Cost of Living Comparison Between French Polynesia and Marshall Islands Cost of Living Comparison Between French Polynesia and Marshall Islands

Name: Marshall Islands
Address: MH

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $789 in French Polynesia versus $2,107 in Marshall Islands.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,191 in French Polynesia versus $3,052 in Marshall Islands.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,593 in French Polynesia versus $3,997 in Marshall Islands.

Living in French Polynesia costs about 63% less than in Marshall Islands on average.

French Polynesia (41% below) and Marshall Islands (57% above) straddle the global median.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.72 CFPF 1,604

$12.47 $12.47

26.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.1 CFPF 8,174

$30.32 $30.32

164.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.30 CFPF 1,256

$10.67 $10.67

15.28%

Cappuccino

$4.39 CFPF 448

$4.16 $4.16

5.53%

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

$2.64 CFPF 270

$1.87 $1.87

41.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 CFPF 217

$2.35 $2.35

-9.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.98 CFPF 508

$4.48 $4.48

11.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.79 CFPF 489

$4.94 $4.94

-3.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.50 CFPF 153

$2.20 $2.20

-31.82%

White Bread (500g)

$2.85 CFPF 290

$3.37 $3.37

-15.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 CFPF 166

$1.78 $1.78

-8.99%

Eggs

$7.08 CFPF 722

$4.08 $4.08

73.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$38.96 CFPF 3,976

$29.47 $29.47

32.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.98 CFPF 1,733

$10.83 $10.83

56.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$26.65 CFPF 2,719

$18.01 $18.01

47.97%

Apples (1kg)

$5.46 CFPF 557

$4.37 $4.37

24.94%

Banana (1kg)

$2.36 CFPF 240

$7.38 $7.38

-68.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.74 CFPF 688

$8.85 $8.85

-23.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.71 CFPF 786

$12.74 $12.74

-39.48%

Potato (1kg)

$2.94 CFPF 300

$5.38 $5.38

-45.35%

Onion (1kg)

$2.66 CFPF 271

$5.41 $5.41

-50.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.95 CFPF 403

$3.66 $3.66

7.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 CFPF 114

$1.54 $1.54

-27.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.05 CFPF 1,230

Wine (Bottle)

$24.35 CFPF 2,485

$10.04 $10.04

142.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.61 CFPF 266

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.76 CFPF 485

$2.13 $2.13

123.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.90 CFPF 194

$2.54 $2.54

-25.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$9.75 CFPF 995

$2.43 $2.43

301.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.52 $1.52

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.87 $4.87

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.57 CFPF 160

$1.79 $1.79

-12.29%

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

$19.2K CFPF 2.0M

$18.3K $18.3K

5.00%

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

$29.1K CFPF 3.0M

$13.0K $13.0K

124.01%

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

$178 CFPF 18.2K

$246 $246

-27.49%

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

$17.18 CFPF 1,753

$37.66 $37.66

-54.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$105 CFPF 10.8K

$72.6 $72.6

45.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.4 CFPF 7,696

$32.83 $32.83

129.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.92 CFPF 1,828

Cinema Ticket

$14.42 CFPF 1,471

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

$488 CFPF 49.8K

$151 $151

222.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,572 CFPF 976.7K

$3,608 $3,608

165.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$98.4 CFPF 10.0K

$57.6 $57.6

70.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$86.0 CFPF 8,780

$39.76 $39.76

116.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 CFPF 11.3K

$35.03 $35.03

215.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 CFPF 10.8K

$52.9 $52.9

99.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,315 CFPF 134.2K

$774 $774

69.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,085 CFPF 110.7K

$849 $849

27.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,127 CFPF 217.0K

$1,389 $1,389

53.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,829 CFPF 186.6K

$1,404 $1,404

30.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,666 CFPF 884.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,771 CFPF 793.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,980 CFPF 202.1K

$1,498 $1,498

32.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.4

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

Last update for French Polynesia: April 27, 2026

Last update for Marshall Islands: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $537 in French Polynesia, $763 in Marshall Islands. Capital cities: $1,240 in Papeete vs $763 in Majuro.

National salary averages: $2,115 in French Polynesia, $986 in Marshall Islands. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 42% higher in Marshall Islands.

Dining out costs 58% more in Marshall Islands.

Salaries are 115% higher in French Polynesia, giving French Polynesia stronger purchasing power.

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 Marshall Islands: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

At $1,165 per month in French Polynesia and $2,107 in Marshall Islands, there's a 81% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.

French Polynesia is simply cheaper day-to-day: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.

Rent in Marshall Islands beats French Polynesia across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.

In French Polynesia, $2,000 covers most cities easily. In Marshall Islands, it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.

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