While working for the USPS, I applied for a transfer to Saipan, Guam or Hawaii. I was successful in a transfer to Kona Hawaii. Got my letter of approval two years after I retired!
I know all about living on Saipan and Guam really well, I lived on both islands for over twenty years. Love the people and the islands. Here's why I left when I retired. The outrageous, ridiculous overpriced Airline ticket prices. The less expensive round-trip prices were only good if your return trip is within 30 days. I originally had planned of keeping my house there and traveling back to Oregon for the summer, but after getting the airline sticker shock I eventually sold my house there. At the time I could fly the 7000 miles from Florida to Hawaii round trip for around $500. Flying the 4000 miles from Hawaii to Guam and then on maybe to Saipan would cost you around $2000 or more. Gas and food prices are almost twice the cost on Saipan compared to Florida, where there's No state income tax.
I hate flying long distances. I go to the Philippines often and usually transit Hawaii, but sometimes South Korea and Guam. I check all the prices. I imagine the flight to Guam would be decent. Then you have many options. It is all about supply and demand. I may move to Saipan to build a boat or two. I do love the weather in Guam. I imagine it's the same in Saipan. I have traveled from Guam to South Korea for $73 and then to Hawaii for a good price.
"Gas and food prices are almost twice the cost on Saipan..." No kidding. They have to haul the stuff 1/3 of the way around the planet to get it to the Marianas Islands. That costs a lot of money.
@@vanceb1 I would expect that, especially when the island is in the middle of a vast ocean!! Maybe to go for a vacation is fine, though the offer of peace, tranquility, and freedom is extremely tempting but I wouldn't want to trade it for the amenities, up to date facilities, and advanced technology that we have in the States.🤣
Would you think it would be a good choice compared to Thailand to relocate to and how much US dollars does one need to have monthly to be able to live comfortably.
@@Drainman Umm..my best advice would be to work and at the same time run a small businesss just to make ends meet without worrying too much. $1,500 a month if you want to live comfortably.
Yes. They have an OK hospital there but for things like hip and knee replacement you have to go to Guam, Hawaii, the Philippines, etc. When I was there, they had two ophthalmologists on island and could do cataract surgery, which is nice.
@@rajasingammuthusamy959 Correct. Just like with livestock, when you clump so many humans together and have them stay inside too much, they get riddled with diseases. We are no different than animals in that regard.
Excellent review. I'm an expat that lived 49 years in the Marianas 14 on Guam and 35 on Saipan. Memorable times include weekend BBQs with family and friends on shore in Chalan Kanoa nestled beneath tall ironwood trees, of the crystal clear emerald lagoon waters illuminated by the early morning sun chugging a cold brew. Ahh, such a time it was. Lee
I lived in the CNMI for 8 years. I loved it there and would have stayed longer except for the high cost of flying. We could not afford to visit family in the US after ticket prices rose past $2,000 each. But we still have friends there and think fondly of our time in the islands. I definitely miss island food, the warm weather and the slow pace of life.
Flip side of that is, if your family to visit are in Japan/ Korea/ Taiwan/ China/ Philippines, then yes, the flights continue to be competitive. Those countries are well connected, so flights to the rest of the world from there tend to be quite affordable… I’m thinking not much over a thousand dollars for the both together.
Cost of flying can be limiting. Why Central and South America, Caribbean and Europe attract more people. However assuming you are in the US, have a look at Scott's Cheap Flights. They do not sell tickets but tell you the cheapest deals and send you to the airline. Doesn't work for me as flight must depart or return to the US, Canada or Europe.
I get what you are trying to say here, but...the only people who can own property most likely aren't doing common core math...the native islanders. I'm too old for all that.
@Joseph Turner it's was nonsensically "aimed"...lol...it doesn't really make any sense. Reality is the opposite of what you are saying and it wasn't written as a joke...so...it doesn't really make sense.
My buddies and I really enjoyed Saipan. We stayed there for two weeks after college. Then we went to Guam and stayed a couple of weeks.Guam had more to offer as far as amenities and diving but Saipan was way more layed back.
