Cost of Living Comparison Between Palikir and Pohnpei Cost of Living Comparison Between Palikir and Pohnpei

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,658 per month in Palikir vs $1,629 in Pohnpei, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,211 per month in Palikir vs $2,543 in Pohnpei, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,764 per month in Palikir vs $3,457 in Pohnpei, rent included.

Palikir costs about 2% more than Pohnpei, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Palikir and Pohnpei sit above the global median – Palikir by 25%, Pohnpei by 22%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.96 $29.96

$11.47 $11.47

161.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.28 $45.28

$44.20 $44.20

2.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.14 $6.14

$7.29 $7.29

-15.78%

Cappuccino

$2.97 $2.97

$3.02 $3.02

-1.66%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.22 $1.22

-7.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 $1.95

$4.09 $4.09

-52.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.99 $0.99

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.93 $2.93

-30.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.20 $0.20

$0.27 $0.27

-25.93%

White Bread (500g)

$2.25 $2.25

$3.26 $3.26

-30.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.23 $2.23

$3.07 $3.07

-27.36%

Eggs

$2.44 $2.44

$7.08 $7.08

-65.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.50 $4.50

$6.91 $6.91

-34.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$5.06 $5.06

-11.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.73 $6.73

$11.67 $11.67

-42.33%

Apples (1kg)

$3.54 $3.54

$5.96 $5.96

-40.60%

Banana (1kg)

$2.61 $2.61

$3.42 $3.42

-23.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.14 $2.14

$5.35 $5.35

-60.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.13 $3.13

Potato (1kg)

$3.27 $3.27

$5.02 $5.02

-34.86%

Onion (1kg)

$2.21 $2.21

$5.09 $5.09

-56.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.94 $1.94

$3.69 $3.69

-47.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 $1.12

$0.98 $0.98

14.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$17.70 $17.70

$9.07 $9.07

95.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.85 $6.85

$2.93 $2.93

133.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 $1.46

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.43 $1.43

$2.61 $2.61

-45.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 $0.84

$1.02 $1.02

-17.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$33.47 $33.47

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.26 $6.26

$4.97 $4.97

25.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.67 $1.67

$1.22 $1.22

36.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.92 $4.92

$4.03 $4.03

22.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$3.15 $3.15

$3.75 $3.75

-16.00%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$4,032 $4,032

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$4,012 $4,012

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$40.56 $40.56

$133 $133

-69.57%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$15.18 $15.18

$39.65 $39.65

-61.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$261 $261

$199 $199

30.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.50 $40.50

$20.36 $20.36

98.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.94 $19.94

$50.1 $50.1

-60.17%

Cinema Ticket

$7.17 $7.17

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$113 $113

$173 $173

-34.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,657 $1,657

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.87 $19.87

$80.6 $80.6

-75.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.08 $25.08

$66.9 $66.9

-62.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.5 $70.5

$109 $109

-35.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.1 $54.1

$98.3 $98.3

-44.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$686 $686

$888 $888

-22.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$600 $600

$616 $616

-2.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$750 $750

$1,569 $1,569

-52.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$645 $645

$1,198 $1,198

-46.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$854 $854

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$696 $696

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$246 $246

$352 $352

-30.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

380000

360000

5.56%

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

Last update for Palikir: July 25, 2026

Last update for Pohnpei: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $686 in Palikir versus $888 in Pohnpei. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 43% higher in Pohnpei, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Palikir versus $44.00 in Pohnpei. Groceries tell a different story – $216 in Palikir vs $291 in Pohnpei – so Palikir wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Pohnpei: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,658 in Palikir, $1,629 in Pohnpei – roughly 2% apart. Palikir costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,486 per month in Palikir and $2,443 in Pohnpei. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Pohnpei, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Palikir and $44.00 in Pohnpei. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 35% cheaper in Palikir – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Pohnpei, where all-in costs run around $1,629, than in Palikir at $1,658. In Pohnpei it covers expenses comfortably, while in Palikir it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Pohnpei – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Pohnpei. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Palikir makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.