Cost of Living Comparison Between United States and Marshall Islands Cost of Living Comparison Between United States and Marshall Islands

Name: Marshall Islands
Address: MH

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,642 in United States versus $2,074 in Marshall Islands.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,857 in United States versus $3,050 in Marshall Islands.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,072 in United States versus $4,025 in Marshall Islands.

Living in United States is roughly 27% more expensive than in Marshall Islands on average.

Both countries sit above the global median: United States 98% above, Marshall Islands 55% above.

Internal cost variation is higher in United States: monthly costs span $1,335 to $5,182, compared to $2,074–$2,074 in Marshall Islands. City choice carries more weight in United States.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.63 $19.63

$12.66 $12.66

55.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.4 $75.4

$30.30 $30.30

148.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.57 $11.57

$10.39 $10.39

11.36%

Cappuccino

$5.22 $5.22

$4.04 $4.04

29.21%

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

$2.49 $2.49

$1.88 $1.88

32.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 $2.06

$2.29 $2.29

-10.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.91 $5.91

$4.45 $4.45

32.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.13 $7.13

$4.86 $4.86

46.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$2.31 $2.31

-52.81%

White Bread (500g)

$3.56 $3.56

$3.32 $3.32

7.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.74 $4.74

$1.76 $1.76

169.32%

Eggs

$4.34 $4.34

$3.99 $3.99

8.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.68 $12.68

$29.04 $29.04

-56.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.28 $12.28

$11.17 $11.17

9.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.60 $16.60

$17.96 $17.96

-7.57%

Apples (1kg)

$5.16 $5.16

$4.50 $4.50

14.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 $1.70

$7.32 $7.32

-76.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.45 $4.45

$8.49 $8.49

-47.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.80 $4.80

$12.68 $12.68

-62.15%

Potato (1kg)

$2.93 $2.93

$5.15 $5.15

-43.11%

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 $3.09

$5.61 $5.61

-44.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.22 $2.22

$3.83 $3.83

-42.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$1.53 $1.53

47.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.90 $9.90

Wine (Bottle)

$15.28 $15.28

$10.19 $10.19

49.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 $1.91

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 $3.58

$2.11 $2.11

69.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.47 $2.47

-0.40%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$64.6 $64.6

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.77 $3.77

$2.49 $2.49

51.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.54 $1.54

11.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.08 $30.08

$4.92 $4.92

511.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 $0.96

$1.85 $1.85

-48.11%

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

$29.9K $29.9K

$18.3K $18.3K

63.57%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$12.8K $12.8K

104.54%

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

$210 $210

$249 $249

-15.48%

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

$56.3 $56.3

$36.98 $36.98

52.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.9 $72.9

$71.1 $71.1

2.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.39 $45.39

$33.43 $33.43

35.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.60 $21.60

Cinema Ticket

$14.04 $14.04

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

$1,377 $1,377

$151 $151

815.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.4K $22.4K

$3,508 $3,508

537.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.7 $52.7

$58.2 $58.2

-9.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.41 $42.41

$39.66 $39.66

6.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.8 $91.8

$34.95 $34.95

162.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 $114

$54.6 $54.6

108.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,765 $1,765

$772 $772

128.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,462 $1,462

$848 $848

72.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,849 $2,849

$1,371 $1,371

107.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,369 $2,369

$1,410 $1,410

68.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,364 $3,364

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,665 $2,665

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,378 $4,378

$1,009 $1,009

334.10%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

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

Last update for United States: July 12, 2026

Last update for Marshall Islands: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $1,635 in United States, $779 in Marshall Islands. Capital cities: $1,625 in Washington, MI vs $779 in Majuro.

National salary averages: $4,500 in United States, $1,017 in Marshall Islands. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 110% higher in United States.

Dining out costs 143% more in United States.

Salaries are 342% higher in United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in United States.

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

United States vs Marshall Islands: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

At $2,074 per month in Marshall Islands and $3,259 in United States, there's a 57% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.

Day-to-day life is simply cheaper in Marshall Islands: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.

Rent in United States is consistently higher than in Marshall Islands across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.

In Marshall Islands, $2,500 covers most cities easily; in United States it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.

It depends on what you're after: Marshall Islands wins on affordability; United States may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.