Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between French Polynesia and the United States

Name: United States
Address: US

For one person, living is cheaper in French Polynesia: $2,328 a month against $2,701 in the United States, rent and utilities included – about $4,500 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in the United States outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

113

Cost of Living Index in French Polynesia
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French Polynesia Living Index
133

Cost of Living Index in the United States
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United States Living Index

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🇵🇫 French Polynesia

$2,328

/mo nomad

🇺🇸 United States

$2,701

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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 States actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,328 in French Polynesia versus $2,701 in the United States.

French Polynesia $2,328
United States $2,701

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,472 in French Polynesia versus $3,980 in the United States.

French Polynesia $3,472
United States $3,980

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,615 in French Polynesia versus $5,258 in the United States.

French Polynesia $4,615
United States $5,258

Living in French Polynesia costs about 14% less than in the United States on average.

Both countries sit above the global median: French Polynesia 72% above, the United States 100% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.09 CFPF 1,808

$19.92 $19.92

-14.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.0 CFPF 8,039

$81.0 $81.0

-6.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.17 CFPF 1,499

$12.07 $12.07

17.40%

Cappuccino

$4.13 CFPF 437

$5.55 $5.55

-25.59%

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

$2.51 CFPF 266

$2.67 $2.67

-5.99%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 CFPF 273

$2.09 $2.09

23.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.56 CFPF 482

$5.96 $5.96

-23.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.72 CFPF 605

$7.76 $7.76

-26.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 CFPF 152

$1.05 $1.05

37.14%

White Bread (500g)

$4.43 CFPF 469

$3.55 $3.55

24.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 CFPF 173

$4.64 $4.64

-64.66%

Eggs

$6.68 CFPF 706

$4.18 $4.18

59.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$34.76 CFPF 3,677

$12.76 $12.76

172.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.77 CFPF 1,668

$12.63 $12.63

24.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.62 CFPF 2,499

$17.22 $17.22

37.17%

Apples (1kg)

$5.08 CFPF 538

$5.15 $5.15

-1.36%

Banana (1kg)

$2.89 CFPF 306

$1.64 $1.64

76.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.64 CFPF 702

$4.46 $4.46

48.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.88 CFPF 834

$4.98 $4.98

58.23%

Potato (1kg)

$3.02 CFPF 320

$2.84 $2.84

6.34%

Onion (1kg)

$2.35 CFPF 248

$3.09 $3.09

-23.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.56 CFPF 377

$2.19 $2.19

62.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 CFPF 128

$2.27 $2.27

-46.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.11 CFPF 1,387

$10.61 $10.61

23.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.70 CFPF 2,508

$14.71 $14.71

61.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 CFPF 300

$2.10 $2.10

35.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 CFPF 388

$3.82 $3.82

-3.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.92 CFPF 203

$2.35 $2.35

-18.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$13.98 CFPF 1,479

$64.1 $64.1

-78.18%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$9.10 CFPF 963

$3.57 $3.57

154.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.39 CFPF 253

$1.85 $1.85

29.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.23 CFPF 2,457

$30.19 $30.19

-23.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 CFPF 151

$1.07 $1.07

33.64%

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

$18.2K CFPF 1.9M

$35.3K $35.3K

-48.39%

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

$30.6K CFPF 3.2M

$25.9K $25.9K

18.14%

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

$178 CFPF 18.8K

$217 $217

-17.76%

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

$18.69 CFPF 1,977

$61.4 $61.4

-69.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.4 CFPF 7,550

$74.4 $74.4

-4.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$73.4 CFPF 7,769

$45.08 $45.08

62.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.07 $23.07

Cinema Ticket

$13.95 CFPF 1,476

$14.79 $14.79

-5.68%

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

$470 CFPF 49.7K

$1,480 $1,480

-68.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,475 CFPF 1.0M

$25.5K $25.5K

-62.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.2 CFPF 7,107

$53.0 $53.0

26.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$70.6 CFPF 7,473

$42.75 $42.75

65.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.1 CFPF 8,369

$94.3 $94.3

-16.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.7 CFPF 9,275

$115 $115

-23.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,221 CFPF 129.2K

$1,678 $1,678

-27.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$929 CFPF 98.3K

$1,313 $1,313

-29.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,806 CFPF 191.1K

$2,649 $2,649

-31.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,473 CFPF 155.8K

$2,183 $2,183

-32.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,888 CFPF 728.7K

$3,374 $3,374

104.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$9,027 CFPF 955.0K

$2,661 $2,661

239.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,873 CFPF 198.2K

$4,404 $4,404

-57.46%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.6

6.55

-29.77%

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

Last update for French Polynesia: October 12, 2026

Last update for the United States: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

French Polynesia

$929 39.9%

United States

$1.3K 48.6% 41.4% $384

Groceries & Markets

French Polynesia

$566 24.3%

United States

$411 15.2% 27.4% $155

Eating Out

French Polynesia

$283 12.2%

United States

$327 12.1% 15.2% $43

Monthly Utilities & Internet

French Polynesia

$268 11.5%

United States

$352 13% 31.4% $84

Clothing & Footwear

French Polynesia

$137 5.9%

United States

$137 5.1% 0.3% $0.4

Sport & Entertainment

French Polynesia

$101 4.4%

United States

$75 2.8% 26.3% $27

Getting Around

French Polynesia

$43 1.8%

United States

$86 3.2% 102% $44

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $331 in French Polynesia, $1,609 in the United States. Capital cities: $1,310 in Papeete vs $2,730 in Washington, DC.

National salary averages: $1,990 in French Polynesia, $4,533 in the United States. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 386% higher in the United States.

Dining out costs 241% more in the United States.

Public transport is 1250% more expensive in the United States.

Salaries are 128% higher in the United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in the United States.

Good to know

🇵🇫 French Polynesia

🇺🇸 United States

🕒 Local time

21:39 9:39 PM

03:39 3:39 AM

6 h ahead of French Polynesia

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

278,786

340,110,988

💱 Currency

CFP Franc XPF Fr

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 XPF = 9.45 USD

1,000 XPF = 8.41 EUR

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to XPF – CFP Franc Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🌐 CFP Franc (Fr)

CFP Franc exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 106 XPF (1,000 XPF = 9.45 USD). 1 EUR = 119 XPF (1,000 XPF = 8.41 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

USD to XPF in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

French Polynesia United States 8,840 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight

From you

French Polynesia
United States

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 States: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

At $2,328 per month in French Polynesia and $2,701 in the United States, there's a 16% 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 cheaper in French Polynesia: lower grocery prices, cheaper commutes, and more affordable meals out. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.

Rent for a central one-bedroom averages $1,609 in the United States and $331 in French Polynesia. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.

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