Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Palau instead of North Carolina, you would:

Health

be 20.6% more likely to be obese

In North Carolina, 33.6% 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 67.1% less money

North Carolina has a GDP per capita of $59,308 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: North Carolina vs. Palau

Cost of Living Comparison · 7 categories - 2026 data
Palau is 21.1% cheaper than North Carolina
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Size Comparison · See true size
North Carolina is about 275 times bigger than Palau.
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Moving from North Carolina 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 North Carolina? See an in-depth size comparison.

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