15.26 $15.26

20.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.53 WST 102

$261 $261

-85.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.13 $41.13

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.37 $20.37

Cinema Ticket

$7.09 $7.09

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

$115 $115

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,664 $1,664

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.93 $19.93

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.85 $24.85

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.4 $70.4

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.8 $54.8

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,790 WST 4,982

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$843 $843

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$694 $694

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$252 $252

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

380000

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

Last update for Apia: October 6, 2026

Last update for Palikir: October 6, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Apia

–

Palikir

$316 30.8%

Eating Out

Apia

–

Palikir

$314 30.6%

Groceries & Markets

Apia

–

Palikir

$213 20.7%

Clothing & Footwear

Apia

–

Palikir

$77 7.5%

Sport & Entertainment

Apia

–

Palikir

$55 5.4%

Getting Around

Apia

–

Palikir

$51 5%

Accommodation & Living

Apia

–

Palikir

- * 0%

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 $46.00 in Palikir. Groceries flip the comparison at $241 vs $213, with Palikir cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know

🇼🇸 Apia

🇫🇲 Palikir

🕒 Local time

15:49 3:49 PM

13:49 1:49 PM

2 h behind Apia

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

36,000 Capital

6,942 Capital

💱 Currency

Samoan Tala WST T

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 WST = 0.359 USD

1 WST = 0.32 EUR

1 USD = 0.892 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to WST – Samoan Tala Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇼🇸 Samoan Tala (T)

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).

USD to WST in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Apia Palikir 4,040 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight

From you

Apia
Palikir

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 Palikir: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Apia wins on cost – living expenses run 20% lower than in Palikir. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Apia the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,277 in Apia and $1,531 in Palikir 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.

All in, you'll spend $851 per month in Apia versus $1,021 in Palikir – a 20% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Shoppers in Palikir pay roughly 13% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Apia gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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.

Safety-wise, Apia and Palikir are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Apia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Palikir. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.