Federated States of Micronesia
How much does a trip to Federated States of Micronesia cost? Daily budget and prices
Plan on US$100–140 a day backpacking, US$200–300 mid-range and US$400+ for dive-resort comfort, per person, excluding flights. Everything is imported, so food and lodging cost more than most of the Pacific. Bring US dollars in cash: ATMs are few and can run dry.
- Source checked
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- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
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Key facts
- Currency
- US dollar (USD); no conversion needed for US travellers
- Backpacker day
- US$95–170 (guesthouse, diners, shared taxis)
- Mid-range day
- US$185–325 (town hotel, restaurants, a boat trip)
- Comfort day
- US$400–680 (dive resort, all meals, private transfers)
- Plate lunch
- US$6–10 at a local diner
- Shared taxi in Kolonia or Weno
- US$1–3
- Two-tank boat dive, Chuuk
- US$150–220 plus lagoon permit
- Island-hopper flight between states
- About US$350 one way
- Cash
- Bring enough USD for the whole stay; cards often carry a surcharge
Budget by travel style
The Federated States of Micronesia is four separate states, each a short flight apart, and each with its own price level. Chuuk costs more because wreck divers fill the boats; Pohnpei is mid-priced; Yap and Kosrae sit somewhere between. The figures below are per person per day, sharing a room at mid and comfort level, and exclude international flights, inter-state flights, diving and liveaboards.
Diving is the single biggest variable. Two tanks a day adds US$150–220 on top of any tier, and a week-long Chuuk liveaboard runs US$3,000–5,000. If you are not diving, your daily spend drops fast, because there is little else to buy beyond food, transport and site fees.
| Tier | Bed | Food | Transport | Sights | Extras | Total per day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Backpacker | US$50–90 | US$25–35 | US$5–15 | US$10–20 | US$5–10 | US$95–170 |
| Mid-range | US$60–100 | US$45–65 | US$20–40 | US$50–100 | US$10–20 | US$185–325 |
| Comfort | US$120–200 | US$70–110 | US$40–80 | US$150–250 | US$20–40 | US$400–680 |
2026 estimate, per person. Flights, diving and liveaboards not included.
What things cost
Nearly everything is imported, so groceries and restaurant food cost more than in Hawaii. A plate lunch at a local diner is the cheapest full meal; hotel restaurants and dive-resort dining run several times that. Alcohol is taxed and priced accordingly.
Transport is cheap once you are on an island: shared taxis in Kolonia and Weno cost a dollar or two. Getting between islands is the expensive part, with each state a separate hop on the island-hopper flight, roughly US$350 one way.
Sightseeing splits into small cash fees and big boat days. Village and site entry fees are US$3–15. A guided Nan Madol boat tour on Pohnpei runs US$60–120 per person, and a two-tank boat dive in Chuuk is US$150–220 plus the lagoon permit.
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Plate lunch at a local diner | US$6–10 |
| Shared taxi ride in Kolonia or Weno | US$1–3 |
| Two-tank boat dive, Chuuk | US$150–220 plus lagoon permit |
| Nan Madol boat tour with guide | US$60–120 per person |
| Cup of sakau at a Pohnpei bar | US$1–3 |
| Village or site entry fee | US$3–15 |
| Island-hopper hop between states (one way) | About US$350 |
| Chuuk liveaboard, one week | US$3,000–5,000 |
2026 estimate, per person.
Cash, cards and payments
The currency is the US dollar, so American visitors carry no exchange risk. Hotels and dive shops may accept cards, often with a surcharge, but everything else, from diners and stores to village fees and taxis, is cash.
ATMs are few and can run out of cash, particularly on the outer islands. Bring enough US dollars for your whole stay, in a mix of small notes for fees and taxis, and keep a backup card. Do not count on finding a working machine on the day you need it.
- Budget for site and village fees in cash; they are collected on the spot.
- Carry small bills: change is scarce outside the main towns.
- Ask your hotel about card surcharges before you assume you can pay by card.
- Keep a reserve of cash for a delayed flight or an extra night.
How to keep costs down
Pick one state and stay put. Each extra state adds two flight days and roughly US$350 each way, which is the fastest way to blow a budget. Five to seven nights in one place also gets you better rates at guesthouses and dive shops.
Eat where locals eat: plate lunches, stores and market food cost a fraction of hotel dining. Use shared taxis instead of private transfers. If you dive, ask about multi-day packages rather than paying per trip, and confirm whether the lagoon permit is included.
Travel in the drier, calmer months if you can, since rough weather cancels boat trips and a cancelled trip is money spent on nothing. Check the best-time page before you book.
What to check before you book
Airfare is usually the largest single line in the budget and it is not included in any daily figure here. Inter-state flights are separate from your international ticket, and schedules are thin, so a missed connection can mean an unplanned hotel night.
Confirm whether your dive package includes the lagoon permit, tanks, weights and boat fees, because those add up quickly. Confirm whether your guesthouse takes cards. And confirm your entry requirements before paying for anything non-refundable.
Questions people ask
How much money do you need per day in Federated States of Micronesia?
US$100–140 a day backpacking, US$200–300 mid-range and US$400+ for dive-resort comfort, per person, excluding flights. Diving adds US$150–220 for two tanks a day. These are 2026 estimates.
Is Federated States of Micronesia expensive for tourists?
Yes, by Pacific standards. Almost everything is imported, so food and lodging cost more than in Hawaii. Transport on an island is cheap; flights between states, at roughly US$350 each way, are not.
What do meals, hotels and transport cost in Federated States of Micronesia?
A plate lunch is US$6–10, a shared taxi US$1–3, and rooms run from about US$50–90 a night at guesthouses to US$120–200 at dive resorts. A two-tank dive is US$150–220 plus the lagoon permit.
Can I use credit cards in Federated States of Micronesia?
Sometimes. Hotels and dive shops may take cards, often with a surcharge, but diners, stores, taxis and village fees are cash. ATMs are few and can run out, so bring US dollars for your whole stay.
Do I need to budget for flights between the states?
Yes. Each state is a separate hop on the island-hopper flight, roughly US$350 one way, and it is not part of your international ticket. Staying in one state avoids this cost entirely.
How much does a Chuuk diving trip cost?
Two-tank boat dives run US$150–220 plus the lagoon permit, so a diving day adds that on top of your room and food. A week-long liveaboard in Chuuk runs US$3,000–5,000. 2026 estimate.
Deep dive
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