State comparison
Guam vs New York: which state is better to live in?
Guam costs a median household about $9,600 a year less in state and local taxes than New York, mostly because property tax on a median home runs $2,276 a year against $6,580 in New York.
Guam
Low tax burden · COL index 132
Wins 5 categories
New York
High tax burden · COL index 139
Wins 1 categories
Taxes: Guam vs New York
Guam has a graduated income tax topping out at 37%, which works out to 0.0% on a median income of $74,580, or $0 a year. New York has a graduated income tax topping out at 10.9%, which works out to 5.2% on a median income of $74,580, or $3,862 a year. Guam wins on income tax at 2026 rates.
Property tax is 0.75% of home value a year in Guam and 1.40% in New York (Tax Foundation, 2023), so Guam has the lower rate.
Combined state and local sales tax averages 2.00% in Guam and 8.52% in New York; Guam is lower.
Add it up for a household earning $74,580 (the 2022 national median) and owning the median home: $2,723 a year in Guam, $12,349 in New York. Guam is cheaper on total state and local tax.
Housing and cost of living
Guam's cost of living index is 132 and New York's is 139, where 100 is the national average; Guam is about 5% cheaper day to day.
Laws and politics
In the 2024 presidential election Guam went to Harris by 10 points and New York went to Harris by 12 points.
Guam has may-issue carry permits and a Giffords gun-law grade of C; New York has may-issue carry permits and a grade of A, so New York regulates guns more tightly and Guam is the friendlier state for gun owners.
Tax figures use a household earning the national median income and owning each state's median home, at tax year 2026 rates, last checked against state sources on 2026-09-14. The table below has every number.
Taxes
Housing & Cost of Living
Social Policy
Category wins
5
Guam
1
New York
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Score For My Profile →Questions people ask
Is Guam or New York better to live in?
Guam wins more of the measures that decide a move. Guam on taxes ($2,723 a year for a median household against $12,349); Guam on everyday costs (index 132 against 139).
Which is cheaper, Guam or New York?
Guam is cheaper day to day: cost of living index 132 against 139. On state and local taxes Guam saves a median household about $9,600 a year.
Does Guam or New York have lower taxes?
Guam. A household earning $74,580 pays about $2,723 a year in Guam ($0 income tax, $2,276 property tax on the median home and $447 in sales tax) and $12,349 in New York ($3,862 income tax, $6,580 property tax on the median home and $1,906 in sales tax), at 2026 rates.
Is Guam or New York better for retirees?
Both treat retirement income about the same. Guam does not tax Social Security, partly exempts pensions and has no estate or inheritance tax; New York does not tax Social Security, exempts pensions and has an estate tax. Property tax on a median home is $2,276 a year in Guam and $6,580 in New York.