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: $790 in French Polynesia versus $1,642 in Spain.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,187 in French Polynesia versus $2,392 in Spain.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,583 in French Polynesia versus $3,142 in Spain.

Living in French Polynesia costs about 52% less than in Spain on average.

French Polynesia (41% below) and Spain (23% above) straddle the global median.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
French Polynesia
Spain
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.13 CFPF 1,670
$16.06 €13.91
0.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.8 CFPF 8,256
$56.9 €49.24
40.29%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.34 CFPF 1,277
$10.30 €8.92
19.81%
Cappuccino
$4.52 CFPF 468
$2.32 €2.01
94.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 CFPF 286
$2.60 €2.26
6.15%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20 CFPF 228
$1.84 €1.59
19.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.95 CFPF 513
$3.43 €2.97
44.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.99 CFPF 516
$3.97 €3.44
25.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
French Polynesia
Spain
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.45 CFPF 150
$1.19 €1.03
21.85%
White Bread (500g)
$2.75 CFPF 285
$1.52 €1.32
80.92%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 CFPF 176
$1.67 €1.45
1.80%
Eggs
$7.20 CFPF 745
$2.98 €2.58
141.61%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$39.16 CFPF 4,053
$14.42 €12.49
171.57%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.80 CFPF 1,739
$8.59 €7.44
95.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$26.82 CFPF 2,776
$15.95 €13.81
68.15%
Apples (1kg)
$5.57 CFPF 576
$2.51 €2.17
121.91%
Banana (1kg)
$2.37 CFPF 245
$2.07 €1.80
14.49%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.86 CFPF 710
$2.04 €1.77
236.27%
Tomato (1kg)
$7.80 CFPF 807
$2.64 €2.28
195.45%
Potato (1kg)
$3.03 CFPF 313
$1.76 €1.52
72.16%
Onion (1kg)
$2.69 CFPF 278
$1.98 €1.71
35.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.82 CFPF 395
$1.35 €1.17
182.96%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.11 CFPF 114
$0.74 €0.64
50.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.14 CFPF 1,256
$6.27 €5.43
93.62%
Wine (Bottle)
$24.27 CFPF 2,512
$5.75 €4.98
322.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.57 CFPF 266
$1.30 €1.13
97.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.65 CFPF 482
$2.06 €1.78
125.73%
🚌 Getting Around
French Polynesia
Spain
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.99 CFPF 206
$1.77 €1.53
12.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$34.49 €29.87
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$9.98 CFPF 1,033
$4.49 €3.89
122.27%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.32 €1.15
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$27.12 €23.48
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.52 CFPF 157
$1.80 €1.56
-15.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.7K CFPF 2.0M
$38.2K €33.1K
-48.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.6K CFPF 3.0M
$30.8K €26.7K
-7.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
French Polynesia
Spain
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$179 CFPF 18.5K
$149 €129
20.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.68 CFPF 1,830
$20.14 €17.44
-12.21%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$106 CFPF 11.0K
$33.50 €29.01
216.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
French Polynesia
Spain
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$73.3 CFPF 7,583
$46.30 €40.10
58.25%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.52 CFPF 1,814
$15.61 €13.52
12.24%
Cinema Ticket
$14.32 CFPF 1,483
$9.40 €8.14
52.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
French Polynesia
Spain
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$485 CFPF 50.2K
$522 €452
-7.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,864 CFPF 1.0M
$9,880 €8,556
-0.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
French Polynesia
Spain
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$99.1 CFPF 10.3K
$88.1 €76.3
12.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$84.7 CFPF 8,762
$35.98 €31.16
135.30%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$108 CFPF 11.2K
$89.0 €77.1
21.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 CFPF 11.2K
$108 €93.6
0.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
French Polynesia
Spain
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,306 CFPF 135.1K
$1,039 €900
25.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,084 CFPF 112.2K
$820 €710
32.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,102 CFPF 217.6K
$1,689 €1,462
24.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,869 CFPF 193.4K
$1,214 €1,051
53.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,452 CFPF 874.8K
$4,301 €3,725
96.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,640 CFPF 790.8K
$2,604 €2,255
193.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
French Polynesia
Spain
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,931 CFPF 199.9K
$1,982 €1,716
-2.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.4
3.51
53.85%

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

Last update for French Polynesia: July 26, 2026

Last update for Spain: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $536 in French Polynesia, $898 in Spain. Capital cities: $1,233 in Papeete vs $1,561 in Madrid.

National salary averages: $2,056 in French Polynesia, $1,989 in Spain. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 68% higher in Spain.

Dining out costs 179% more 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 $1,147 per month in French Polynesia and $2,188 in Spain, there's a 91% 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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