Cost of Living Comparison Between French Polynesia and Northern Mariana Islands Cost of Living Comparison Between French Polynesia and Northern Mariana Islands

Name: Northern Mariana Islands
Address: MP

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $620 in French Polynesia versus $1,746 in Northern Mariana Islands.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $951 in French Polynesia versus $2,595 in Northern Mariana Islands.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,281 in French Polynesia versus $3,443 in Northern Mariana Islands.

Living in French Polynesia costs about 64% less than in Northern Mariana Islands on average.

French Polynesia (55% below) and Northern Mariana Islands (27% above) straddle the global median.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.67 CFPF 1,811

$14.98 $14.98

17.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.2 CFPF 8,117

$41.86 $41.86

89.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.80 CFPF 1,516

$14.30 $14.30

3.50%

Cappuccino

$4.16 CFPF 426

$5.46 $5.46

-23.81%

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

$2.65 CFPF 272

$2.04 $2.04

29.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.59 CFPF 266

$1.35 $1.35

91.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.00 CFPF 512

$6.18 $6.18

-19.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.70 CFPF 584

$7.53 $7.53

-24.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.49 CFPF 153

$2.67 $2.67

-44.19%

White Bread (500g)

$4.45 CFPF 456

$5.65 $5.65

-21.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.74 CFPF 178

$45.73 $45.73

-96.20%

Eggs

$6.98 CFPF 715

$6.14 $6.14

13.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$36.96 CFPF 3,787

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.29 CFPF 1,669

$13.35 $13.35

22.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.81 CFPF 2,542

$6.48 $6.48

282.87%

Apples (1kg)

$5.13 CFPF 525

$6.78 $6.78

-24.34%

Banana (1kg)

$2.99 CFPF 307

Oranges (1kg)

$6.64 CFPF 681

$6.47 $6.47

2.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$8.01 CFPF 821

Potato (1kg)

$3.19 CFPF 327

$2.07 $2.07

54.11%

Onion (1kg)

$2.44 CFPF 250

$2.23 $2.23

9.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.68 CFPF 377

$4.87 $4.87

-24.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.27 CFPF 130

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.15 CFPF 1,347

Wine (Bottle)

$24.08 CFPF 2,467

$14.83 $14.83

62.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.88 CFPF 295

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.98 CFPF 408

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.91 CFPF 195

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.49 CFPF 1,484

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$9.60 CFPF 983

$4.94 $4.94

94.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.56 CFPF 262

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.30 CFPF 2,490

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.55 CFPF 158

$1.49 $1.49

4.03%

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

$19.1K CFPF 2.0M

$37.6K $37.6K

-49.16%

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

$30.9K CFPF 3.2M

$22.2K $22.2K

39.00%

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

$185 CFPF 19.0K

$379 $379

-51.12%

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

$20.23 CFPF 2,073

$60.6 $60.6

-66.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.0 CFPF 7,481

$89.8 $89.8

-18.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.5 CFPF 7,740

$59.2 $59.2

27.54%

Cinema Ticket

$14.48 CFPF 1,483

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

$493 CFPF 50.5K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,918 CFPF 1.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.5 CFPF 7,221

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$74.3 CFPF 7,613

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.7 CFPF 8,263

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$94.1 CFPF 9,640

$39.36 $39.36

139.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,303 CFPF 133.5K

$809 $809

61.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$977 CFPF 100.1K

$382 $382

155.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,924 CFPF 197.2K

$795 $795

142.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,576 CFPF 161.4K

$794 $794

98.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,196 CFPF 737.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$9,139 CFPF 936.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,947 CFPF 199.5K

$1,007 $1,007

93.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.6

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

Last update for French Polynesia: September 7, 2026

Last update for Northern Mariana Islands: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $347 in French Polynesia, $807 in Northern Mariana Islands. Capital cities: $1,365 in Papeete vs $807 in Saipan.

National salary averages: $2,126 in French Polynesia, $1,010 in Northern Mariana Islands. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 133% higher in Northern Mariana Islands.

Dining out costs 91% more in Northern Mariana Islands.

Salaries are 110% higher in French Polynesia, and purchasing power comes out stronger in French Polynesia.

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 Northern Mariana Islands: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

At $1,197 per month in French Polynesia and $1,746 in Northern Mariana Islands, there's a 46% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.

Day-to-day life is simply cheaper in French Polynesia: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.

Rent in Northern Mariana Islands is consistently higher than in French Polynesia across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.

In French Polynesia, $2,000 covers most cities easily; in Northern Mariana Islands it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.

It depends on what you're after: French Polynesia wins on affordability; Northern Mariana Islands may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.