Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Palikir and New Plymouth

For one person, living is cheaper in Palikir: $1,035 a month against $1,821 in New Plymouth, rent and utilities included – about $9,400 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in New Plymouth outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Palikir
🇫🇲 Micronesia
$1,035
/mo nomad
New Plymouth
🇳🇿 New Zealand
$1,821
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Palikir and in New Plymouth

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Palikir and in New Plymouth actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,035 in Palikir versus $1,821 in New Plymouth.

  • Palikir $1,035
  • New Plymouth $1,821

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,586 in Palikir versus $2,787 in New Plymouth.

  • Palikir $1,586
  • New Plymouth $2,787

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,136 in Palikir versus $3,753 in New Plymouth.

  • Palikir $2,136
  • New Plymouth $3,753

Living in Palikir costs roughly 43% less than in New Plymouth, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

The two cities straddle the global median: Palikir is 23% below, New Plymouth is 35% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Palikir
New Plymouth
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$29.96 $29.96
$11.79 NZ$20.86
154.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.50 $45.50
$66.5 NZ$118
-31.60%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.06 $6.06
$8.42 NZ$14.89
-28.03%
Cappuccino
$2.99 $2.99
$3.31 NZ$5.85
-9.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13 $1.13
$2.10 NZ$3.71
-46.19%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98 $1.98
$1.84 NZ$3.25
7.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.02 $1.02
$5.25 NZ$9.28
-80.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 $2.03
$5.51 NZ$9.75
-63.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Palikir
New Plymouth
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.22 $0.22
$1.46 NZ$2.58
-84.93%
White Bread (500g)
$2.22 $2.22
$1.25 NZ$2.21
77.60%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.14 $2.14
$1.62 NZ$2.86
32.10%
Eggs
$2.42 $2.42
$5.35 NZ$9.47
-54.77%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.33 $4.33
$5.48 NZ$9.69
-20.99%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.39 $4.39
$7.23 NZ$12.79
-39.28%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.64 $6.64
$11.60 NZ$20.52
-42.76%
Apples (1kg)
$3.56 $3.56
$2.45 NZ$4.33
45.31%
Banana (1kg)
$2.47 $2.47
$1.90 NZ$3.36
30.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.22 $2.22
$2.95 NZ$5.22
-24.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.02 $3.02
$6.26 NZ$11.08
-51.76%
Potato (1kg)
$3.30 $3.30
$2.03 NZ$3.60
62.56%
Onion (1kg)
$2.22 $2.22
$1.40 NZ$2.48
58.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.94 $1.94
$1.77 NZ$3.14
9.60%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12 $1.12
$1.26 NZ$2.22
-11.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$18.15 $18.15
$22.05 NZ$39.00
-17.69%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.91 $6.91
$8.41 NZ$14.88
-17.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.41 $1.41
$2.90 NZ$5.14
-51.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43 $1.43
$3.76 NZ$6.65
-61.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Palikir
New Plymouth
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.76 $0.76
$1.70 NZ$3.00
-55.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$34.40 $34.40
$74.3 NZ$131
-53.69%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.33 $6.33
$3.61 NZ$6.39
75.35%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.66 $1.66
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.93 $4.93
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$3.20 $3.20
$1.65 NZ$2.92
93.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$3,951 $3,951
$26.4K NZ$46.8K
-85.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$3,951 $3,951
$22.6K NZ$39.9K
-82.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Palikir
New Plymouth
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$39.27 $39.27
$127 NZ$225
-69.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.02 $15.02
$27.63 NZ$48.87
-45.64%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$270 $270
$47.97 NZ$84.8
462.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Palikir
New Plymouth
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.34 $40.34
$42.55 NZ$75.3
-5.19%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.72 $19.72
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.09 $7.09
$8.00 NZ$14.14
-11.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Palikir
New Plymouth
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$116 $116
$669 NZ$1,183
-82.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,687 $1,687
$22.8K NZ$40.2K
-92.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Palikir
New Plymouth
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.69 $19.69
$61.6 NZ$109
-68.06%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.94 $24.94
$38.35 NZ$67.8
-34.97%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$68.9 $68.9
$87.7 NZ$155
-21.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$54.9 $54.9
$103 NZ$182
-46.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Palikir
New Plymouth
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$911 NZ$1,612
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$853 NZ$1,508
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,719 NZ$3,040
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,542 NZ$2,727
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$852 $852
$3,136 NZ$5,547
-72.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$704 $704
$2,566 NZ$4,539
-72.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Palikir
New Plymouth
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$246 $246
$2,766 NZ$4,891
-91.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
380000
5.93
6407994.44%

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

Last update for Palikir: October 10, 2026

Last update for New Plymouth: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Palikir
$324
New Plymouth
$203 37.5% $122
Eating Out
Palikir
$315
New Plymouth
$212 32.7% $103
Groceries & Markets
Palikir
$213
New Plymouth
$279 30.9% $66
Clothing & Footwear
Palikir
$76
New Plymouth
$131 72.4% $55
Sport & Entertainment
Palikir
$55
New Plymouth
$59 7.4% $4
Getting Around
Palikir
$52
New Plymouth
$85 * 62.6% $33
Accommodation & Living
Palikir
- *
New Plymouth
$853

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

New Plymouth pays 1022% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $46.00 in Palikir vs $67.0 in New Plymouth for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $213 vs $279 per month, with Palikir cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇫🇲 Palikir
🇳🇿 New Plymouth
🕒 Local time
03:46 3:46 AM
05:46 5:46 AM
2 h ahead of Palikir
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
6,942 Capital
58,400
Exchange rates and currency converter

NZD, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

New Zealand Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 1.77 NZD (1 NZD = 0.565 USD). 1 EUR = 1.99 NZD (1 NZD = 0.503 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Palikir New Plymouth 5,370 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Palikir
  • New Plymouth

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
Palikir vs New Plymouth: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Palikir and in New Plymouth?
Palikir and New Plymouth differ by about 76% in total monthly costs ($1,035 vs $1,821 including rent). Palikir is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 1022% lower in New Plymouth. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do commuting costs compare in Palikir and in New Plymouth?
A monthly transit pass in Palikir runs roughly 116% less than in New Plymouth. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Palikir and New Plymouth?
Childcare runs $116 in Palikir versus $669 in New Plymouth. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,035 in Palikir versus $1,821 in New Plymouth, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Palikir but tight or insufficient in New Plymouth. The gap between the two cities makes Palikir the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Palikir and New Plymouth?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Palikir or New Plymouth safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Palikir and New Plymouth are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Palikir or New Plymouth?
Expats usually find Palikir gentler on the wallet – expenses run 76% less than in New Plymouth. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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