Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between the United States and the Northern Mariana Islands

Name: Northern Mariana Islands
Address: MP

For one person, living is cheaper in the Northern Mariana Islands: $1,762 a month against $2,734 in the United States, rent and utilities included – about $11,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

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Cost of Living Index in the United States
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United States Living Index

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🇺🇸 United States

$2,734

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🇲🇵 Northern Mariana Islands

$1,762

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Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in the United States and in the Northern Mariana Islands

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in the United States and in the Northern Mariana Islands actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,734 in the United States versus $1,762 in the Northern Mariana Islands.

United States $2,734
Northern Mariana Islands $1,762

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,985 in the United States versus $2,580 in the Northern Mariana Islands.

United States $3,985
Northern Mariana Islands $2,580

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,235 in the United States versus $3,399 in the Northern Mariana Islands.

United States $5,235
Northern Mariana Islands $3,399

Internal cost variation is higher in the United States: monthly costs span $979 to $5,160, compared to $1,749–$1,749 in the Northern Mariana Islands. City choice carries more weight in the United States.

Living in the United States is roughly 55% more expensive than in the Northern Mariana Islands on average.

Both countries sit above the global median: the United States 101% above, the Northern Mariana Islands 29% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.03 $20.03

$14.80 $14.80

35.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.0 $80.0

$43.03 $43.03

86.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.80 $11.80

$14.22 $14.22

-17.02%

Cappuccino

$5.55 $5.55

$5.40 $5.40

2.78%

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

$2.66 $2.66

$2.02 $2.02

31.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$1.39 $1.39

56.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.12 $6.12

$6.10 $6.10

0.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.94 $7.94

$7.36 $7.36

7.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$2.55 $2.55

-59.22%

White Bread (500g)

$3.59 $3.59

$5.67 $5.67

-36.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.52 $4.52

$45.28 $45.28

-90.02%

Eggs

$4.28 $4.28

$6.05 $6.05

-29.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.22 $13.22

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.60 $12.60

$13.30 $13.30

-5.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.60 $17.60

$6.70 $6.70

162.69%

Apples (1kg)

$5.30 $5.30

$6.49 $6.49

-18.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 $1.69

Oranges (1kg)

$4.44 $4.44

$6.49 $6.49

-31.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.77 $4.77

Potato (1kg)

$2.97 $2.97

$2.01 $2.01

47.76%

Onion (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$2.21 $2.21

42.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.20 $2.20

$4.96 $4.96

-55.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.98 $10.98

Wine (Bottle)

$15.05 $15.05

$15.16 $15.16

-0.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.06 $2.06

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 $3.79

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.94 $1.94

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$59.4 $59.4

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.58 $3.58

$4.91 $4.91

-27.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.88 $1.88

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.84 $29.84

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.45 $1.45

-29.66%

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

$28.8K $28.8K

$36.3K $36.3K

-20.76%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$21.7K $21.7K

20.65%

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

$218 $218

$377 $377

-42.12%

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

$62.5 $62.5

$59.8 $59.8

4.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.5 $74.5

$91.2 $91.2

-18.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.86 $41.86

$61.1 $61.1

-31.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.81 $22.81

Cinema Ticket

$14.70 $14.70

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

$1,489 $1,489

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.3K $25.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 $54.3

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.71 $42.71

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 $94.1

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 $114

$39.86 $39.86

184.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,659 $1,659

$815 $815

103.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,348 $1,348

$373 $373

261.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,682 $2,682

$780 $780

243.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,169 $2,169

$808 $808

168.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,283 $3,283

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,482 $2,482

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,296 $4,296

$991 $991

333.36%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.55

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

Last update for the United States: October 25, 2026

Last update for the Northern Mariana Islands: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

United States

$1.3K 49.3%

Northern Mariana Islands

–

Groceries & Markets

United States

$415 15.2%

Northern Mariana Islands

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

United States

$355 13%

Northern Mariana Islands

–

Eating Out

United States

$328 12%

Northern Mariana Islands

–

Clothing & Footwear

United States

$137 5%

Northern Mariana Islands

–

Getting Around

United States

$80 2.9%

Northern Mariana Islands

–

Sport & Entertainment

United States

$71 2.6%

Northern Mariana Islands

–

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $1,620 in the United States, $794 in the Northern Mariana Islands. Capital cities: $2,768 in Washington, DC vs $794 in Saipan.

National salary averages: $4,549 in the United States, $1,005 in the Northern Mariana Islands. Higher pay doesn’t always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 104% higher in the United States.

Dining out costs 79% more in the United States.

Salaries are about 4.5 times higher in the United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in the United States.

Good to know

🇺🇸 United States

🇲🇵 Northern Mariana Islands

🕒 Local time

15:56 3:56 PM

05:56 5:56 AM

14 h ahead of the United States

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

340,110,988

47,329

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.893 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

United States Northern Mariana Islands 12,100 km ≈ 16 h nonstop flight

From you

United States
Northern Mariana Islands

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

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

At $1,762 per month in the Northern Mariana Islands and $2,734 in the United States, the Northern Mariana Islands comes out about 36% cheaper. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.

Rent for a central one-bedroom averages $1,620 in the United States and $794 in the Northern Mariana Islands. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.

In the Northern Mariana Islands, $2,000 covers most cities easily; in the 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: the Northern Mariana Islands wins on affordability, while salaries, visas, language, and lifestyle can tip the balance either way.