Is living in Guam expensive?

Living in Guam costs around $3,525 per person per month for a moderate lifestyle, almost exactly the US average ($3,525). The headline number hides a sharper picture though: housing eats $2,279 of that, well above mainland averages, because nearly everything on the island is imported. By contrast, Hawaii sits at $6,475 a month, so Guam is meaningfully cheaper than its closest US comparison. Saipan ($3,325) 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.