For one person, living is cheaper in French Polynesia: $2,339 a month against $3,333 in Guam, rent and utilities included – about $11,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
How much you'll spend in French Polynesia and in Guam
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in French Polynesia and in Guam actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,339 in French Polynesia versus $3,333 in Guam.
French Polynesia $2,339
Guam $3,333
Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,508 in French Polynesia versus $4,755 in Guam.
French Polynesia $3,508
Guam $4,755
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,677 in French Polynesia versus $6,178 in Guam.
French Polynesia $4,677
Guam $6,178
📏
French Polynesia ($14–$2,284) and Guam ($151–$2,734) have similar cost spreads. Where you settle within each country has roughly equal impact on the budget.
🌍
Living in French Polynesia costs about 30% less than in Guam on average.
📊
Both countries sit above the global median: French Polynesia 73% above, Guam 146% above.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
French Polynesia
Guam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.10CFPF 1,815
$24.87$24.87
-31.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.8CFPF 8,050
$60.9$60.9
24.46%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.23CFPF 1,511
$15.28$15.28
-6.87%
Cappuccino
$4.20CFPF 446
$5.46$5.46
-23.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55CFPF 271
$2.49$2.49
2.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53CFPF 269
$1.91$1.91
32.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.68CFPF 497
$5.97$5.97
-21.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.59CFPF 593
$10.09$10.09
-44.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
French Polynesia
Guam
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44CFPF 153
$3.30$3.30
-56.36%
White Bread(500g)
$4.23CFPF 449
$6.94$6.94
-39.05%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64CFPF 174
$2.45$2.45
-33.06%
Eggs
$6.91CFPF 734
$6.62$6.62
4.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$34.89CFPF 3,705
$23.48$23.48
48.59%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.64CFPF 1,660
$10.40$10.40
50.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$24.52CFPF 2,604
$13.56$13.56
80.83%
Apples(1kg)
$5.06CFPF 537
$7.25$7.25
-30.21%
Banana(1kg)
$2.85CFPF 303
$4.45$4.45
-35.96%
Oranges(1kg)
$6.53CFPF 693
$5.59$5.59
16.82%
Tomato(1kg)
$7.63CFPF 810
$7.95$7.95
-4.03%
Potato(1kg)
$3.03CFPF 322
$4.89$4.89
-38.04%
Onion(1kg)
$2.45CFPF 260
$4.60$4.60
-46.74%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.60CFPF 383
$4.37$4.37
-17.62%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.17CFPF 124
$2.01$2.01
-41.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.05CFPF 1,385
$9.58$9.58
36.22%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.65CFPF 2,512
$12.15$12.15
94.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.83CFPF 301
$2.42$2.42
16.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66CFPF 389
$2.71$2.71
35.06%
🚌 Getting Around
French Polynesia
Guam
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.84CFPF 195
$2.96$2.96
-37.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.22CFPF 1,510
$54.6$54.6
-73.98%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$9.44CFPF 1,003
$10.15$10.15
-7.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.42CFPF 257
$2.04$2.04
18.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$23.23CFPF 2,467
$32.38$32.38
-28.26%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49CFPF 158
$1.31$1.31
13.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.2KCFPF 1.9M
$29.2K$29.2K
-37.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.6KCFPF 3.2M
$30.6K$30.6K
-0.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
French Polynesia
Guam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$172CFPF 18.3K
$380$380
-54.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.99CFPF 2,017
$79.9$79.9
-76.24%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.2CFPF 7,667
$83.4$83.4
-13.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
French Polynesia
Guam
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$74.8CFPF 7,945
$78.3$78.3
-4.43%
Cinema Ticket
$14.36CFPF 1,525
$13.16$13.16
9.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
French Polynesia
Guam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$478CFPF 50.8K
$566$566
-15.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,401CFPF 998.2K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
French Polynesia
Guam
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.6CFPF 7,175
$59.8$59.8
12.95%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$71.3CFPF 7,569
$98.5$98.5
-27.59%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.5CFPF 8,439
$101$101
-21.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.7CFPF 9,633
$130$130
-30.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
French Polynesia
Guam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,234CFPF 131.0K
$1,866$1,866
-33.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$940CFPF 99.8K
$1,511$1,511
-37.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,848CFPF 196.2K
$2,808$2,808
-34.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,528CFPF 162.3K
$2,453$2,453
-37.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,976CFPF 740.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$8,993CFPF 954.9K
$295$295
2948.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
French Polynesia
Guam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,885CFPF 200.1K
$4,615$4,615
-59.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.6
0
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for French Polynesia: October 20, 2026
Last update for Guam: October 19, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
French Polynesia
$940 40.2%
Guam
$1.5K 45.3% ↑ 60.8%$571
🛒Groceries & Markets
French Polynesia
$565 24.2%
Guam
$534 16% ↓ 5.5%$31
🍽Eating Out
French Polynesia
$285 12.2%
Guam
$378 11.3% ↑ 32.8%$93
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
French Polynesia
$264 11.3%
Guam
$543 16.3% ↑ 106%$279
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
French Polynesia
$139 6%
Guam
$175 5.3% ↑ 26%$36
🎉Sport & Entertainment
French Polynesia
$104 4.4%
Guam
$105 3.1% ↑ 1%$1.1
🚌Getting Around
French Polynesia
$43 1.8%
Guam
$87 2.6% ↑ 101%$44
🏠Accommodation & Living
French Polynesia
$1.5K 32.7%
Guam
$2.5K 39.7% ↑ 60.5%$925
🛒Groceries & Markets
French Polynesia
$1.3K 28%
Guam
$1.2K 20.2% ↓ 4.7%$62
🍽Eating Out
French Polynesia
$949 20.3%
Guam
$1.1K 17.4% ↑ 13.2%$125
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
French Polynesia
$283 6%
Guam
$623 10.1% ↑ 120%$340
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
French Polynesia
$309 6.6%
Guam
$389 6.3% ↑ 26%$80
🎉Sport & Entertainment
French Polynesia
$207 * 4.4%
Guam
$209 * 3.4% ↑ 1%$2.1
🚌Getting Around
French Polynesia
$90 1.9%
Guam
$180 2.9% ↑ 99.7%$90
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $1,192 in French Polynesia, $1,777 in Guam. Capital cities: $1,360 in Papeete vs $2,215 in Hagatna.
💰National salary averages: $1,976 in French Polynesia, $4,987 in Guam. Higher pay doesn’t always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 49% higher in Guam.
⭐Dining out costs 17% more in French Polynesia.
⭐Public transport is 329% more expensive in Guam.
⭐Salaries are about 2.5 times higher in Guam, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Guam.
French Polynesia→Guam7,990 km≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
French Polynesia
Guam
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
French Polynesia vs Guam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How does the cost of living in French Polynesia compare to the cost in Guam?
At $2,339 per month in French Polynesia and $3,333 in Guam, there’s a 42% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Is rent more expensive in French Polynesia or in Guam?
Rent for a central one-bedroom averages $1,777 in Guam and $1,192 in French Polynesia. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.
Which country is better for expats: French Polynesia or Guam?
It depends on what you’re after: French Polynesia wins on affordability; Guam may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.
French Polynesia vs other spots: cost of living compared