😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,298 in Guam versus $789 in French Polynesia.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,801 in Guam versus $1,193 in French Polynesia.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,304 in Guam versus $1,597 in French Polynesia.
😐Living in Guam is roughly 65% more expensive than French Polynesia on average.
📊Both countries sit below the global median: Guam3% lower, French Polynesia41% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Guam
French Polynesia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.14$20.14
$15.84CFPF 1,625
27.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$78.2$78.2
$81.2CFPF 8,329
-3.73%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.88$11.88
$12.08CFPF 1,239
-1.66%
Cappuccino
$5.56$5.56
$4.44CFPF 455
25.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86$1.86
$2.67CFPF 274
-30.34%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46$1.46
$2.11CFPF 216
-30.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.46$5.46
$4.87CFPF 500
12.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.11$7.11
$4.93CFPF 506
44.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Guam
French Polynesia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$3.28$3.28
$1.50CFPF 154
118.67%
White Bread(500g)
$5.87$5.87
$2.76CFPF 283
112.68%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.12$5.12
$1.68CFPF 172
204.76%
Eggs
$5.85$5.85
$7.17CFPF 735
-18.41%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$26.23$26.23
$38.65CFPF 3,966
-32.13%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.67$9.67
$16.50CFPF 1,693
-41.39%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.11$20.11
$26.66CFPF 2,735
-24.57%
Apples(1kg)
$8.27$8.27
$5.68CFPF 583
45.60%
Banana(1kg)
$3.04$3.04
$2.49CFPF 255
22.09%
Oranges(1kg)
$7.96$7.96
$6.94CFPF 712
14.70%
Tomato(1kg)
$7.05$7.05
$7.77CFPF 797
-9.27%
Potato(1kg)
$3.79$3.79
$2.93CFPF 300
29.35%
Onion(1kg)
$3.44$3.44
$2.71CFPF 278
26.94%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.56$3.56
$3.86CFPF 396
-7.77%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.29$2.29
$1.17CFPF 120
95.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.09$9.09
$11.90CFPF 1,221
-23.61%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.79$11.79
$24.41CFPF 2,504
-51.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.23$2.23
$2.55CFPF 262
-12.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42$2.42
$4.78CFPF 491
-49.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Guam
French Polynesia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.79$2.79
$1.99CFPF 205
40.20%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$54.6$54.6
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$19.77$19.77
$9.91CFPF 1,017
99.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$31.50$31.50
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.39$1.39
$1.57CFPF 161
-11.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.6K$29.6K
$19.3KCFPF 2.0M
53.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.6K$29.6K
$29.1KCFPF 3.0M
1.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Guam
French Polynesia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$364$364
$178CFPF 18.3K
104.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$85.7$85.7
$17.55CFPF 1,801
388.15%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$103$103
$103CFPF 10.5K
0.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Guam
French Polynesia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$90.3$90.3
$75.5CFPF 7,749
19.56%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.30$26.30
$17.85CFPF 1,832
47.34%
Cinema Ticket
$13.33$13.33
$14.57CFPF 1,494
-8.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Guam
French Polynesia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$566$566
$479CFPF 49.2K
17.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$28.5K$28.5K
$9,811CFPF 1.0M
190.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Guam
French Polynesia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.0$72.0
$98.8CFPF 10.1K
-27.18%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$66.3$66.3
$87.0CFPF 8,927
-23.82%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.8$96.8
$109CFPF 11.2K
-11.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$138$138
$110CFPF 11.2K
25.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Guam
French Polynesia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,932$1,932
$1,322CFPF 135.7K
46.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,518$1,518
$1,095CFPF 112.3K
38.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,908$2,908
$2,149CFPF 220.5K
35.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,504$2,504
$1,854CFPF 190.3K
35.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$8,774CFPF 900.2K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$298$298
$7,922CFPF 812.8K
-96.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Guam
French Polynesia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,642$4,642
$1,934CFPF 198.5K
139.98%
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: May 31, 2026
Last update for French Polynesia: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $946 in Guam, $532 in French Polynesia. Capital cities: $1,855 in Hagatna vs $1,231 in Papeete.
💰National salary averages: $4,914 in Guam, $2,100 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 74% more in Guam.
⭐Salaries are 134% 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 $1,150 per month in French Polynesia and $1,632 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?
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.