Cost of Living Comparison Between Palikir and Yap Cost of Living Comparison Between Palikir and Yap

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,026 per month in Palikir vs $1,925 in Yap, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,575 per month in Palikir vs $2,507 in Yap, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,124 per month in Palikir vs $3,088 in Yap, rent included.

Palikir is about 47% cheaper than Yap, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Palikir sits 26% below the global median, while Yap is 40% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.47 $29.47

$29.46 $29.46

0.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.28 $45.28

$59.6 $59.6

-23.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.97 $5.97

Cappuccino

$3.07 $3.07

$4.57 $4.57

-32.82%

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

$1.13 $1.13

$1.76 $1.76

-35.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 $1.95

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.03 $1.03

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 $2.05

Milk (1 liter)

$0.22 $0.22

White Bread (500g)

$2.23 $2.23

$6.11 $6.11

-63.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.18 $2.18

$4.46 $4.46

-51.12%

Eggs

$2.42 $2.42

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.52 $4.52

$5.17 $5.17

-12.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.31 $4.31

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.65 $6.65

$6.00 $6.00

10.83%

Apples (1kg)

$3.50 $3.50

$4.52 $4.52

-22.57%

Banana (1kg)

$2.52 $2.52

$4.39 $4.39

-42.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.22 $2.22

$4.34 $4.34

-48.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.16 $3.16

$4.40 $4.40

-28.18%

Potato (1kg)

$3.32 $3.32

$5.06 $5.06

-34.39%

Onion (1kg)

$2.15 $2.15

$1.61 $1.61

33.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.87 $1.87

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.11 $1.11

$1.47 $1.47

-24.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.31 $18.31

Wine (Bottle)

$6.79 $6.79

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 $1.44

$3.86 $3.86

-62.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.43 $1.43

$2.94 $2.94

-51.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.82 $0.82

$0.98 $0.98

-16.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.22 $34.22

$21.34 $21.34

60.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.13 $6.13

$7.31 $7.31

-16.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.61 $1.61

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.83 $4.83

$5.12 $5.12

-5.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$3.06 $3.06

$1.50 $1.50

104.00%

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

$3,963 $3,963

$4,075 $4,075

-2.75%

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

$4,018 $4,018

$3,983 $3,983

0.88%

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

$40.44 $40.44

$79.2 $79.2

-48.91%

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

$14.86 $14.86

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$266 $266

$81.0 $81.0

228.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.55 $40.55

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.33 $20.33

Cinema Ticket

$7.11 $7.11

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

$114 $114

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,684 $1,684

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.90 $19.90

$23.87 $23.87

-16.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.01 $25.01

$75.3 $75.3

-66.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.2 $70.2

$81.1 $81.1

-13.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$55.2 $55.2

$120 $120

-54.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$980 $980

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$993 $993

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,016 $1,016

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$993 $993

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$858 $858

$1,524 $1,524

-43.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$697 $697

$998 $998

-30.18%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$251 $251

$262 $262

-4.13%

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: September 6, 2026

Last update for Yap: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 4% 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 $45.00 in Palikir versus $60.0 in Yap. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $214 vs $262 – 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 Yap: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,026 in Palikir, $1,925 in Yap – roughly 88% apart. Yap costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,539 per month in Palikir and $2,888 in Yap. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Public transport costs about 60% less in Palikir. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 22% more in Yap, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Palikir, where all-in costs run around $1,026, than in Yap at $1,925. In Palikir it covers expenses comfortably, while in Yap 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, Yap makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.