Cost of Living Comparison Between French Polynesia and Spain Cost of Living Comparison Between French Polynesia and Spain

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $613 in French Polynesia versus $1,686 in Spain.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $950 in French Polynesia versus $2,489 in Spain.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,287 in French Polynesia versus $3,291 in Spain.

Living in French Polynesia costs about 64% less than in Spain on average.

French Polynesia (55% below) and Spain (23% above) straddle the global median.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
French Polynesia
Spain
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.40 CFPF 1,794
$17.13 €14.94
1.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$76.2 CFPF 7,854
$57.2 €49.89
33.11%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.50 CFPF 1,495
$11.60 €10.11
25.00%
Cappuccino
$4.21 CFPF 434
$2.40 €2.09
75.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 CFPF 281
$2.73 €2.38
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.60 CFPF 268
$1.89 €1.65
37.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.98 CFPF 514
$3.57 €3.11
39.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.97 CFPF 615
$3.96 €3.45
50.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
French Polynesia
Spain
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.45 CFPF 149
$1.26 €1.09
15.08%
White Bread (500g)
$4.56 CFPF 470
$1.54 €1.34
196.10%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.72 CFPF 177
$1.63 €1.42
5.52%
Eggs
$7.18 CFPF 740
$3.44 €3.00
108.72%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$36.57 CFPF 3,770
$14.42 €12.57
153.61%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.29 CFPF 1,680
$8.89 €7.75
83.24%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$24.70 CFPF 2,547
$16.49 €14.38
49.79%
Apples (1kg)
$5.23 CFPF 540
$2.49 €2.17
110.04%
Banana (1kg)
$2.86 CFPF 295
$2.13 €1.86
34.27%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.54 CFPF 674
$2.22 €1.94
194.59%
Tomato (1kg)
$7.84 CFPF 808
$2.54 €2.22
208.66%
Potato (1kg)
$3.07 CFPF 316
$1.81 €1.57
69.61%
Onion (1kg)
$2.53 CFPF 260
$2.00 €1.74
26.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.80 CFPF 392
$1.35 €1.17
181.48%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 CFPF 129
$0.76 €0.66
64.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.07 CFPF 1,347
$6.91 €6.02
89.15%
Wine (Bottle)
$24.43 CFPF 2,519
$5.72 €4.98
327.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.01 CFPF 311
$1.32 €1.15
128.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88 CFPF 400
$2.13 €1.86
82.16%
🚌 Getting Around
French Polynesia
Spain
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.92 CFPF 198
$1.71 €1.49
12.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.78 CFPF 1,524
$35.14 €30.63
-57.94%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$9.94 CFPF 1,025
$4.66 €4.06
113.30%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.54 CFPF 262
$1.54 €1.35
64.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.22 CFPF 2,497
$25.59 €22.30
-5.35%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.46 CFPF 151
$1.76 €1.54
-17.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.2K CFPF 2.0M
$36.2K €31.6K
-47.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.2K CFPF 3.2M
$30.2K €26.3K
3.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
French Polynesia
Spain
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$180 CFPF 18.6K
$155 €135
16.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.83 CFPF 2,044
$18.12 €15.79
9.44%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$74.0 CFPF 7,633
$32.66 €28.47
126.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
French Polynesia
Spain
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.2 CFPF 7,859
$46.15 €40.23
65.18%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$15.65 €13.64
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.28 CFPF 1,473
$10.01 €8.72
42.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
French Polynesia
Spain
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$486 CFPF 50.1K
$560 €488
-13.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,584 CFPF 988.1K
$10.7K €9,354
-10.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
French Polynesia
Spain
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.4 CFPF 7,359
$87.1 €75.9
-18.06%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$74.1 CFPF 7,634
$38.45 €33.51
92.59%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.0 CFPF 8,247
$91.9 €80.1
-12.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.7 CFPF 9,458
$108 €94.4
-15.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
French Polynesia
Spain
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,271 CFPF 131.0K
$1,042 €908
21.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$964 CFPF 99.4K
$814 €709
18.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,889 CFPF 194.8K
$1,627 €1,419
16.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,526 CFPF 157.4K
$1,246 €1,086
22.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,309 CFPF 753.6K
$4,266 €3,718
71.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$9,439 CFPF 973.1K
$2,607 €2,272
262.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
French Polynesia
Spain
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,908 CFPF 196.7K
$2,046 €1,783
-6.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.6
3.29
39.82%

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

Last update for French Polynesia: September 14, 2026

Last update for Spain: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $355 in French Polynesia, $932 in Spain. Capital cities: $1,400 in Papeete vs $1,567 in Madrid.

National salary averages: $2,087 in French Polynesia, $2,029 in Spain. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 163% higher in Spain.

Dining out costs 168% more in Spain.

Public transport is 1450% more expensive in Spain.

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 Spain: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How does the cost of living in French Polynesia compare to the cost in Spain?
At $1,168 per month in French Polynesia and $1,821 in Spain, there's a 56% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
How do daily expenses compare in French Polynesia vs Spain?
Day-to-day life is simply cheaper in French Polynesia: 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.
Is rent more expensive in French Polynesia or in Spain?
Rent in Spain is consistently higher than in 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.
Can you live in both French Polynesia and Spain on $2,000 per month?
In French Polynesia, $2,000 covers most cities easily; in Spain it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Which country is better for expats: French Polynesia or Spain?
It depends on what you're after: French Polynesia wins on affordability; Spain may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

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