Cost of Living Comparison Between Pohnpei and Yap Cost of Living Comparison Between Pohnpei and Yap

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,629 in Pohnpei versus $1,876 in Yap.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,543 in Pohnpei versus $2,492 in Yap.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,457 in Pohnpei versus $3,109 in Yap.

Living in Pohnpei costs roughly 13% less than in Yap, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Pohnpei 22% above, Yap 41% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.47 $11.47

$29.66 $29.66

-61.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.20 $44.20

$60.5 $60.5

-26.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.29 $7.29

Cappuccino

$3.02 $3.02

$4.56 $4.56

-33.77%

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

$1.22 $1.22

$1.78 $1.78

-31.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.09 $4.09

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

Milk (1 liter)

$0.27 $0.27

White Bread (500g)

$3.26 $3.26

$6.10 $6.10

-46.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.07 $3.07

$4.35 $4.35

-29.43%

Eggs

$7.08 $7.08

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.91 $6.91

$5.14 $5.14

34.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.06 $5.06

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.67 $11.67

$6.08 $6.08

91.94%

Apples (1kg)

$5.96 $5.96

$4.34 $4.34

37.33%

Banana (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$4.39 $4.39

-22.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.35 $5.35

$4.36 $4.36

22.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.29 $4.29

Potato (1kg)

$5.02 $5.02

$5.22 $5.22

-3.83%

Onion (1kg)

$5.09 $5.09

$1.62 $1.62

214.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.69 $3.69

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.54 $1.54

-36.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.07 $9.07

Wine (Bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.87 $3.87

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 $2.61

$2.92 $2.92

-10.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.02 $1.02

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.92 $21.92

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.97 $4.97

$7.39 $7.39

-32.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.22 $1.22

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.03 $4.03

$5.11 $5.11

-21.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$3.75 $3.75

$1.55 $1.55

141.94%

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

$3,970 $3,970

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

$3,990 $3,990

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

$133 $133

$79.2 $79.2

68.25%

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

$39.65 $39.65

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$199 $199

$82.0 $82.0

143.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.36 $20.36

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$50.1 $50.1

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

$173 $173

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$80.6 $80.6

$24.11 $24.11

234.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$66.9 $66.9

$75.4 $75.4

-11.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$109 $109

$80.9 $80.9

34.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$98.3 $98.3

$122 $122

-19.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$888 $888

$1,015 $1,015

-12.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$616 $616

$1,018 $1,018

-39.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,569 $1,569

$1,007 $1,007

55.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,198 $1,198

$1,004 $1,004

19.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,485 $1,485

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$995 $995

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$352 $352

$258 $258

36.41%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

360000

400000

-10.00%

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

Last update for Pohnpei: July 26, 2026

Last update for Yap: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $888 in Pohnpei and $1,015 in Yap. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Pohnpei pays 36% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $44.00 in Pohnpei vs $60.0 in Yap. Groceries flip the comparison at $291 vs $262, with Yap cheaper for home cooking.

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 Yap: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Pohnpei is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Getting Around. The 15% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 36% higher in Pohnpei, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $888 in Pohnpei versus $1,015 in Yap. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Yap pay roughly 11% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Pohnpei – a meal for two runs $44.00 versus $60.0 in Yap. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,629 in Pohnpei versus $1,876 in Yap, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Pohnpei but tight or insufficient in Yap. The gap between the two cities makes Pohnpei the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Pohnpei and Yap are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Pohnpei gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Yap. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.