Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between French Polynesia and the United Kingdom

For one person, living is cheaper in French Polynesia: $2,315 a month against $2,462 in the United Kingdom, rent and utilities included – about $1,800 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in the United Kingdom outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

French Polynesia
United Kingdom
🇵🇫 French Polynesia
$2,315
/mo nomad
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
$2,462
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in French Polynesia and in the United Kingdom

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in French Polynesia and in the United Kingdom actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,315 in French Polynesia versus $2,462 in the United Kingdom.

  • French Polynesia $2,315
  • United Kingdom $2,462

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,464 in French Polynesia versus $3,600 in the United Kingdom.

  • French Polynesia $3,464
  • United Kingdom $3,600

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,613 in French Polynesia versus $4,738 in the United Kingdom.

  • French Polynesia $4,613
  • United Kingdom $4,738

Internal cost variation is higher in the United Kingdom: monthly costs span $1,126 to $4,646, compared to $14–$2,283 in French Polynesia. City choice carries more weight in the United Kingdom.

Living in French Polynesia costs about 6% less than in the United Kingdom on average.

Both countries sit above the global median: French Polynesia 70% above, the United Kingdom 81% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
French Polynesia
United Kingdom
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.95 CFPF 1,809
$21.48 £16.17
-21.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$76.4 CFPF 8,146
$85.7 £64.5
-10.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.24 CFPF 1,520
$10.61 £7.99
34.21%
Cappuccino
$4.14 CFPF 441
$4.91 £3.70
-15.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64 CFPF 281
$2.66 £2.00
-0.75%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 CFPF 266
$1.87 £1.41
33.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.75 CFPF 507
$6.63 £4.99
-28.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.58 CFPF 595
$6.84 £5.15
-18.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
French Polynesia
United Kingdom
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 CFPF 153
$1.68 £1.26
-14.88%
White Bread (500g)
$4.40 CFPF 470
$1.72 £1.29
155.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.73 CFPF 185
$2.17 £1.63
-20.28%
Eggs
$6.74 CFPF 719
$4.00 £3.01
68.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$35.28 CFPF 3,764
$9.42 £7.09
274.52%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.39 CFPF 1,643
$9.19 £6.91
67.46%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$24.37 CFPF 2,600
$14.77 £11.11
65.00%
Apples (1kg)
$4.93 CFPF 526
$2.97 £2.23
65.99%
Banana (1kg)
$2.88 CFPF 308
$1.62 £1.22
77.78%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.35 CFPF 678
$2.85 £2.15
122.81%
Tomato (1kg)
$7.63 CFPF 814
$3.52 £2.65
116.76%
Potato (1kg)
$2.92 CFPF 312
$1.83 £1.38
59.56%
Onion (1kg)
$2.42 CFPF 259
$1.61 £1.21
50.31%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.65 CFPF 390
$1.25 £0.94
192.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16 CFPF 123
$1.66 £1.25
-30.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.06 CFPF 1,393
$23.65 £17.80
-44.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.36 CFPF 2,493
$10.50 £7.90
122.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.92 CFPF 312
$2.98 £2.25
-2.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.76 CFPF 401
$3.51 £2.64
7.12%
🚌 Getting Around
French Polynesia
United Kingdom
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.82 CFPF 194
$3.98 £2.99
-54.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.33 CFPF 1,529
$107 £80.9
-86.66%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$9.51 CFPF 1,014
$5.18 £3.90
83.59%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.39 CFPF 255
$2.35 £1.77
1.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$22.96 CFPF 2,450
$26.84 £20.20
-14.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.44 CFPF 153
$1.99 £1.50
-27.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.6K CFPF 2.0M
$39.4K £29.7K
-52.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.4K CFPF 3.2M
$40.5K £30.5K
-24.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
French Polynesia
United Kingdom
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$174 CFPF 18.5K
$327 £246
-46.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.73 CFPF 1,998
$18.21 £13.71
2.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.8 CFPF 7,445
$43.60 £32.81
60.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
French Polynesia
United Kingdom
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$73.0 CFPF 7,793
$42.36 £31.88
72.40%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.22 £13.71
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.25 CFPF 1,521
$13.85 £10.42
2.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
French Polynesia
United Kingdom
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$468 CFPF 49.9K
$1,868 £1,406
-74.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,405 CFPF 1.0M
$22.6K £17.0K
-58.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
French Polynesia
United Kingdom
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.1 CFPF 7,376
$92.9 £69.9
-25.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$72.3 CFPF 7,716
$45.92 £34.56
57.49%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.0 CFPF 8,319
$102 £76.5
-23.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.4 CFPF 9,542
$102 £77.0
-12.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
French Polynesia
United Kingdom
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,233 CFPF 131.5K
$1,342 £1,010
-8.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$922 CFPF 98.4K
$1,073 £808
-14.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,868 CFPF 199.3K
$2,231 £1,679
-16.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,473 CFPF 157.2K
$1,742 £1,311
-15.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,062 CFPF 753.5K
$5,601 £4,216
26.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$9,027 CFPF 963.2K
$4,265 £3,210
111.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
French Polynesia
United Kingdom
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,876 CFPF 200.2K
$3,349 £2,521
-43.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.6
5.32
-13.53%

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

Last update for French Polynesia: October 24, 2026

Last update for the United Kingdom: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
French Polynesia
$922
United Kingdom
$1.1K 16.4% $151
Groceries & Markets
French Polynesia
$565
United Kingdom
$307 45.6% $257
Eating Out
French Polynesia
$283
United Kingdom
$328 15.6% $44
Monthly Utilities & Internet
French Polynesia
$262
United Kingdom
$389 48.4% $127
Clothing & Footwear
French Polynesia
$139
United Kingdom
$154 11% $15
Sport & Entertainment
French Polynesia
$102
United Kingdom
$70 31% $31
Getting Around
French Polynesia
$43
United Kingdom
$140 226% $97

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $1,170 in French Polynesia, $1,287 in the United Kingdom. Capital cities: $1,328 in Papeete vs $2,811 in London.

National salary averages: $1,977 in French Polynesia, $3,251 in the United Kingdom. Higher pay doesn’t always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 10% higher in the United Kingdom.

Public transport is 621% more expensive in the United Kingdom.

Salaries are 64% higher in the United Kingdom, and purchasing power comes out stronger in the United Kingdom.

Good to know
🇵🇫 French Polynesia
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
🕒 Local time
03:19 3:19 AM
13:19 1:19 PM
10 h ahead of French Polynesia
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
278,786
67,326,569
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

GBP, USD, EUR to XPF – CFP Franc Converter

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).

British Pound exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 0.753 GBP (1 GBP = 1.33 USD). 1 EUR = 0.838 GBP (1 GBP = 1.19 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • French Polynesia United Kingdom 15,380 km ≈ 20 h nonstop flight
From you
  • French Polynesia
  • United Kingdom

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
French Polynesia vs United Kingdom: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How does the cost of living in French Polynesia compare to the cost in the United Kingdom?
At $2,315 per month in French Polynesia and $2,462 in the United Kingdom, there’s a 6% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Is rent more expensive in French Polynesia or in the United Kingdom?
Rent for a central one-bedroom averages $1,287 in the United Kingdom and $1,170 in French Polynesia. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.
Which country is better for expats: French Polynesia or the United Kingdom?
It depends on what you’re after: French Polynesia wins on affordability; the United Kingdom may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

French Polynesia vs other spots: cost of living compared

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