Is living in Guam expensive?

Living in Guam costs around $2,650 per person per month for a moderate lifestyle, well below the US average ($3,275). The headline number hides a sharper picture though: housing costs $923 of that, substantially below mainland averages, because while nearly everything on the island is imported, housing remains relatively affordable. By contrast, Hawaii sits at $4,125 a month, so Guam is meaningfully cheaper than its closest US comparison. Saipan ($2,600) runs a touch cheaper across the Northern Marianas. Food, fuel, vehicles, and most consumer goods carry an import premium of 20 to 40 percent over mainland prices; Costco and on-base commissaries offset some of this for households able to buy in bulk. For the full lifestyle tier breakdown, see our Guam cost of living page.