Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between the Cook Islands and French Polynesia

Name: French Polynesia
Address: PF

For one person, living is cheaper in the Cook Islands: $1,568 a month against $2,315 in French Polynesia, rent and utilities included – about $9,000 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

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Cost of Living Index in French Polynesia
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French Polynesia Living Index

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🇨🇰 Cook Islands

$1,568

/mo nomad

🇵🇫 French Polynesia

$2,315

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in the Cook Islands 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 the Cook Islands and in French Polynesia actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,568 in the Cook Islands versus $2,315 in French Polynesia.

Cook Islands $1,568
French Polynesia $2,315

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,058 in the Cook Islands versus $3,464 in French Polynesia.

Cook Islands $2,058
French Polynesia $3,464

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,548 in the Cook Islands versus $4,613 in French Polynesia.

Cook Islands $2,548
French Polynesia $4,613

Internal cost variation is higher in French Polynesia: monthly costs span $14 to $2,283, compared to $1,117–$1,638 in the Cook Islands. City choice carries more weight in French Polynesia.

Living in the Cook Islands costs about 32% less than in French Polynesia on average.

Both countries sit above the global median: the Cook Islands 15% above, French Polynesia 70% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.40 NZ$20.07

$16.95 CFPF 1,809

-32.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$55.8 NZ$98.2

$76.4 CFPF 8,146

-26.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.18 NZ$12.64

$14.24 CFPF 1,520

-49.58%

Cappuccino

$3.46 NZ$6.09

$4.14 CFPF 441

-16.43%

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

$2.44 NZ$4.29

$2.64 CFPF 281

-7.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.44 NZ$4.29

$2.49 CFPF 266

-2.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.69 NZ$10.01

$4.75 CFPF 507

19.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.25 NZ$9.23

$5.58 CFPF 595

-5.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.32 NZ$4.08

$1.43 CFPF 153

62.24%

White Bread (500g)

$3.15 NZ$5.55

$4.40 CFPF 470

-28.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.68 NZ$2.95

$1.73 CFPF 185

-2.89%

Eggs

$5.56 NZ$9.79

$6.74 CFPF 719

-17.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.19 NZ$16.18

$35.28 CFPF 3,764

-73.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.76 NZ$13.65

$15.39 CFPF 1,643

-49.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.14 NZ$17.86

$24.37 CFPF 2,600

-58.39%

Apples (1kg)

$2.87 NZ$5.05

$4.93 CFPF 526

-41.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.67 NZ$2.95

$2.88 CFPF 308

-42.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.45 NZ$6.07

$6.35 CFPF 678

-45.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$8.98 NZ$15.81

$7.63 CFPF 814

17.69%

Potato (1kg)

$2.83 NZ$4.98

$2.92 CFPF 312

-3.08%

Onion (1kg)

$2.30 NZ$4.04

$2.42 CFPF 259

-4.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.25 NZ$3.95

$3.65 CFPF 390

-38.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.83 NZ$4.97

$1.16 CFPF 123

143.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.25 NZ$19.81

$13.06 CFPF 1,393

-13.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.70 NZ$22.35

$23.36 CFPF 2,493

-45.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.32 NZ$5.84

$2.92 CFPF 312

13.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.68 NZ$8.23

$3.76 CFPF 401

24.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.91 NZ$5.11

$1.82 CFPF 194

59.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.33 CFPF 1,529

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$20.18 NZ$35.52

$9.51 CFPF 1,014

112.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.39 CFPF 255

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.06 NZ$60.0

$22.96 CFPF 2,450

48.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.88 NZ$3.30

$1.44 CFPF 153

30.56%

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

$11.3K NZ$20.0K

$18.6K CFPF 2.0M

-38.87%

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

$30.4K CFPF 3.2M

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

$105 NZ$184

$174 CFPF 18.5K

-39.67%

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

$48.58 NZ$85.5

$18.73 CFPF 1,998

159.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$103 NZ$181

$69.8 CFPF 7,445

47.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$73.0 CFPF 7,793

Cinema Ticket

$14.25 CFPF 1,521

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

$468 CFPF 49.9K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,405 CFPF 1.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.1 CFPF 7,376

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$72.3 CFPF 7,716

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.0 CFPF 8,319

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.4 CFPF 9,542

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$723 NZ$1,273

$1,233 CFPF 131.5K

-41.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$696 NZ$1,225

$922 CFPF 98.4K

-24.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$393 NZ$691

$1,868 CFPF 199.3K

-78.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$634 NZ$1,115

$1,473 CFPF 157.2K

-57.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,062 CFPF 753.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$956 NZ$1,683

$9,027 CFPF 963.2K

-89.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,953 NZ$6,957

$1,876 CFPF 200.2K

110.71%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.6

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

Last update for the Cook Islands: October 26, 2026

Last update for French Polynesia: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Cook Islands

–

French Polynesia

$922 39.8%

Groceries & Markets

Cook Islands

–

French Polynesia

$565 24.4%

Eating Out

Cook Islands

–

French Polynesia

$283 12.2%

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Cook Islands

–

French Polynesia

$262 11.3%

Clothing & Footwear

Cook Islands

–

French Polynesia

$139 6%

Sport & Entertainment

Cook Islands

–

French Polynesia

$102 4.4%

Getting Around

Cook Islands

–

French Polynesia

$43 1.9%

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $707 in the Cook Islands, $1,170 in French Polynesia. Capital cities: $968 in Avarua vs $1,328 in Papeete.

National salary averages: $3,985 in the Cook Islands, $1,977 in French Polynesia. Higher pay doesn’t always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 65% higher in French Polynesia.

Dining out costs 38% more in French Polynesia.

Salaries are about 2 times higher in the Cook Islands, and purchasing power comes out stronger in the Cook Islands.

Good to know

🇨🇰 Cook Islands

🇵🇫 French Polynesia

🕒 Local time

08:21 8:21 AM

Same time as the Cook Islands

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

14,222

278,786

💱 Currency

New Zealand Dollar NZD $

CFP Franc XPF Fr

📈 Exchange rate

1 NZD = 0.568 USD

1 NZD = 0.51 EUR

1,000 XPF = 9.37 USD

1,000 XPF = 8.42 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

XPF, USD, EUR to NZD – New Zealand Dollar Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇳🇿 New Zealand Dollar ($)

New Zealand Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 1.76 NZD (1 NZD = 0.568 USD). 1 EUR = 1.96 NZD (1 NZD = 0.51 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 NZD in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Cook Islands French Polynesia 1,150 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight

From you

Cook Islands
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

Cook Islands vs French Polynesia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

At $1,568 per month in the Cook Islands and $2,315 in French Polynesia, there’s a 48% 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 $707 in the Cook Islands. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.

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