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 Guam and in French Polynesia
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Guam and in French Polynesia actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,333 in Guam versus $2,339 in French Polynesia.
Guam $3,333
French Polynesia $2,339
Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,755 in Guam versus $3,508 in French Polynesia.
Guam $4,755
French Polynesia $3,508
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,178 in Guam versus $4,677 in French Polynesia.
Guam $6,178
French Polynesia $4,677
📏
Guam ($151–$2,734) and French Polynesia ($14–$2,284) have similar cost spreads. Where you settle within each country has roughly equal impact on the budget.
🌍
Living in Guam is roughly 42% more expensive than in French Polynesia on average.
📊
Both countries sit above the global median: Guam 146% above, French Polynesia 73% above.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Guam
French Polynesia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.87$24.87
$17.10CFPF 1,815
45.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.9$60.9
$75.8CFPF 8,050
-19.65%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.28$15.28
$14.23CFPF 1,511
7.38%
Cappuccino
$5.46$5.46
$4.20CFPF 446
30.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49$2.49
$2.55CFPF 271
-2.35%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91$1.91
$2.53CFPF 269
-24.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.97$5.97
$4.68CFPF 497
27.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.09$10.09
$5.59CFPF 593
80.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Guam
French Polynesia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$3.30$3.30
$1.44CFPF 153
129.17%
White Bread(500g)
$6.94$6.94
$4.23CFPF 449
64.07%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.45$2.45
$1.64CFPF 174
49.39%
Eggs
$6.62$6.62
$6.91CFPF 734
-4.20%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$23.48$23.48
$34.89CFPF 3,705
-32.70%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.40$10.40
$15.64CFPF 1,660
-33.50%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.56$13.56
$24.52CFPF 2,604
-44.70%
Apples(1kg)
$7.25$7.25
$5.06CFPF 537
43.28%
Banana(1kg)
$4.45$4.45
$2.85CFPF 303
56.14%
Oranges(1kg)
$5.59$5.59
$6.53CFPF 693
-14.40%
Tomato(1kg)
$7.95$7.95
$7.63CFPF 810
4.19%
Potato(1kg)
$4.89$4.89
$3.03CFPF 322
61.39%
Onion(1kg)
$4.60$4.60
$2.45CFPF 260
87.76%
Lettuce(1 head)
$4.37$4.37
$3.60CFPF 383
21.39%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.01$2.01
$1.17CFPF 124
71.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.58$9.58
$13.05CFPF 1,385
-26.59%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.15$12.15
$23.65CFPF 2,512
-48.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.42$2.42
$2.83CFPF 301
-14.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71$2.71
$3.66CFPF 389
-25.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Guam
French Polynesia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.96$2.96
$1.84CFPF 195
60.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$54.6$54.6
$14.22CFPF 1,510
284.25%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$10.15$10.15
$9.44CFPF 1,003
7.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.04$2.04
$2.42CFPF 257
-15.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$32.38$32.38
$23.23CFPF 2,467
39.39%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31$1.31
$1.49CFPF 158
-12.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.2K$29.2K
$18.2KCFPF 1.9M
60.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.6K$30.6K
$30.6KCFPF 3.2M
0.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Guam
French Polynesia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$380$380
$172CFPF 18.3K
120.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$79.9$79.9
$18.99CFPF 2,017
320.91%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$83.4$83.4
$72.2CFPF 7,667
15.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Guam
French Polynesia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$78.3$78.3
$74.8CFPF 7,945
4.64%
Cinema Ticket
$13.16$13.16
$14.36CFPF 1,525
-8.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Guam
French Polynesia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$566$566
$478CFPF 50.8K
18.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$9,401CFPF 998.2K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Guam
French Polynesia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.8$59.8
$67.6CFPF 7,175
-11.47%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$98.5$98.5
$71.3CFPF 7,569
38.11%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101$101
$79.5CFPF 8,439
26.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130$130
$90.7CFPF 9,633
43.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Guam
French Polynesia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,866$1,866
$1,234CFPF 131.0K
51.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,511$1,511
$940CFPF 99.8K
60.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,808$2,808
$1,848CFPF 196.2K
51.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,453$2,453
$1,528CFPF 162.3K
60.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$6,976CFPF 740.7K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$295$295
$8,993CFPF 954.9K
-96.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Guam
French Polynesia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,615$4,615
$1,885CFPF 200.1K
144.84%
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: October 19, 2026
Last update for French Polynesia: October 20, 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
Guam
$1.5K 45.3%
French Polynesia
$940 40.2% ↓ 37.8%$571
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Guam
$543 16.3%
French Polynesia
$264 11.3% ↓ 51.4%$279
🛒Groceries & Markets
Guam
$534 16%
French Polynesia
$565 24.2% ↑ 5.8%$31
🍽Eating Out
Guam
$378 11.3%
French Polynesia
$285 12.2% ↓ 24.7%$93
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Guam
$175 5.3%
French Polynesia
$139 6% ↓ 20.6%$36
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Guam
$105 3.1%
French Polynesia
$104 4.4% ↓ 1%$1.1
🚌Getting Around
Guam
$87 2.6%
French Polynesia
$43 1.8% ↓ 50.3%$44
🏠Accommodation & Living
Guam
$2.5K 39.7%
French Polynesia
$1.5K 32.7% ↓ 37.7%$925
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Guam
$623 10.1%
French Polynesia
$283 6% ↓ 54.6%$340
🛒Groceries & Markets
Guam
$1.2K 20.2%
French Polynesia
$1.3K 28% ↑ 5%$62
🍽Eating Out
Guam
$1.1K 17.4%
French Polynesia
$949 20.3% ↓ 11.7%$125
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Guam
$389 6.3%
French Polynesia
$309 6.6% ↓ 20.6%$80
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Guam
$209 * 3.4%
French Polynesia
$207 * 4.4% ↓ 1%$2.1
🚌Getting Around
Guam
$180 2.9%
French Polynesia
$90 1.9% ↓ 49.9%$90
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $1,777 in Guam, $1,192 in French Polynesia. Capital cities: $2,215 in Hagatna vs $1,360 in Papeete.
💰National salary averages: $4,987 in Guam, $1,976 in French Polynesia. 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.
Guam→French Polynesia7,990 km≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
Guam
French Polynesia
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
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 $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.