MigrantoCost of living in Palau
Average monthly spending, by standard of living and against other countries
Monthly cost
$1,184
what a typical person spends
Spending by standard of living
$506richest 20%
$3,032
On Palau, almost everything that isn't grown or caught nearby arrives by ship or plane, and that journey gets folded into the price. Tourism sets much of the tone, which keeps costs firmer than the size of the place would suggest. The space between a comfortable life and a modest one is middling here — neither flat nor a gulf.
Living-cost calculator
What it costs to live in Palau
Tell us what you earn and spend today — we'll estimate what the same lifestyle would cost in Palau and how much you could have left each month
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- How much could be left each month
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Cost of living in Palau
$506/mo
vs $800 in your country
Take-home
$632
vs $1,200 in your country
Potential savings
$126
more than in your country
Standard of living
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How living costs in Palau compare
For a place its size, Palau lands higher than you'd guess — toward the upper end both in its region and against the world. The cause is plain geography: a tiny, remote market that has to bring in most of what it uses, with a visitor economy that does nothing to push prices down. Here you're paying for distance more than for wealth.
Data source: household consumption 2023 (World Bank, regional estimate), price levels (income-anchored estimate), adjusted to 2026 using IMF GDP-per-capita growth
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Frequently asked questions
What is the cost of living in Palau?
A typical person in Palau spends about $1,184 a month — around $14,208 a year — on housing, groceries, transport and other everyday costs. It's a nationwide average across different regions, cities and types of housing.
How much money do you need to live comfortably in Palau?
It all depends on your standard of living. A modest budget runs about $506 a month per person, a typical one around $1,184, and a comfortable life around $1,670. In big cities and for a family, costs are usually higher.
Is the average salary in Palau enough to live on?
In most cases yes, but without much of a cushion. Average spending is about $1,184 a month, while the average take-home pay in Palau is about $1,232. For more on incomes, see salaries in Palau.
Is Palau an expensive country to live in?
Yes. Palau is more expensive than 75% of countries worldwide and ranks 3rd of 11 in Oceania by cost of living.
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Living in Palau
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