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: $1,292 in Guam versus $778 in French Polynesia.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,797 in Guam versus $1,184 in French Polynesia.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,302 in Guam versus $1,590 in French Polynesia.

Living in Guam is roughly 66% more expensive than in French Polynesia on average.

Both countries sit below the global median: Guam 3% lower, French Polynesia 42% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Guam
French Polynesia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.40 $20.40
$15.84 CFPF 1,656
28.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$76.9 $76.9
$79.3 CFPF 8,291
-3.11%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.89 $11.89
$12.32 CFPF 1,288
-3.49%
Cappuccino
$5.64 $5.64
$4.42 CFPF 462
27.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84 $1.84
$2.65 CFPF 277
-30.57%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47 $1.47
$2.20 CFPF 230
-33.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.34 $5.34
$4.83 CFPF 504
10.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.99 $6.99
$4.94 CFPF 517
41.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Guam
French Polynesia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.25 $3.25
$1.45 CFPF 151
124.14%
White Bread (500g)
$5.86 $5.86
$2.77 CFPF 289
111.55%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.98 $4.98
$1.68 CFPF 175
196.43%
Eggs
$5.83 $5.83
$7.16 CFPF 748
-18.58%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$26.26 $26.26
$38.42 CFPF 4,015
-31.65%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.62 $9.62
$16.83 CFPF 1,759
-42.84%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.87 $19.87
$27.30 CFPF 2,853
-27.22%
Apples (1kg)
$8.12 $8.12
$5.48 CFPF 572
48.18%
Banana (1kg)
$3.20 $3.20
$2.37 CFPF 248
35.02%
Oranges (1kg)
$7.93 $7.93
$6.72 CFPF 702
18.01%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.76 $6.76
$7.93 CFPF 829
-14.75%
Potato (1kg)
$3.72 $3.72
$3.01 CFPF 314
23.59%
Onion (1kg)
$3.39 $3.39
$2.69 CFPF 281
26.02%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.41 $3.41
$3.86 CFPF 404
-11.66%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.27 $2.27
$1.17 CFPF 122
94.02%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.29 $9.29
$11.95 CFPF 1,249
-22.26%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.08 $12.08
$24.34 CFPF 2,543
-50.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.26 $2.26
$2.54 CFPF 265
-11.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$4.75 CFPF 496
-49.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Guam
French Polynesia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.81 $2.81
$1.97 CFPF 206
42.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$54.5 $54.5
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$20.30 $20.30
$9.82 CFPF 1,026
106.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$32.04 $32.04
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.39 $1.39
$1.52 CFPF 159
-8.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.5K $29.5K
$19.7K CFPF 2.1M
49.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.3K $30.3K
$28.7K CFPF 3.0M
5.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Guam
French Polynesia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$366 $366
$181 CFPF 18.9K
102.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$83.4 $83.4
$17.77 CFPF 1,857
369.22%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$103 $103
$103 CFPF 10.7K
0.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Guam
French Polynesia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$90.7 $90.7
$73.5 CFPF 7,680
23.33%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.15 $26.15
$17.81 CFPF 1,861
46.83%
Cinema Ticket
$13.54 $13.54
$14.68 CFPF 1,534
-7.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Guam
French Polynesia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$558 $558
$485 CFPF 50.7K
15.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$28.9K $28.9K
$9,615 CFPF 1.0M
200.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Guam
French Polynesia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.4 $74.4
$99.7 CFPF 10.4K
-25.40%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$64.8 $64.8
$85.4 CFPF 8,925
-24.17%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.0 $97.0
$108 CFPF 11.3K
-9.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$141 $141
$108 CFPF 11.2K
30.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Guam
French Polynesia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,892 $1,892
$1,293 CFPF 135.1K
46.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,500 $1,500
$1,089 CFPF 113.8K
37.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,993 $2,993
$2,109 CFPF 220.4K
41.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,521 $2,521
$1,827 CFPF 191.0K
37.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$8,356 CFPF 873.2K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$302 $302
$7,809 CFPF 816.0K
-96.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Guam
French Polynesia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,611 $4,611
$1,935 CFPF 202.2K
138.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.22
5.4
-21.85%

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

Last update for Guam: July 21, 2026

Last update for French Polynesia: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $946 in Guam, $531 in French Polynesia. Capital cities: $1,822 in Hagatna vs $1,226 in Papeete.

National salary averages: $4,941 in Guam, $2,079 in French Polynesia. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 78% higher in Guam.

Dining out costs 68% more in Guam.

Salaries are 138% 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 $1,120 per month in French Polynesia and $1,591 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.
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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