Cost of Living Comparison Between Amaru and Papeete Cost of Living Comparison Between Amaru and Papeete

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.39 CFPF 1,783

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.8 CFPF 8,388

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.04 CFPF 1,234

Cappuccino

$4.05 CFPF 415

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.36 CFPF 344

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 CFPF 274

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.83 CFPF 290

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 CFPF 395

Milk (1 liter)

$1.57 CFPF 161

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 CFPF 77.4

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 CFPF 166

Eggs

$6.62 CFPF 678

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.60 CFPF 2,625

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.60 CFPF 1,702

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$26.66 CFPF 2,732

Apples (1kg)

$5.03 CFPF 516

Banana (1kg)

$2.23 CFPF 229

Oranges (1kg)

$5.90 CFPF 605

Tomato (1kg)

$7.98 CFPF 818

Potato (1kg)

$2.90 CFPF 297

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 CFPF 268

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.80 CFPF 390

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.11 CFPF 113

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.83 CFPF 1,212

Wine (Bottle)

$24.52 CFPF 2,513

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.98 CFPF 203

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 CFPF 316

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.99 CFPF 204

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$9.74 CFPF 999

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.53 CFPF 157

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$19.2K CFPF 2.0M

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$29.5K CFPF 3.0M

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$184 CFPF 18.8K

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$17.74 CFPF 1,819

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.0 CFPF 6,563

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.2 CFPF 7,912

Cinema Ticket

$14.65 CFPF 1,501

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$481 CFPF 49.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,754 CFPF 999.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.1 CFPF 7,899

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$83.4 CFPF 8,546

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.0 CFPF 7,992

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$93.1 CFPF 9,546

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,231 CFPF 126.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$957 CFPF 98.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,929 CFPF 197.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,579 CFPF 161.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,536 CFPF 874.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.7K CFPF 1.2M

$6,526 CFPF 668.9K

78.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,736 CFPF 178.0K

$2,416 CFPF 247.7K

-28.14%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Amaru: June 1, 2026

Last update for Papeete: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 39% higher in Papeete, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Amaru vs Papeete: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Salaries in Papeete run about 39% lower, which matters when comparing the full picture. But lower pay doesn't always mean worse – if living costs drop proportionally, your purchasing power may stay the same or even improve.

Families tend to lean toward Amaru – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Amaru. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Papeete makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.