Lonely Planet™ · Thorn Tree Forum · 2020 |

# Moving to Saipan Country forums / Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea / Northern Mariana Islands
peteravandever 19:48 UTC 01 Mar 2011 | I am being asked to consider moving to CNMI. What is it like there? |
drenthe 22:05 UTC 03 Mar 2011 | I have lived on Saipan for 8 months and my family loves it here. However, much of your happiness on this island will depend on who you work for and how you can deal with the frustrations of living on a remote island. If you plan on working for anything affiliated with the local government you are going to be disappointed. This area is so econmically depressed and the government so corrupt that you will always be concerned about getting paid and possibly compromising your own ethics. Please check out the "saipan sucks" website for the negative lowdown on this island. Some of it is exagerrated, some outdated, but most is true. You cannot come out here and expect to change anything, you will have to learn to accept or ignore it, or certain things may drive you a little crazy. Now for the good things. The people are friendly, the expats and immigrant workers are interesting, the weather is wonderful, (if you can adjust to 85 degrees every day with a lot of humidity. The water is beautiful, snorkeling and scuba diving awesome, boonie stompin fantastic and the relaxing laid back attitude. Groceries and gasoline are high, electric power is outragous, water should not be drank from the tap,boonie dogs may yap at your heels and locals trash the beaches and jungle. Almost everything has to be ordered off island and most companies will not send a package to the CNMI because, either they do not understand that we are a territory of the U.S., or they are aware that almost anything that is sent which is electronic has a good chance of being stolen. At least twice a week I catch myself thinking that I need to send a letter to the editor of the paper expressing my disgust for something, but then I must face reality and recognize that it has all been written about before. I love this island, but as you see it is complicated. Let me know if you are still seriously considering a move out here and I will be happy to assist you in any way I can. | 1
5waldos 21:03 UTC 05 Mar 2011 | Drenthe- you are adapting well. "I love this island, but as you see it is complicated". Truer words were never spoken by those of us who love the islands. | 2
ramilicious 12:50 UTC 25 Mar 2011 | Hi Peter, I travel to Saipan frequently for work and work with the local government there. I do agree that the local government can be corrupt, but that is true for most of the small governments out in the Pacific. Once you move beyond that, everyone is great. Beyond that, the number of things on island are limited, and my coworker who lived on-Island temporarily dealt with this by making trips over to Guam for things that weren't available on CNMI. This was not a big deal. Honestly, out of the Islands in the Pacific that I have visited and worked with, CNMI has been my favorite (and all of my coworkers share this opinion). It is much more relaxed than some of the others we have visited and the folks there are so friendly. On top of this, it is absolutely gorgeous. Sure, no one has ever heard of it, but that just makes it that much more special. I say go for it - Saipan is a majestic little island, and I've never met friendlier people than the locals I worked with there. | 3
eyetravelsolo 20:50 UTC 22 Jun 2011 | Hello anyone and everyone, I plan on relocating to CNMI in the next few months and am looking for some ballpark figures on the cost of living per month. I know that can open up a wide range depending on your lifestyle, so I'll give a bit of my present situation. I "survive" on a disability income, so I am looking for cheap rental units, small is not an issue at this time. A one room efficiency would work. I can move up later. It seems the basics are high from what I read and it is hard to get hard info. on living cost there. But, anyway, I am a traveler and live simple, I use very little resources. With that said though, my main objective is securing a cheap rental, I can go from there. Does anyone know if there is an ex-pat community there? I've found them to be great resources for info. in my travels. I'm open to any replies, the good, the bad, and the ugly.. :) | 4
drenthe 05:18 UTC 18 Jul 2011 | Replying to eyetravelsolo. A person who can adapt as you do to a local lifestyle can easily live on $500.00 a month. Most people make $5.00 an hour and they manage to live and save. My 22 yr old son shares an apt and he pays $100.00 a month. If you can get by without AC as he does you will spend less than $75.00 a month on utilites. If you eat a lot of rice, pork belly and beef knuckles as the locals do you can get buy on less than $150.00 a month. If you ride a bike, or walk you will do pretty good. Cars and care are very expensive. You can rent an "illegal taxi" for $3.00 for any local ride. I know a retired US soldier and his chinese wife who live off $400.00 a month. | 5
lone_traveler777 23:04 UTC 18 Jul 2011 | thanks so much for the info. Exactly what I was looking for, the numbers closely match my cost of living now, as I live in a rural area of the Rockies. This is what I needed, a bit expensive to fly down just to check out a few prices! :) I've seen yall's post before so I know u have been there a while. If you don't mind, two more questions. I'm an Avid Bike rider, but also considered buying a used scooter to get around. Are they available there? Another member also said a Studio could be found for $150.00 to 300.00, but I can't seem to get around realators and Tourism sites...Is there an online Yellow Pages or Apt. service available? Your detailed help is appreciated! Thanks, Kevin | 6
peteravandever 07:37 UTC 18 Feb 2012 | Kevin, Do you think half the island in Flipino and they don't have bikes? | 7
drenthe 03:46 UTC 30 Oct 2012 | Kevin, Its been a whole sonce i have been on this site. I apologize for missing your follow up post. Did you make the move? | 8
hanzoa 06:01 UTC 13 Feb 2014 | hello drenthe have to stay in saipan for 2 weeks in may, saw a post of yours saying your son rents for 75 a month, and have also seen posts on garagesale.saipan of places double that .... if know of any places could let me know .. anthing with a lockable door is ok (ie say on a farm) if not can advise any safe spots in saipan where can be "robinson crusue" for a couple weeks .. remote yet with "local taxi" not too far away??? havent seen any posts of yours for a while so posting in advance ! my email is hanzkeyatttttgmail.com (romove the a and all t's replace with @) Edited by: hanzoa | 9