Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between China and French Polynesia

Name: French Polynesia
Address: PF

For one person, living is cheaper in China: $791 a month against $2,315 in French Polynesia, rent and utilities included – about $18,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

38

Cost of Living Index in China
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China Living Index
112

Cost of Living Index in French Polynesia
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French Polynesia Living Index

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🇨🇳 China

$791

/mo nomad

🇵🇫 French Polynesia

$2,315

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in China and in French Polynesia

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in China and in French Polynesia actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $791 in China versus $2,315 in French Polynesia.

China $791
French Polynesia $2,315

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,251 in China versus $3,464 in French Polynesia.

China $1,251
French Polynesia $3,464

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,711 in China versus $4,613 in French Polynesia.

China $1,711
French Polynesia $4,613

Internal cost variation is higher in French Polynesia: monthly costs span $14 to $2,283, compared to $465–$1,222 in China. City choice carries more weight in French Polynesia.

Living in China costs about 66% less than in French Polynesia on average.

China (42% below) and French Polynesia (70% above) straddle the global median.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.98 ¥19.81

$16.95 CFPF 1,809

-82.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.09 ¥147

$76.4 CFPF 8,146

-71.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.20 ¥34.60

$14.24 CFPF 1,520

-63.48%

Cappuccino

$2.97 ¥19.74

$4.14 CFPF 441

-28.26%

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

$0.48 ¥3.19

$2.64 CFPF 281

-81.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ¥2.01

$2.49 CFPF 266

-87.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.08 ¥7.18

$4.75 CFPF 507

-77.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 ¥15.15

$5.58 CFPF 595

-59.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 ¥11.96

$1.43 CFPF 153

25.87%

White Bread (500g)

$1.68 ¥11.15

$4.40 CFPF 470

-61.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.92 ¥6.13

$1.73 CFPF 185

-46.82%

Eggs

$1.61 ¥10.73

$6.74 CFPF 719

-76.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.38 ¥89.1

$35.28 CFPF 3,764

-62.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.35 ¥22.28

$15.39 CFPF 1,643

-78.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.35 ¥75.5

$24.37 CFPF 2,600

-53.43%

Apples (1kg)

$1.82 ¥12.12

$4.93 CFPF 526

-63.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.31 ¥8.69

$2.88 CFPF 308

-54.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.49 ¥9.89

$6.35 CFPF 678

-76.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.27 ¥8.47

$7.63 CFPF 814

-83.36%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 ¥4.73

$2.92 CFPF 312

-75.68%

Onion (1kg)

$0.93 ¥6.21

$2.42 CFPF 259

-61.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 ¥4.12

$3.65 CFPF 390

-83.01%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ¥3.74

$1.16 CFPF 123

-51.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.78 ¥25.15

$13.06 CFPF 1,393

-71.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.13 ¥80.7

$23.36 CFPF 2,493

-48.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.83 ¥5.54

$2.92 CFPF 312

-71.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.68 ¥11.21

$3.76 CFPF 401

-55.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 ¥1.92

$1.82 CFPF 194

-84.07%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.83 ¥119

$14.33 CFPF 1,529

24.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.49 ¥9.89

$9.51 CFPF 1,014

-84.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.37 ¥2.49

$2.39 CFPF 255

-84.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.10 ¥47.24

$22.96 CFPF 2,450

-69.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 ¥8.37

$1.44 CFPF 153

-12.50%

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

$19.4K ¥129.4K

$18.6K CFPF 2.0M

4.77%

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

$17.5K ¥116.7K

$30.4K CFPF 3.2M

-42.40%

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

$54.6 ¥363

$174 CFPF 18.5K

-68.56%

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

$8.73 ¥58.1

$18.73 CFPF 1,998

-53.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.07 ¥73.6

$69.8 CFPF 7,445

-84.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.77 ¥271

$73.0 CFPF 7,793

-44.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.48 ¥96.4

Cinema Ticket

$6.78 ¥45.12

$14.25 CFPF 1,521

-52.42%

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

$517 ¥3,438

$468 CFPF 49.9K

10.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.8K ¥131.8K

$9,405 CFPF 1.0M

110.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.53 ¥310

$69.1 CFPF 7,376

-32.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.66 ¥237

$72.3 CFPF 7,716

-50.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.0 ¥512

$78.0 CFPF 8,319

-1.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.3 ¥534

$89.4 CFPF 9,542

-10.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$386 ¥2,567

$1,233 CFPF 131.5K

-68.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$235 ¥1,561

$922 CFPF 98.4K

-74.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ¥5,469

$1,868 CFPF 199.3K

-56.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$453 ¥3,015

$1,473 CFPF 157.2K

-69.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,697 ¥31.3K

$7,062 CFPF 753.5K

-33.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,372 ¥15.8K

$9,027 CFPF 963.2K

-73.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,093 ¥7,274

$1,876 CFPF 200.2K

-41.73%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.46

4.6

-24.78%

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

Last update for China: October 24, 2026

Last update for French Polynesia: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

China

$235 29.6%

French Polynesia

$922 39.8% 293% $687

Groceries & Markets

China

$210 26.5%

French Polynesia

$565 24.4% 169% $354

Clothing & Footwear

China

$108 13.6%

French Polynesia

$139 6% 29% $31

Eating Out

China

$88 11.1%

French Polynesia

$283 12.2% 222% $195

Monthly Utilities & Internet

China

$74 9.4%

French Polynesia

$262 11.3% 252% $188

Sport & Entertainment

China

$54 6.9%

French Polynesia

$102 4.4% 86.9% $47

Getting Around

China

$22 2.8%

French Polynesia

$43 1.9% 92.6% $21

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $298 in China, $1,170 in French Polynesia. Capital cities: $933 in Beijing (Pekin) vs $1,328 in Papeete.

National salary averages: $873 in China, $1,977 in French Polynesia. Higher pay doesn’t always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 293% higher in French Polynesia.

Dining out costs 245% more in French Polynesia.

Public transport is 29% more expensive in China.

Salaries are about 2.3 times higher in French Polynesia, and purchasing power comes out stronger in China.

Good to know

🇨🇳 China

🇵🇫 French Polynesia

🕒 Local time

22:24 10:24 PM

04:24 4:24 AM

18 h behind China

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

1,442,965,000

278,786

💱 Currency

Chinese Yuan CNY ¥

CFP Franc XPF Fr

📈 Exchange rate

1 CNY = 0.15 USD

1 CNY = 0.135 EUR

1,000 XPF = 9.37 USD

1,000 XPF = 8.42 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

XPF, USD, EUR to CNY – Chinese Yuan Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇨🇳 Chinese Yuan (¥)

Chinese Yuan exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 6.65 CNY (1 CNY = 0.15 USD). 1 EUR = 7.41 CNY (1 CNY = 0.135 EUR).

CFP Franc exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 107 XPF (1,000 XPF = 9.37 USD). 1 EUR = 119 XPF (1,000 XPF = 8.42 EUR).

USD to CNY in detail →

On the map

Lowest

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Between locations

China French Polynesia 11,580 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight

From you

China
French Polynesia

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

China vs French Polynesia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

At $791 per month in China and $2,315 in French Polynesia, there’s a 193% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.

Rent for a central one-bedroom averages $1,170 in French Polynesia and $298 in China. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.

In China, $2,000 covers most cities easily; in French Polynesia it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you’ll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.

It depends on what you’re after: China wins on affordability; French Polynesia may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.