Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Palau instead of Maryland, you would:

Health

be 21.3% more likely to be obese

In Maryland, 33.4% of adults are obese as of 2022. In Palau, that number is 40.5% of people as of 2024.

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Economy

make 71.7% less money

Maryland has a GDP per capita of $69,127 as of 2024, while in Palau, the GDP per capita is $19,532 as of 2025.

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Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES) (2022), World Health Organization (2024), Bureau of Economic Analysis (2024), World Bank (2025). How we calculate this

Compare further: Maryland vs. Palau

Cost of Living Comparison · 7 categories - 2026 data
Palau is 29.4% cheaper than Maryland
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Size Comparison · See true size
Maryland is about 55 times bigger than Palau.
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Moving from Maryland to Palau · Cost, visas & climate
Compare cost of living, salary and climate.
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Palau: At a glance

Palau is a sovereign country in Australia-Oceania, with a total land area of approximately 459 sq km. After three decades as part of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific under US administration, this westernmost cluster of the Caroline Islands opted for independence in 1978 rather than join the Federated States of Micronesia. A Compact of Free Association with the US was approved in 1986 but not ratified until 1993. It entered into force the following year when the islands gained independence.
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How big is Palau compared to Maryland? See an in-depth size comparison.

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