Just Landed in Marshall Islands? Your First 7 Days

Connectivity has improved but remains limited and expensive by regional standards. Majuro and Ebeye are served by the HANTRU-1 submarine cable that landed in 2009 and links the country via Guam, with a second cable, IOKWE, in development to add resilience; outer atolls still rely on patchy satellite links. Some expats supplement NTA with Starlink where allowed. Expect usable but modest speeds and occasional outages.

Typical cost: NTA prepaid data is costly: a 30-day, roughly 2.5 GB data plan runs about USD 39.95, and combo plans with talk, text and 5 GB cost around USD 50. A mi-fi/wi-fi dongle that shares 4G to several devices costs roughly USD 97 up front.

The economy is cash-first and dollar-based; cards are accepted only at a handful of larger hotels, the main supermarkets such as Payless and K&K Island Pride, and some government offices in Majuro. Assume you will pay cash almost everywhere else, including taxis, markets and small shops.

Opening an account: The Bank of Marshall Islands (BOMI), a locally owned bank, and the Bank of Guam Majuro branch are the two options for residents. Opening an account typically requires your passport, a valid entry permit or visa, an initial deposit, and often a local employer letter or proof of address; walk in during business hours and expect the process to take time.

Cash: Taxis, market stalls, small shops and all outer-island travel are cash-only. There are only a few ATMs on Majuro, including at the Bank of Guam next to K&K Island Pride, at Payless and at the RRE hotel, and they can run out of notes. Keep small denominations, as change for large bills is often unavailable.

Tipping: Tipping is not a local custom and is not expected in restaurants or taxis. Rounding up or leaving a small tip at Western-style hotels and dive operations is appreciated but never obligatory.

There is no municipal address-registration or residents'-registry system for new arrivals in the Marshall Islands. Your legal status is governed entirely by the entry permit and passport stamp issued by the Division of Immigration, together with any work or investor permit tied to your sponsor. The practical obligation is therefore to keep your immigration documents current and to apply for extensions before they expire, rather than to register your address with any local authority. If your circumstances change, deal with Immigration directly.

Where: Not applicable; status is tied to your Division of Immigration permit, not a local address registry

Majuro is a single long road along the atoll, so getting around means shared taxis that cruise up and down it, plus walking. There is no rail, no ride-hailing app and no formal bus network. Shared taxis pick up multiple passengers and stop frequently, and you flag them from the roadside; longer trips toward the atoll's ends cost more. Between atolls you fly Air Marshall Islands or take cargo and passenger boats.

From the airport: From Amata Kabua International Airport (MAJ) in Majuro, shared taxis run along the main road into Delap, Uliga and Rita for a low flat fare of roughly USD 1-2 within town; longer runs cost more. Larger hotels can arrange a pickup if you book ahead, which is worth doing on late-arriving United flights.

Rental supply in Majuro is tight and found mostly through word of mouth, employer arrangements, Facebook groups and noticeboards rather than listing websites. Expats very often secure housing through their employer before arriving, and many jobs include or subsidise accommodation, so clarify that in your offer. Standards vary widely, and better housing near the airport and Long Island is snapped up quickly.

Typical rent: A furnished flat or small house suitable for expats in Majuro typically runs from around USD 700 to USD 1,500 per month, and up to USD 2,000 for better or larger properties. Simpler places further along the atoll can be cheaper.

Deposit norm: Landlords commonly ask for one to two months' rent as a deposit plus the first month up front, usually in cash. Get the amount, the rent and any included utilities written down clearly, since informal arrangements are the norm.

Healthcare is very limited. Majuro Hospital in Delap and the Leroj Kitlang Memorial Health Center on Ebeye handle basic and emergency care, but serious cases are routinely referred abroad to the Philippines, Hawaii or Guam. Pharmacies stock only a narrow range of medicines, so bring an ample supply of anything essential and a doctor's letter to cover it.

How to access it: For non-emergencies, go directly to the outpatient clinic at Majuro Hospital in Delap; there is no widespread system of private GPs to register with. For emergencies, call the ambulance on 625-4111 or go straight to the hospital emergency room, as ambulance response times can be slow and the hospital is the only real option on the atoll.

Insurance: Ensure you hold international health insurance with explicit medical-evacuation cover, since off-island referral is common and an air ambulance to Honolulu or Manila can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Confirm the policy covers the Marshall Islands specifically and keep the emergency assistance number saved offline.

• Greet people warmly and take time for small talk before business; a simple "iakwe" and unhurried courtesy matter more than getting straight to the point.
• Dress modestly, especially women; shoulders and knees covered is the norm off the beach, and swimwear stays at the beach.
• Treat Sunday as a rest and church day; keep activities quiet and expect many shops and offices to be closed.
• Accept food or drink when offered, as sharing is central to Marshallese hospitality and refusing outright can seem cold.
• Show clear respect to elders and to anyone in a community or church leadership role, and defer to them in group settings.
• Ask permission before photographing people, homes or ceremonies, and never assume a beach or plot is public land.
• Bring or share food generously at gatherings; contributing to a communal meal is how you show you belong.

• Land is family-owned and deeply personal; never assume beaches or plots are public, and always ask before crossing or using land.
• Avoid public displays of anger or confrontation; raising your voice causes serious loss of face and is long remembered.
• Be sensitive about the nuclear-testing legacy at Bikini and Enewetak, which remains a painful and political subject for many families.
• Do not treat the US Army base on Kwajalein casually; access is controlled and photography around it is restricted.
• Steer clear of lecturing locals on climate change or development; it is their lived reality, not an abstract debate.