My Grandfather drove heavy equipment building airstrips in the Pacific Theater. I have a photo of him and two buddies, bare chested and smiling on a beach in Saipan.
I'm guessing this fellow never looked at the tax situation at Guam. Guam doesn't pay to the Federal IRS. Guam has a mirror system that keeps all the tax$$$ at home (Guam Dept. of Rev & Tax). I have lived at both Guam and Saipan and the only significant difference "freedom wise" is that on Guam I could own land but not on Saipan (you must be of Norther Marianas descent).
Thank you for this. I work with US veterans and have heard about Saipan from a few WWII veterans years ago. I also had a friend who considered going there after medical school to work off student loans but ultimately decided it’s was too remote. I’d love to visit.
My father was a Navel combat corpsman, assigned to multiple Marine combat division's, he participated in the assault on Siapan, then Leyte, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, then finally Tinian, have a great day my friend, Semper Fi
I spent a year on Saipan in 1970 as part of a crew on a LORAN A/C station with the US Coast Guard. I had a great time! The station was closed some years ago. LORAN is not seeing much use these days for navigation.
Respect to you guys. I'm Army through and through but the idea of working at a LORAN station or somewhere similar has always appealed to me for some reason.
As a resident of the United States Virgin Islands you do not pay taxes to the IRS. Your income tax are paid to the Virgin Islands Bureau of Internal Revenue.
Nicely done. I like your soft voice and understated overview of many topics... interesting without any hype. It's a good summary for someone like myself who had traveled quite a bit and is familiar with islands in other parts of the world, but hasn't been to Saipan.
Somehow this astronomical property price trend is happening everywhere in the world and it is always the fault of the outsiders. Somehow this is not logically possible so probably everywhere it is just the local elites who love the inflated prices but want to deflect the blame for the obvious societal damage. Blame foreigners while they keep laughing all the way to the bank.
Went to check out your other videos but was disappointed this was the only one. I liked the video and it seems like a cool place to visit. Upload your next trip when you get a chance.
I do not agree with everyone about it being more expensive. I would put it on the scale of about 3/4 of the cost of living in US. Japan is about half, Thailand around 1/4 to 1/3 the cost. It is a fantastic option with much potential.
Some of you are wondering about costs. If you want to live comfortably you'll need about $3000. a month that you'll need to have coming in every month. Can you do it cheaper? Yes. But life is going to be limited in terms of day to day expenses. Prices are similar to those in the USA. This not the Philippines or Vietnam .You'll need to have your money coming from retirement or some other income that doesn't require you working there. Because you're not going to be working there.
My late father was on sipan in WW2 he was a aviation sheet metal smith he later became a Navy pilot I have a nice war prize he got on the island before he left for flight school. Thanks for the video now I know what the island looks like. Don't think I would move there I'm sure the locals don't need more people on the island.
I have the plan to move to Saipan in November of 2027. I've been watching the apartment complexes and house rentals to catch what the trend is. Thank you for your vid on your experience there! It fits with what I was thinking about Saipan and has made me very eager for the time to pass!
@@1MoreTurn Let the natives have their land? F off, you lefty progressive weirdo. By that definition, no one should live anywhere but Africa. So when/where do you draw the line? Also, buying Land with MONEY and taking it by force with guns are two different things. Grow a pair, you seem to be missing them.
I was there for a couple wks in 2007. It's about 75% the size of Guam. It's cleaner than Guam, you don't find all the garbage, dead dogs, junk cars and graffiti that's all over Guam. There used to be a thriving garment industry staffed primarily by young Chinese women, when it died there were >10k unemployed young Chinese women who didn't want to go home, most of them went to work as bar girls, in massage parlors and strip bars and of course prostitution. An American cannot walk thru the bar district without being physically dragged into a bar. The island and especially the water is some of the clearest and most beautiful in the world. You can literally see as deep as light will penetrate.
