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: $1,302 in Guam versus $787 in French Polynesia.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,807 in Guam versus $1,196 in French Polynesia.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,312 in Guam versus $1,604 in French Polynesia.

Living in Guam is roughly 65% more expensive than French Polynesia on average.

Both countries sit below the global median: Guam 3% lower, French Polynesia 41% lower.

Internal cost variation is higher in Guam: monthly costs span $0 to $3,293, compared to $0$2,251 in French Polynesia. City choice carries more weight in Guam.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Guam
French Polynesia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.03 $20.03
$15.81 CFPF 1,610
26.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$78.2 $78.2
$79.7 CFPF 8,111
-1.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.18 $12.18
$11.93 CFPF 1,214
2.10%
Cappuccino
$5.62 $5.62
$4.38 CFPF 446
28.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84 $1.84
$2.66 CFPF 270
-30.83%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54 $1.54
$2.21 CFPF 225
-30.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.54 $5.54
$5.04 CFPF 513
9.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.10 $7.10
$4.77 CFPF 486
48.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Guam
French Polynesia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.41 $3.41
$1.50 CFPF 152
127.33%
White Bread (500g)
$6.03 $6.03
$2.86 CFPF 291
110.84%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.99 $4.99
$1.66 CFPF 169
200.60%
Eggs
$6.04 $6.04
$7.37 CFPF 751
-18.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$26.30 $26.30
$38.55 CFPF 3,924
-31.78%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.74 $9.74
$17.05 CFPF 1,736
-42.87%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.96 $19.96
$27.36 CFPF 2,785
-27.05%
Apples (1kg)
$8.11 $8.11
$5.38 CFPF 548
50.74%
Banana (1kg)
$3.20 $3.20
$2.40 CFPF 244
33.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$7.88 $7.88
$6.83 CFPF 696
15.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.74 $6.74
$7.84 CFPF 798
-14.03%
Potato (1kg)
$3.78 $3.78
$3.05 CFPF 311
23.93%
Onion (1kg)
$3.29 $3.29
$2.73 CFPF 278
20.51%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.44 $3.44
$3.93 CFPF 400
-12.47%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.30 $2.30
$1.12 CFPF 114
105.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.35 $9.35
$12.05 CFPF 1,226
-22.41%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.79 $11.79
$24.51 CFPF 2,495
-51.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.23 $2.23
$2.55 CFPF 260
-12.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34 $2.34
$4.59 CFPF 467
-49.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Guam
French Polynesia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.78 $2.78
$1.92 CFPF 195
44.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$54.9 $54.9
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$20.07 $20.07
$9.91 CFPF 1,008
102.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$31.91 $31.91
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.43 $1.43
$1.59 CFPF 162
-10.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.5K $28.5K
$19.1K CFPF 1.9M
49.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.2K $30.2K
$28.9K CFPF 2.9M
4.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Guam
French Polynesia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$374 $374
$184 CFPF 18.7K
103.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$85.3 $85.3
$17.61 CFPF 1,792
384.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$105 $105
$106 CFPF 10.8K
-0.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Guam
French Polynesia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$92.5 $92.5
$73.4 CFPF 7,471
25.97%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.87 $25.87
$17.55 CFPF 1,786
47.41%
Cinema Ticket
$13.55 $13.55
$14.69 CFPF 1,495
-7.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Guam
French Polynesia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$551 $551
$477 CFPF 48.5K
15.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$28.9K $28.9K
$9,768 CFPF 994.3K
196.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Guam
French Polynesia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.9 $71.9
$98.0 CFPF 9,970
-26.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$64.4 $64.4
$84.4 CFPF 8,588
-23.72%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.2 $96.2
$110 CFPF 11.2K
-12.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$141 $141
$107 CFPF 10.9K
32.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Guam
French Polynesia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,959 $1,959
$1,313 CFPF 133.6K
49.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,497 $1,497
$1,100 CFPF 112.0K
36.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,927 $2,927
$2,107 CFPF 214.4K
38.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,549 $2,549
$1,840 CFPF 187.3K
38.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$8,564 CFPF 871.8K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$304 $304
$7,932 CFPF 807.4K
-96.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Guam
French Polynesia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,629 $4,629
$1,966 CFPF 200.1K
135.44%
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: April 22, 2026

Last update for French Polynesia: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $950 in Guam, $537 in French Polynesia. Capital cities: $1,836 in Hagatna vs $1,232 in Papeete.

National salary averages: $4,889 in Guam, $2,144 in French Polynesia. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 77% higher in Guam.

Dining out costs 74% more in Guam.

Salaries are 128% higher in Guam, giving Guam stronger purchasing power.

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 Guam?
At $1,126 per month in French Polynesia and $1,647 in Guam, 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.
How do daily expenses compare in French Polynesia vs Guam?
French Polynesia is simply cheaper day-to-day: 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 Guam?
Rent in Guam beats 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 works in regional areas but 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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