Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Yap and Palikir

For one person, living is cheaper in Palikir: $1,039 a month against $1,894 in Yap, rent and utilities included – about $10,300 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Yap outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

50

Cost of Living Index in Palikir
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Palikir Living Index

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Yap

🇫🇲 Micronesia

$1,894

/mo nomad

Palikir

🇫🇲 Micronesia

$1,039

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Yap and in Palikir

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

A single person spends $1,894 per month in Yap vs $1,039 in Palikir, rent included.

Yap $1,894
Palikir $1,039

A couple spends around $2,471 per month in Yap vs $1,593 in Palikir, rent included.

Yap $2,471
Palikir $1,593

A family of three spends $3,049 per month in Yap vs $2,146 in Palikir, rent included.

Yap $3,049
Palikir $2,146

Yap costs about 82% more than Palikir, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Yap sits 39% above the global median, while Palikir is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.87 $29.87

$30.48 $30.48

-2.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.1 $59.1

$45.23 $45.23

30.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.83 $5.83

Cappuccino

$4.42 $4.42

$3.05 $3.05

44.92%

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

$1.74 $1.74

$1.12 $1.12

55.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 $2.03

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.01 $1.01

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 $2.05

Milk (1 liter)

$0.20 $0.20

White Bread (500g)

$5.85 $5.85

$2.16 $2.16

170.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.30 $4.30

$2.24 $2.24

91.96%

Eggs

$2.37 $2.37

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$4.29 $4.29

23.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.43 $4.43

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.04 $6.04

$6.79 $6.79

-11.05%

Apples (1kg)

$4.53 $4.53

$3.61 $3.61

25.48%

Banana (1kg)

$4.40 $4.40

$2.56 $2.56

71.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.31 $4.31

$2.18 $2.18

97.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.53 $4.53

$3.04 $3.04

49.01%

Potato (1kg)

$5.31 $5.31

$3.35 $3.35

58.51%

Onion (1kg)

$1.66 $1.66

$2.23 $2.23

-25.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 $1.85

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 $1.46

$1.13 $1.13

29.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$17.70 $17.70

Wine (Bottle)

$6.57 $6.57

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.87 $3.87

$1.40 $1.40

176.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 $3.04

$1.43 $1.43

112.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 $0.98

$0.78 $0.78

25.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.62 $21.62

$34.18 $34.18

-36.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$7.40 $7.40

$6.23 $6.23

18.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.66 $1.66

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.08 $5.08

$4.82 $4.82

5.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 $1.49

$3.03 $3.03

-50.83%

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

$4,019 $4,019

$3,934 $3,934

2.16%

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

$3,997 $3,997

$3,955 $3,955

1.06%

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

$80.5 $80.5

$39.72 $39.72

102.57%

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

$14.89 $14.89

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$81.5 $81.5

$267 $267

-69.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.68 $41.68

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.60 $19.60

Cinema Ticket

$6.81 $6.81

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

$116 $116

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,655 $1,655

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.18 $24.18

$20.17 $20.17

19.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$75.6 $75.6

$25.31 $25.31

198.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.6 $80.6

$71.2 $71.2

13.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 $121

$54.0 $54.0

123.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$991 $991

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,004 $1,004

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,016 $1,016

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$981 $981

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,471 $1,471

$849 $849

73.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,006 $1,006

$694 $694

44.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$262 $262

$245 $245

6.84%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

400000

380000

5.26%

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

Last update for Yap: October 27, 2026

Last update for Palikir: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Yap

–

Palikir

$322 31%

Eating Out

Yap

–

Palikir

$320 30.8%

Groceries & Markets

Yap

–

Palikir

$213 20.5%

Clothing & Footwear

Yap

–

Palikir

$77 7.4%

Sport & Entertainment

Yap

–

Palikir

$55 5.3%

Getting Around

Yap

–

Palikir

$52 5%

Accommodation & Living

Yap

–

Palikir

- * 0%

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 7% higher in Yap, 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 $59 in Yap versus $45 in Palikir. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $261 vs $213 – making Palikir the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇫🇲 Yap

🇫🇲 Palikir

🕒 Local time

11:01 11:01 AM

12:01 12:01 PM

1 h ahead of Yap

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

11,577

6,942 Capital

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.898 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Yap Palikir 2,220 km ≈ 3 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

Yap
Palikir

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

Yap vs Palikir: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,894 in Yap, $1,039 in Palikir – Palikir comes out roughly 45% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in clothing.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,841 per month in Yap and $1,558 in Palikir. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Public transport costs about 37% less in Yap. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 22% more in Yap, though the gap depends on what you buy.

It depends on your priorities. Yap has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,039 in Palikir to $1,894 in Yap. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

If budget matters most, go with Palikir. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Yap makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.