Not allowing non-natives to buy land is keeping Saipan "free" for its native people. Do you really want them to have to deal with a situation like Lana'i where some massive billionaire comes in and buys up 90% of the land? Even the more mild proposition where the land is bought up by a bunch of different wealthy individuals, it's still going to displace the native people shifted more into a tourist centered environment. Limiting the freedom of outside Invaders in order to preserve the freedom of your own people is a position I wish more places would take up.
@Ron-dd9dw True. Not talking Saipan down, it is beautiful. Just pointing out that unless you have $2500usd/mo or more, it's likely not the best choice.
Housing is cheaper than in Hawaii. Other things like food are expensive. The grocery stores had sizeable "past best-buy dates" sections that were a steal. You could buy a case of brand name cheese for $2/lb.! I lived on the "expired" food. :) Some consumer goods are surprisingly reasonable.
Good video. Regarding the tinted car windows, that's something I couldn't stand in Guam. It's fine to have them at the back, but the front windows shouldn't be like that because as a pedestrian you can't see where the drivers are looking. It always felt dangerous crossing the street because as far as you know, a driver might not see you and turn right on a red light, for example. Even if cars where the windows are clear, it can be difficult to see a driver's intentions, but with a completely tinted car, you're lost and just have to hope they don't run you over.
@@williamoffshoreI hope they are. It's just scary though as a pedestrain there when you can't see the driver whatsoever, so you don't know where they're looking. I was surprised by the amount of traffic on such a small island too. It's very car-oriented with the very wide streets.
I thought the same way until 7 yrs. Ago while in Dom. Rep. I was buying a property an told the owner he wanted to much. He told me that in D.R. there are no property tax. When u by its yours an your families forever unless you decide to sale.i said , so what! He said in USA you never own anything, you only rent from gov. I was passed at first. But after thinking about it for several weeks I realized ,he was right
But when push comes to shove, nothing you own is safe. Not from government, not from big business. I don’t mean to be argumentative, but it’s amazing how many people Know this, yet somehow don’t believe it. Kinda like the collection of rainwater.. almost everywhere you live, if you pay taxes, you are paying for rainfall on your property if you collect it or NOT. Look into it, save your anger for them. Another thing is, most senior citizens that were affiliated with WW1 and 2 were never intended to pay for water at all …!
you don;t own land anywhere in the US if you haven't figured it out. Try avoid paying your local property tax on land even if you paid it off free and clear.
I wished foreigners could not buy land in main land USA like the east Indians and China. Indians own land and businesses and run it as they do in India. They do not follow the city and county rules.
fascinating. as someone priced out of Hawaii with a portion of family and even some friends is this "Saipan" viable? Is it possible this hidden gem mimics Hawaii my home state in some ways? is it affordable for a standard income citizen?
@@sandy_sd10 mahalo from Hawaii. then it's not viable as an option then. born and raised Hawaii so wanted something that at least visually looks mostly similar but no point if the cost of living is almost no difference.
Im so close to being priced out of Hawaii. When i get paid, my whole paycheck goes to rent and food. So tired of being a money making machine here. Where to go from Hawaii? 🤔
@@pinkoceanflower3045 Hawaii has a value added tax. It taxes everything multiple times. Plus the land taxes are exorbitant. Not so in Saipan. But Saipan is off the beaten path. Everything will cost more that is imported. One good thing is you can raise your own food which is very expensive in Hawaii. Electricity is a little more. Overall, if you grow your own food, Saipan is much cheaper.
As an outdoor survivalist (Samoa and French Polynesia island experience) I would gladly give up living on North American soil. Plus I do better alone anyway. America is going to hell in a handbag. All I need are coconuts and fish.
Saipan’s tax structure is noting like Alaska’s. I know because I lived on Saipan for several years and I now live in Alaska. Remember “no taxation without representation”? The Mariana Islands do not have a voting representative in Congress, hence they are not taxed in the same way that states are. Alaska has a low tax burden compared to other states, but residents most certainly do pay federal taxes. Also, Alaska doesn’t pay a “stipend”. Residents are eligible for a share of the Permanent Fund Dividend which is an investment dividend derived from the invested proceeds from rental payments that oil companies pay for the North Slope oil fields.
