The purpose of the study was to compare the effectiveness of the implementation of government programs within the framework of the national goal "Population conservation, human health and well—being" using the example of two coastal regions of Russia - Arkhangelsk and Murmansk regions. The subject of the study is a set of indicators used to assess the effectiveness of the implementation of government programs aimed at ensuring a high level and quality of life for the population in difficult natural and climatic conditions. The relevance of the research topic is due to the strategic role of the northern regions with a maritime border in the framework of the planned economic development of the Arctic zone of Russia. The study reveals differences in the effectiveness of the implementation of state policy in the field of human capital development and the social sphere in two regions of the Far North, which have similar problems caused by geographical location: difficult transport accessibility, predominance of tundra and forest-tundra vegetation, as well as proximity to the Arctic Ocean, but demonstrate different effectiveness in achieving national development goals. A comparative analysis of the economic and geographical location made it possible to identify historically and climatically determined constraints that determine the potential of socio-economic development. The regions under study are characterized by different types of settlement and patterns of location of settlements, characterizing the peculiarities of the concentration of economically active population in cities and rural areas. In addition, the article reflects the impact of the climate on business activity and the structure of the regional economy. The study revealed significant differences in the efficiency of using the coastal location of the regions, and identified lagging indicators of the Arkhangelsk Region in key areas of social development. It is established that direct comparability of regions is difficult due to fundamental differences in regional policies and development models. The study contains data on the level and quality of life of the population as a result of the effective implementation of regional government programs in key areas of the social sphere. The scientific novelty of the study lies in the assertion that the application of a unified approach to assessing the effectiveness of government programs does not objectively reflect the effectiveness of the activities of regional public authorities due to the limitation of the possible effect of the implementation of government programs on the standard of living of the population in similar regions caused by the peculiarities of the economic and geographical location of the subjects of the Russian Federation. The practical significance of the work lies in the possibility of using the results obtained to improve the mechanisms for implementing state programs in the regions, develop differentiated approaches to regional development and adjust strategies for the socio-economic development of the subjects of the Russian Federation, taking into account their specific features.