Cost of Living Comparison Between Yap and Kolonia Cost of Living Comparison Between Yap and Kolonia

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,925 in Yap versus $1,533 in Kolonia.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,511 in Yap versus $2,268 in Kolonia.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,097 in Yap versus $3,002 in Kolonia.

Living in Yap is roughly 26% more expensive than in Kolonia, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Yap 41% above, Kolonia 12% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.07 $30.07

$9.81 $9.81

206.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.2 $60.2

$25.33 $25.33

137.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.19 $10.19

Cappuccino

$4.53 $4.53

$4.37 $4.37

3.66%

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

$1.74 $1.74

$0.98 $0.98

77.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.26 $1.26

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 $1.98

White Bread (500g)

$6.10 $6.10

$1.94 $1.94

214.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$1.17 $1.17

275.21%

Eggs

$7.36 $7.36

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.31 $5.31

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$24.64 $24.64

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.12 $6.12

$65.8 $65.8

-90.70%

Apples (1kg)

$4.54 $4.54

$6.75 $6.75

-32.74%

Banana (1kg)

$4.53 $4.53

$2.21 $2.21

104.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.53 $4.53

$6.53 $6.53

-30.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.31 $4.31

$10.94 $10.94

-60.60%

Potato (1kg)

$5.31 $5.31

$13.16 $13.16

-59.65%

Onion (1kg)

$1.68 $1.68

Lettuce (1 head)

$5.90 $5.90

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.47 $1.47

$2.03 $2.03

-27.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.03 $9.03

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.87 $3.87

$1.46 $1.46

165.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 $2.97

$1.46 $1.46

103.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.97 $0.97

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.51 $21.51

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$7.52 $7.52

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.14 $5.14

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.56 $1.56

$1.45 $1.45

7.59%

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

$3,960 $3,960

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

$4,038 $4,038

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

$78.9 $78.9

$200 $200

-60.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$81.5 $81.5

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.08 $15.08

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.24 $24.24

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$74.1 $74.1

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.6 $78.6

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 $121

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,018 $1,018

$712 $712

43.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$997 $997

$492 $492

102.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$999 $999

$983 $983

1.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$993 $993

$808 $808

22.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,494 $1,494

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,004 $1,004

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$258 $258

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

400000

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

Last update for Yap: September 15, 2026

Last update for Kolonia: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,018 in Yap and $712 in Kolonia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $60.0 in Yap vs $25.00 in Kolonia. Groceries flip the comparison at $265 vs $618, 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

Yap vs Kolonia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kolonia wins on cost – living expenses run 26% lower than in Yap. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kolonia the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $2,888 in Yap and $2,299 in Kolonia to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,018 in Yap versus $712 in Kolonia. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,925 per month in Yap versus $1,533 in Kolonia – a 26% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Shoppers in Yap pay roughly 133% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

At $1,533 in Kolonia versus $1,925 in Yap, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Kolonia but tight or insufficient in Yap. The gap between the two cities makes Kolonia 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, Yap and Kolonia 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 Kolonia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 26% less than in Yap. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.