Interesting. Doesn't fit into my life. It's too hard to get in and out. I can't drive out. Perhaps if I set up a home base in like Malaysia or elsewhere in SE Asia this would be a viable "tunnel". A boat would be nice, but those distances are vast. However, not flying my dog in and out of there.
Flights to Japan/ Korea/ Taiwan are not so pricey. And from there you can change planes to the lowest cost trans-pacific carriers like Starlux, Zip, or Air Premia. Probably a cheaper combo than the tickets via HNL that the video is talking about.
Sounds wonderful, one very important question, how would you rate the racism their (against black people) relative to an American big-city let's say fort Lauderdale/ Miami Florida?
@@williamoffshore I lived there in the late 90's. I got called racial slurs. Apparently being white is frowned upon. Not so much by the elders, but definitely by the younger crowd. They even had a "local discount" at the stores where if you were local, you paid a discounted price, but if you were foreign, you paid the full sticker price. It wasn't a terrible experience by any means, but there definitely was blatant racism. You couldn't pay me to return there. Gorgeous views though!
I learned about Saipan from the Crypto Frontier, a group working on the adoption and implementation of crypto payments in Saipan. While I was there I was able to pay with crypto at a variety of restaurants and small businesses.
I lived on Saipan for 3 months rent free with per diem. I'd do it again if I could. Nothing beats KFC and Taco Bell, all of the ethnic restaurants, the night market, the secret hikes and the people there. Keep Saipan a secret.
3:00 on you had my attention they have more gun rights than I do if the "if it's legal federally it's legal there" is accurate and guns and weed don't mix in my state yet, I love consistent weather, being minimalist, nature, the only killer for me is I can not own land.
Is Saipan a potential "Lord of the Flies"? There is another island in the South Pacific where the locals went insane and tried to butcher everyone on the island.
Really nice! I have always wanted to travel there. It's on my list to visit in the near future, Knowing that they allow guns is a good thing and that the cost of living isn't to bad. i like the minimalist thing myself. it makes life easier. Thanks for sharing.
You really can't compare the US with an island. Isn't like anyone renting you a car can't find you in an area that small. That said, the US constitution doesn't allow for territories like this, completely illegal. We have states or areas becoming states but it is a union of the states that makes up america, everyone has to buy in if they wish to be a state. It is a compact between the states. A territory has no compact status therefore isn't a legal option but who actually knows this in america these days?
That said a friend of mine works there for a few years at a time and likes it. I'm sure the people are mostly nice and the scenery is beautiful for sure.
How do drivers licenses work? If I have a mainland US drivers license, and move to Saipan permanently, can I just get a CNMI drivers license? Are there any motorcycles on the island?
Yes, you could switch it by forfeiting your state license and yes, you could then switch the CNMI (Saipan) license at any state you decide to move back to.
Damn. that sounds really nice. Weird though, in my state, we had a law that one must be a U.S. Citizen to own land, but someone said it was unenforceable under the law. I'm not sure what the difference is, except one we acquired from Spain around 1897 and the other we acquired from Mexico around 1850 and it became a state.
There are federal laws and state laws. Federal supersedes state. You are allowed under FEDERAL law to own property in the US if you are not a citizen. So, even if a state made it a law, it cannot be enforced because it contradicts federal law.
@@nmjerry Because they are a territory, the laws are extremely vague and not all apply. Unfortunately, states and territories operate differently under the law. However, if you had enough time and money, you could probably take it through the court system and win.
@@vanceb1 So is Pennsylvania, technically is a common wealth. At the end of the day, you can fight anything in court if the over arching entity is the USA. That island can call themselves anything they like… but the US will assert itself in the end if push came to shove. The US LOVES law suits.
Took a WWII Veteran of mine from Charlotte, NC to Saipan and Tinian a few years back. He fought in the battle of Saipan during the war. Saipan is nice....but I've heard the Government is very corrupt.
