Cost of Living Comparison Between Guam and French Polynesia Cost of Living Comparison Between Guam and French Polynesia

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,113 in Guam versus $620 in French Polynesia.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,497 in Guam versus $951 in French Polynesia.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,881 in Guam versus $1,281 in French Polynesia.

Living in Guam is roughly 80% more expensive than in French Polynesia on average.

Both countries sit below the global median: Guam 19% lower, French Polynesia 55% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Guam
French Polynesia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.97 $24.97
$17.67 CFPF 1,810
41.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.1 $61.1
$79.2 CFPF 8,113
-22.83%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$15.14 $15.14
$14.80 CFPF 1,515
2.30%
Cappuccino
$5.66 $5.66
$4.16 CFPF 426
36.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51 $2.51
$2.65 CFPF 272
-5.28%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88 $1.88
$2.59 CFPF 266
-27.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.17 $6.17
$5.00 CFPF 512
23.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.82 $9.82
$5.70 CFPF 583
72.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Guam
French Polynesia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.33 $3.33
$1.49 CFPF 153
123.49%
White Bread (500g)
$6.61 $6.61
$4.45 CFPF 456
48.54%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.74 CFPF 178
39.66%
Eggs
$6.66 $6.66
$6.98 CFPF 715
-4.58%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$23.57 $23.57
$36.96 CFPF 3,785
-36.23%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.38 $10.38
$16.29 CFPF 1,668
-36.28%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.67 $13.67
$24.81 CFPF 2,540
-44.90%
Apples (1kg)
$7.15 $7.15
$5.13 CFPF 525
39.38%
Banana (1kg)
$4.49 $4.49
$2.99 CFPF 307
50.17%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.49 $5.49
$6.64 CFPF 680
-17.32%
Tomato (1kg)
$8.12 $8.12
$8.01 CFPF 821
1.37%
Potato (1kg)
$5.01 $5.01
$3.19 CFPF 327
57.05%
Onion (1kg)
$4.65 $4.65
$2.44 CFPF 250
90.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$4.45 $4.45
$3.68 CFPF 376
20.92%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.98 $1.98
$1.27 CFPF 130
55.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.02 $10.02
$13.15 CFPF 1,347
-23.80%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.85 $11.85
$24.08 CFPF 2,466
-50.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.44 $2.44
$2.88 CFPF 295
-15.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67 $2.67
$3.98 CFPF 408
-32.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Guam
French Polynesia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.96 $2.96
$1.91 CFPF 195
54.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$55.3 $55.3
$14.49 CFPF 1,483
281.78%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$9.80 $9.80
$9.60 CFPF 983
2.08%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.98 $1.98
$2.56 CFPF 262
-22.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$32.58 $32.58
$24.30 CFPF 2,488
34.07%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.37 $1.37
$1.55 CFPF 158
-11.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.6K $29.6K
$19.1K CFPF 2.0M
54.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.9K $30.9K
$30.9K CFPF 3.2M
-0.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Guam
French Polynesia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$387 $387
$185 CFPF 19.0K
108.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$80.9 $80.9
$20.23 CFPF 2,072
300.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$82.3 $82.3
$73.0 CFPF 7,477
12.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Guam
French Polynesia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$77.6 $77.6
$75.5 CFPF 7,736
2.69%
Cinema Ticket
-
$14.48 CFPF 1,483
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Guam
French Polynesia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$564 $564
$493 CFPF 50.5K
14.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$9,918 CFPF 1.0M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Guam
French Polynesia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.2 $59.2
$70.5 CFPF 7,218
-15.99%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$100 $100
$74.3 CFPF 7,610
34.88%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 $102
$80.7 CFPF 8,259
26.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$131 $131
$94.1 CFPF 9,635
39.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Guam
French Polynesia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,138 $2,138
$1,303 CFPF 133.5K
64.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,693 $1,693
$977 CFPF 100.0K
73.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,879 $2,879
$1,924 CFPF 197.1K
49.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,544 $2,544
$1,576 CFPF 161.4K
61.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$7,196 CFPF 736.9K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$297 $297
$9,139 CFPF 935.8K
-96.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Guam
French Polynesia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,626 $4,626
$1,947 CFPF 199.4K
137.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
4.6
-

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

Last update for Guam: September 8, 2026

Last update for French Polynesia: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $940 in Guam, $347 in French Polynesia. Capital cities: $2,181 in Hagatna vs $1,365 in Papeete.

National salary averages: $4,933 in Guam, $2,126 in French Polynesia. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 171% higher in Guam.

Public transport is 100% more expensive in Guam.

Salaries are 132% higher in Guam, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Guam.

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
Guam vs French Polynesia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How does the cost of living in French Polynesia compare to the cost in Guam?
At $1,197 per month in French Polynesia and $1,416 in Guam, there's a 18% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
How do daily expenses compare in French Polynesia vs Guam?
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.
Is rent more expensive in French Polynesia or in Guam?
Rent in Guam 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.
Can you live in both French Polynesia and Guam on $2,000 per month?
In French Polynesia, $2,000 covers most cities easily; in Guam it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
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.

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