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 $1,668 in Pohnpei, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,239 per month in Palikir vs $2,573 in Pohnpei, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,820 per month in Palikir vs $3,477 in Pohnpei, rent included.

Palikir is about 1% cheaper than Pohnpei, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Palikir and Pohnpei sit above the global median – Palikir by 24%, Pohnpei by 25%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.47 $29.47

$11.42 $11.42

158.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.42 $44.42

$44.71 $44.71

-0.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.87 $5.87

$7.62 $7.62

-22.97%

Cappuccino

$2.96 $2.96

$3.07 $3.07

-3.58%

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

$1.18 $1.18

$1.28 $1.28

-7.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 $2.05

$3.96 $3.96

-48.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.02 $1.02

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$3.04 $3.04

-35.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.22 $0.22

$0.27 $0.27

-18.52%

White Bread (500g)

$2.26 $2.26

$3.25 $3.25

-30.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.16 $2.16

$2.96 $2.96

-27.03%

Eggs

$2.42 $2.42

$7.12 $7.12

-66.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$6.84 $6.84

-34.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$5.07 $5.07

-14.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.80 $6.80

$11.35 $11.35

-40.09%

Apples (1kg)

$3.58 $3.58

$6.08 $6.08

-41.12%

Banana (1kg)

$2.52 $2.52

$3.53 $3.53

-28.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.26 $2.26

$5.55 $5.55

-59.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.16 $3.16

Potato (1kg)

$3.23 $3.23

$5.02 $5.02

-35.66%

Onion (1kg)

$2.26 $2.26

$5.14 $5.14

-56.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.93 $1.93

$3.73 $3.73

-48.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 $1.13

$0.98 $0.98

15.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.29 $18.29

$8.89 $8.89

105.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.67 $6.67

$3.06 $3.06

117.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.41 $1.41

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.37 $1.37

$2.69 $2.69

-49.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.77 $0.77

$1.01 $1.01

-23.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.46 $34.46

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.23 $6.23

$4.97 $4.97

25.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 $1.63

$1.23 $1.23

32.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.83 $4.83

$3.92 $3.92

23.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$3.05 $3.05

$3.60 $3.60

-15.28%

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

$3,999 $3,999

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

$4,015 $4,015

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

$40.44 $40.44

$133 $133

-69.58%

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

$15.13 $15.13

$39.42 $39.42

-61.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$267 $267

$201 $201

32.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.05 $41.05

$19.76 $19.76

107.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.09 $20.09

$49.70 $49.70

-59.58%

Cinema Ticket

$7.14 $7.14

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

$113 $113

$167 $167

-32.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,714 $1,714

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.36 $20.36

$80.5 $80.5

-74.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.49 $25.49

$69.0 $69.0

-63.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.9 $70.9

$109 $109

-34.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.5 $54.5

$97.7 $97.7

-44.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$700 $700

$899 $899

-22.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$601 $601

$621 $621

-3.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$757 $757

$1,577 $1,577

-52.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$644 $644

$1,223 $1,223

-47.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$844 $844

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$687 $687

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$246 $246

$361 $361

-31.82%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Pohnpei: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $700 in Palikir versus $899 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 47% higher in Pohnpei, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Palikir versus $45.00 in Pohnpei. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $215 vs $293 – making Palikir the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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, $1,668 in Pohnpei – roughly 1% apart. Pohnpei costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,487 per month in Palikir and $2,502 in Pohnpei. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Palikir, 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 $44.00 in Palikir and $45.00 in Pohnpei. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 36% more in Pohnpei, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Palikir, where all-in costs run around $1,658, than in Pohnpei at $1,668. In Palikir it covers expenses comfortably, while in Pohnpei it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Palikir – 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 Palikir. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Pohnpei makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.