Cost of Living Comparison Between Yap and Palikir Cost of Living Comparison Between Yap and Palikir

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,925 per month in Yap vs $1,026 in Palikir, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,507 per month in Yap vs $1,575 in Palikir, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,088 per month in Yap vs $2,124 in Palikir, rent included.

Yap costs about 88% more than Palikir, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Yap sits 40% above the global median, while Palikir is 26% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.46 $29.46

$29.47 $29.47

-0.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.6 $59.6

$45.28 $45.28

31.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.97 $5.97

Cappuccino

$4.57 $4.57

$3.07 $3.07

48.86%

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

$1.76 $1.76

$1.13 $1.13

55.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 $1.95

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.03 $1.03

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 $2.05

Milk (1 liter)

$0.22 $0.22

White Bread (500g)

$6.11 $6.11

$2.23 $2.23

173.99%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$2.18 $2.18

104.59%

Eggs

$2.42 $2.42

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$4.52 $4.52

14.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.31 $4.31

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.00 $6.00

$6.65 $6.65

-9.77%

Apples (1kg)

$4.52 $4.52

$3.50 $3.50

29.14%

Banana (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$2.52 $2.52

74.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.34 $4.34

$2.22 $2.22

95.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.40 $4.40

$3.16 $3.16

39.24%

Potato (1kg)

$5.06 $5.06

$3.32 $3.32

52.41%

Onion (1kg)

$1.61 $1.61

$2.15 $2.15

-25.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.87 $1.87

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.47 $1.47

$1.11 $1.11

32.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.31 $18.31

Wine (Bottle)

$6.79 $6.79

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.86 $3.86

$1.44 $1.44

168.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 $2.94

$1.43 $1.43

105.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 $0.98

$0.82 $0.82

19.51%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.34 $21.34

$34.22 $34.22

-37.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$7.31 $7.31

$6.13 $6.13

19.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.61 $1.61

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.12 $5.12

$4.83 $4.83

6.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.50 $1.50

$3.06 $3.06

-50.98%

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

$4,075 $4,075

$3,963 $3,963

2.83%

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

$3,983 $3,983

$4,018 $4,018

-0.88%

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

$79.2 $79.2

$40.44 $40.44

95.75%

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

$14.86 $14.86

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$81.0 $81.0

$266 $266

-69.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.55 $40.55

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.33 $20.33

Cinema Ticket

$7.11 $7.11

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

$114 $114

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,684 $1,684

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.87 $23.87

$19.90 $19.90

19.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$75.3 $75.3

$25.01 $25.01

200.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.1 $81.1

$70.2 $70.2

15.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 $120

$55.2 $55.2

117.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$980 $980

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$993 $993

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,016 $1,016

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$993 $993

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,524 $1,524

$858 $858

77.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$998 $998

$697 $697

43.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$262 $262

$251 $251

4.31%

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: September 6, 2026

Last update for Palikir: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 4% 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 $60.0 in Yap versus $45.00 in Palikir. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $262 vs $214 – making Palikir the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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: $1,925 in Yap, $1,026 in Palikir – roughly 88% apart. Yap costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,888 per month in Yap and $1,539 in Palikir. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Public transport costs about 60% less in Palikir. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 22% more in Yap, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Palikir, where all-in costs run around $1,026, than in Yap at $1,925. In Palikir it covers expenses comfortably, while in Yap it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Palikir – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

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