Cost of Living Comparison Between French Polynesia and United States Cost of Living Comparison Between French Polynesia and United States

Name: United States
Address: US

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $617 in French Polynesia versus $2,622 in United States.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $962 in French Polynesia versus $3,830 in United States.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,307 in French Polynesia versus $5,038 in United States.

Living in French Polynesia costs about 76% less than in United States on average.

French Polynesia (55% below) and United States (91% above) straddle the global median.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.62 CFPF 1,810

$19.78 $19.78

-10.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.3 CFPF 8,044

$81.4 $81.4

-3.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.82 CFPF 1,523

$12.11 $12.11

22.38%

Cappuccino

$4.36 CFPF 448

$5.44 $5.44

-19.85%

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

$2.65 CFPF 272

$2.67 $2.67

-0.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 CFPF 276

$2.08 $2.08

28.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.97 CFPF 510

$6.06 $6.06

-17.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.97 CFPF 613

$8.14 $8.14

-26.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.45 CFPF 149

$1.05 $1.05

38.10%

White Bread (500g)

$4.41 CFPF 454

$3.65 $3.65

20.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 CFPF 174

$4.45 $4.45

-61.80%

Eggs

$7.05 CFPF 724

$4.35 $4.35

62.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$36.25 CFPF 3,725

$12.73 $12.73

184.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.21 CFPF 1,666

$12.46 $12.46

30.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.96 CFPF 2,565

$16.95 $16.95

47.26%

Apples (1kg)

$5.26 CFPF 540

$5.30 $5.30

-0.75%

Banana (1kg)

$2.87 CFPF 295

$1.70 $1.70

68.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.88 CFPF 707

$4.40 $4.40

56.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.86 CFPF 808

$5.01 $5.01

56.89%

Potato (1kg)

$3.09 CFPF 318

$2.87 $2.87

7.67%

Onion (1kg)

$2.47 CFPF 254

$3.13 $3.13

-21.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.67 CFPF 377

$2.32 $2.32

58.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.27 CFPF 130

$2.34 $2.34

-45.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.47 CFPF 1,384

$10.55 $10.55

27.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$24.26 CFPF 2,493

$14.94 $14.94

62.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.90 CFPF 298

$2.12 $2.12

36.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.93 CFPF 404

$3.69 $3.69

6.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.93 CFPF 198

$2.37 $2.37

-18.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.44 CFPF 1,483

$65.1 $65.1

-77.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$9.61 CFPF 987

$3.42 $3.42

180.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.46 CFPF 253

$1.89 $1.89

30.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.04 CFPF 2,470

$30.16 $30.16

-20.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.53 CFPF 157

$0.98 $0.98

56.12%

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

$18.7K CFPF 1.9M

$35.9K $35.9K

-48.07%

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

$30.8K CFPF 3.2M

$25.9K $25.9K

18.77%

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

$180 CFPF 18.5K

$218 $218

-17.11%

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

$20.11 CFPF 2,067

$61.0 $61.0

-67.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.9 CFPF 7,492

$74.8 $74.8

-2.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.5 CFPF 7,960

$44.42 $44.42

74.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.53 $22.53

Cinema Ticket

$14.71 CFPF 1,511

$14.80 $14.80

-0.61%

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

$479 CFPF 49.2K

$1,476 $1,476

-67.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,901 CFPF 1.0M

$25.9K $25.9K

-61.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.3 CFPF 7,430

$54.4 $54.4

33.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$73.9 CFPF 7,593

$43.59 $43.59

69.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.3 CFPF 8,251

$92.9 $92.9

-13.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$93.4 CFPF 9,593

$114 $114

-18.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,287 CFPF 132.3K

$1,639 $1,639

-21.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$989 CFPF 101.6K

$1,358 $1,358

-27.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,910 CFPF 196.2K

$2,699 $2,699

-29.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,553 CFPF 159.6K

$2,199 $2,199

-29.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,378 CFPF 758.1K

$3,269 $3,269

125.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$9,236 CFPF 949.0K

$2,589 $2,589

256.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,950 CFPF 200.3K

$4,357 $4,357

-55.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.6

6.21

-25.93%

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

Last update for French Polynesia: August 31, 2026

Last update for United States: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $353 in French Polynesia, $1,606 in United States. Capital cities: $1,389 in Papeete vs $1,373 in Columbia, TN.

National salary averages: $2,095 in French Polynesia, $4,519 in United States. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 355% higher in United States.

Dining out costs 241% more in United States.

Public transport is 1250% more expensive in United States.

Salaries are 116% higher in United States, 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 United States: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

At $1,169 per month in French Polynesia and $3,080 in United States, there's a 163% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.

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.

Rent in United States 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.

In French Polynesia, $2,000 covers most cities easily; in United States it stretches only to regional areas and 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; United States may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.