Cost of living comparison

compared to

Saipan vs. San Salvador Cost of Living Summary

Saipan is 12.9% more expensive than San Salvador.

Restaurants
pay 2.1 times more in Saipan
Groceries
pay 42.3% more in Saipan
Transportation
pay 29.9% more in Saipan
Housing
pay 12.9% less in Saipan
Entertainment and Sports
pay 2.0 times more in Saipan
Clothing
pay 65.8% less in Saipan

The cost of restaurants, entertainment and sports, groceries, and transportation in Saipan are more expensive than in San Salvador. Expenses including clothing and housing are lower in Saipan. Notably, restaurants and entertainment and sports are significantly more expensive in Saipan.

Saipan vs. San Salvador Cost Breakdown

If you lived in Saipan instead of San Salvador, you would:

pay 2.1 times more for restaurants

 
San Salvador
Saipan
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $6.75
SVC59.06
$15.00
 
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$7.00
SVC61.25
$14.50
 
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $1.14
SVC10.01
$2.00
 

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pay 42.3% more for groceries

 
San Salvador
Saipan
Bread
1 loaf
$2.85
SVC24.94
$5.63
 
Local cheese (8 oz) $3.85
SVC33.72
??
Milk (1 gallon) $6.95
SVC60.81
$9.87
 

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pay 29.9% more for transportation

 
San Salvador
Saipan
Gasoline (1 gallon) $4.75
SVC41.60
$5.52
 
Monthly public transit pass $37.50
SVC328.13
??
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $25,000.00
SVC219K
$36,999.00
 

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pay 12.9% less for housing

 
San Salvador
Saipan
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$42.50
SVC371.88
$90.00
 
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $898.99
SVC7,866.27
$800.00
 
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $770.00
SVC6,737.58
$375.00
 

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pay (unknown) more for childcare

 
San Salvador
Saipan
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $162.67
SVC1,423.35
??
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $4,720.00
SVC41,300.50
??

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pay 2.0 times more for entertainment and sports

 
San Salvador
Saipan
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $2.00
SVC17.50
$6.00
 
Cappuccino in mid-range area $3.55
SVC31.02
$5.33
 
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$4.00
SVC35.00
??

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pay 65.8% less for clothing

 
San Salvador
Saipan
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$67.15
SVC587.57
??
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$47.00
SVC411.25
??
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$118.33
SVC1,035.43
??

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We average the price of thousands of data points entered by users across the world. Sources: MyLifeElsewhere's cost-of-living dataset (prices updated October 2026). How we calculate this

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