Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Palikir and Yap

For one person, living is cheaper in Palikir: $1,039 a month against $1,894 in Yap, rent and utilities included – about $10,300 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Yap outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

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Cost of Living Index in Palikir
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Palikir Living Index

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Palikir

🇫🇲 Micronesia

$1,039

/mo nomad

Yap

🇫🇲 Micronesia

$1,894

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Palikir and in Yap

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 Yap actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,039 per month in Palikir vs $1,894 in Yap, rent included.

Palikir $1,039
Yap $1,894

A couple spends around $1,593 per month in Palikir vs $2,471 in Yap, rent included.

Palikir $1,593
Yap $2,471

A family of three spends $2,146 per month in Palikir vs $3,049 in Yap, rent included.

Palikir $2,146
Yap $3,049

Palikir is about 45% cheaper than Yap, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Palikir sits 24% below the global median, while Yap is 39% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.48 $30.48

$29.87 $29.87

2.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.23 $45.23

$59.1 $59.1

-23.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.83 $5.83

Cappuccino

$3.05 $3.05

$4.42 $4.42

-31.00%

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

$1.12 $1.12

$1.74 $1.74

-35.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 $2.03

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.01 $1.01

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 $2.05

Milk (1 liter)

$0.20 $0.20

White Bread (500g)

$2.16 $2.16

$5.85 $5.85

-63.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.24 $2.24

$4.30 $4.30

-47.91%

Eggs

$2.37 $2.37

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.29 $4.29

$5.29 $5.29

-18.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.43 $4.43

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.79 $6.79

$6.04 $6.04

12.42%

Apples (1kg)

$3.61 $3.61

$4.53 $4.53

-20.31%

Banana (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$4.40 $4.40

-41.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.18 $2.18

$4.31 $4.31

-49.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.04 $3.04

$4.53 $4.53

-32.89%

Potato (1kg)

$3.35 $3.35

$5.31 $5.31

-36.91%

Onion (1kg)

$2.23 $2.23

$1.66 $1.66

34.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 $1.85

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.46 $1.46

-22.60%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$17.70 $17.70

Wine (Bottle)

$6.57 $6.57

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.40 $1.40

$3.87 $3.87

-63.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.43 $1.43

$3.04 $3.04

-52.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.78 $0.78

$0.98 $0.98

-20.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.18 $34.18

$21.62 $21.62

58.09%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.23 $6.23

$7.40 $7.40

-15.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.66 $1.66

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.82 $4.82

$5.08 $5.08

-5.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$3.03 $3.03

$1.49 $1.49

103.36%

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

$3,934 $3,934

$4,019 $4,019

-2.11%

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

$3,955 $3,955

$3,997 $3,997

-1.05%

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

$39.72 $39.72

$80.5 $80.5

-50.63%

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

$14.89 $14.89

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$267 $267

$81.5 $81.5

227.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.68 $41.68

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.60 $19.60

Cinema Ticket

$6.81 $6.81

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

$116 $116

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,655 $1,655

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.17 $20.17

$24.18 $24.18

-16.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.31 $25.31

$75.6 $75.6

-66.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.2 $71.2

$80.6 $80.6

-11.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.0 $54.0

$121 $121

-55.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$991 $991

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,004 $1,004

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,016 $1,016

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$981 $981

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$849 $849

$1,471 $1,471

-42.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$694 $694

$1,006 $1,006

-30.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$245 $245

$262 $262

-6.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

380000

400000

-5.00%

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

Last update for Palikir: October 25, 2026

Last update for Yap: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Palikir

$322 31%

Yap

–

Eating Out

Palikir

$320 30.8%

Yap

–

Groceries & Markets

Palikir

$213 20.5%

Yap

–

Clothing & Footwear

Palikir

$77 7.4%

Yap

–

Sport & Entertainment

Palikir

$55 5.3%

Yap

–

Getting Around

Palikir

$52 5%

Yap

–

Accommodation & Living

Palikir

- * 0%

Yap

–

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

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 7% higher in Yap, 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 $45 in Palikir versus $59 in Yap. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $213 vs $261 – making Palikir the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇫🇲 Palikir

🇫🇲 Yap

🕒 Local time

12:54 12:54 PM

11:54 11:54 AM

1 h behind Palikir

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

6,942 Capital

11,577

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.898 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Palikir Yap 2,220 km ≈ 3 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

Palikir
Yap

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 Yap: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,039 in Palikir, $1,894 in Yap – Palikir comes out roughly 45% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in clothing.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,558 per month in Palikir and $2,841 in Yap. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Public transport costs about 37% less in Yap. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 22% more in Yap, though the gap depends on what you buy.

It depends on your priorities. Yap has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,039 in Palikir to $1,894 in Yap. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

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