Cost of Living Comparison Between French Polynesia and American Samoa Cost of Living Comparison Between French Polynesia and American Samoa

Name: American Samoa
Address: AS

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $620 per month in French Polynesia vs $1,465 in American Samoa, rent included.

A couple spends around $951 per month in French Polynesia vs $2,287 in American Samoa, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,281 per month in French Polynesia vs $3,109 in American Samoa, rent included.

The cost of living in French Polynesia is roughly 58% lower than in American Samoa on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

French Polynesia sits 55% below the global median, while American Samoa is 6% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.67 CFPF 1,811

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.2 CFPF 8,117

$36.55 $36.55

116.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.80 CFPF 1,516

$9.90 $9.90

49.49%

Cappuccino

$4.16 CFPF 426

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

$2.65 CFPF 272

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.59 CFPF 266

$1.01 $1.01

156.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.00 CFPF 512

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.70 CFPF 584

$4.10 $4.10

39.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.49 CFPF 153

$2.61 $2.61

-42.91%

White Bread (500g)

$4.45 CFPF 456

$2.88 $2.88

54.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.74 CFPF 178

$4.19 $4.19

-58.47%

Eggs

$6.98 CFPF 715

$4.52 $4.52

54.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$36.96 CFPF 3,787

$10.11 $10.11

265.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.29 CFPF 1,669

$10.04 $10.04

62.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.81 CFPF 2,542

$11.48 $11.48

116.11%

Apples (1kg)

$5.13 CFPF 525

$6.12 $6.12

-16.18%

Banana (1kg)

$2.99 CFPF 307

$0.97 $0.97

208.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.64 CFPF 681

$3.06 $3.06

116.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$8.01 CFPF 821

$4.11 $4.11

94.89%

Potato (1kg)

$3.19 CFPF 327

$4.05 $4.05

-21.23%

Onion (1kg)

$2.44 CFPF 250

$3.92 $3.92

-37.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.68 CFPF 377

$2.01 $2.01

83.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.27 CFPF 130

$1.98 $1.98

-35.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.15 CFPF 1,347

$11.30 $11.30

16.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$24.08 CFPF 2,467

$15.27 $15.27

57.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.88 CFPF 295

$0.98 $0.98

193.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.98 CFPF 408

$2.93 $2.93

35.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.91 CFPF 195

$1.97 $1.97

-3.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.49 CFPF 1,484

$123 $123

-88.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$9.60 CFPF 983

$4.95 $4.95

93.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.56 CFPF 262

$2.05 $2.05

24.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.30 CFPF 2,490

$29.91 $29.91

-18.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.55 CFPF 158

$1.31 $1.31

18.32%

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

$19.1K CFPF 2.0M

$30.3K $30.3K

-37.00%

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

$30.9K CFPF 3.2M

$20.4K $20.4K

51.55%

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

$185 CFPF 19.0K

$405 $405

-54.24%

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

$20.23 CFPF 2,073

$29.78 $29.78

-32.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.0 CFPF 7,481

$74.3 $74.3

-1.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.5 CFPF 7,740

$50.5 $50.5

49.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.98 $9.98

Cinema Ticket

$14.48 CFPF 1,483

$8.92 $8.92

62.33%

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

$493 CFPF 50.5K

$984 $984

-49.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,918 CFPF 1.0M

$9,989 $9,989

-0.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.5 CFPF 7,221

$70.6 $70.6

-0.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$74.3 CFPF 7,613

$50.6 $50.6

46.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.7 CFPF 8,263

$81.3 $81.3

-0.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$94.1 CFPF 9,640

$99.9 $99.9

-5.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,303 CFPF 133.5K

$320 $320

307.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$977 CFPF 100.1K

$199 $199

391.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,924 CFPF 197.2K

$915 $915

110.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,576 CFPF 161.4K

$691 $691

127.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,196 CFPF 737.2K

$17.8K $17.8K

-59.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$9,139 CFPF 936.3K

$10.8K $10.8K

-15.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,947 CFPF 199.5K

$1,188 $1,188

63.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.6

53.33%

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

Last update for French Polynesia: September 7, 2026

Last update for American Samoa: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $347 in French Polynesia vs $319 in American Samoa. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,365 in Papeete and $319 in Pago Pago.

Average salary: $2,126 in French Polynesia vs $1,214 in American Samoa. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 9% higher in French Polynesia.

Dining out costs 64% more in American Samoa.

Public transport is 6100% more expensive in American Samoa.

Salaries are 75% higher in French Polynesia, and purchasing power comes out stronger in French Polynesia.

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

French Polynesia vs American Samoa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

French Polynesia is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 22% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.

Housing costs more in American Samoa, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but American Samoa consistently has higher rents.

Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in French Polynesia, contributing to the overall 22% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.

$2,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in French Polynesia, but in American Samoa it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.

French Polynesia is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.