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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,668 per month in Pohnpei vs $1,658 in Palikir, rent included.

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

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

Pohnpei costs about 1% more than Palikir, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.42 $11.42

$29.47 $29.47

-61.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.71 $44.71

$44.42 $44.42

0.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.62 $7.62

$5.87 $5.87

29.81%

Cappuccino

$3.07 $3.07

$2.96 $2.96

3.72%

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

$1.28 $1.28

$1.18 $1.18

8.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 $3.96

$2.05 $2.05

93.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.02 $1.02

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 $3.04

$1.97 $1.97

54.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.27 $0.27

$0.22 $0.22

22.73%

White Bread (500g)

$3.25 $3.25

$2.26 $2.26

43.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.96 $2.96

$2.16 $2.16

37.04%

Eggs

$7.12 $7.12

$2.42 $2.42

194.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.84 $6.84

$4.49 $4.49

52.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.07 $5.07

$4.32 $4.32

17.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.35 $11.35

$6.80 $6.80

66.91%

Apples (1kg)

$6.08 $6.08

$3.58 $3.58

69.83%

Banana (1kg)

$3.53 $3.53

$2.52 $2.52

40.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.55 $5.55

$2.26 $2.26

145.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.16 $3.16

Potato (1kg)

$5.02 $5.02

$3.23 $3.23

55.42%

Onion (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$2.26 $2.26

127.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.73 $3.73

$1.93 $1.93

93.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.13 $1.13

-13.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.89 $8.89

$18.29 $18.29

-51.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.06 $3.06

$6.67 $6.67

-54.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.41 $1.41

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.37 $1.37

96.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.01 $1.01

$0.77 $0.77

31.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.46 $34.46

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.97 $4.97

$6.23 $6.23

-20.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.23 $1.23

$1.63 $1.63

-24.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.92 $3.92

$4.83 $4.83

-18.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$3.60 $3.60

$3.05 $3.05

18.03%

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)

$133 $133

$40.44 $40.44

228.76%

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

$39.42 $39.42

$15.13 $15.13

160.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$201 $201

$267 $267

-24.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.76 $19.76

$41.05 $41.05

-51.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$49.70 $49.70

$20.09 $20.09

147.39%

Cinema Ticket

$7.14 $7.14

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

$167 $167

$113 $113

47.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,714 $1,714

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$80.5 $80.5

$20.36 $20.36

295.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$69.0 $69.0

$25.49 $25.49

170.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$109 $109

$70.9 $70.9

53.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$97.7 $97.7

$54.5 $54.5

79.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$899 $899

$700 $700

28.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$621 $621

$601 $601

3.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,577 $1,577

$757 $757

108.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,223 $1,223

$644 $644

90.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$844 $844

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$687 $687

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$361 $361

$246 $246

46.67%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

360000

380000

-5.26%

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

Last update for Pohnpei: April 27, 2026

Last update for Palikir: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $899 in Pohnpei versus $700 in Palikir. 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 $45.00 in Pohnpei versus $44.00 in Palikir. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $215 – 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

Pohnpei vs Palikir: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,668 in Pohnpei, $1,658 in Palikir – roughly 1% apart. Pohnpei costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,502 per month in Pohnpei and $2,487 in Palikir. 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 $45.00 in Pohnpei and $44.00 in Palikir. 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.