😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,720 in Italy versus $790 in French Polynesia.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,626 in Italy versus $1,187 in French Polynesia.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,531 in Italy versus $1,583 in French Polynesia.
🌍Living in Italy is roughly 118% more expensive than in French Polynesia on average.
📊Italy (29% above) and French Polynesia (41% below) straddle the global median.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Italy
French Polynesia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.16€14.96
$16.13CFPF 1,687
6.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.4€70.9
$79.8CFPF 8,340
2.02%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.60€10.11
$12.34CFPF 1,290
-6.00%
Cappuccino
$1.98€1.73
$4.52CFPF 473
-56.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00€2.62
$2.76CFPF 288
8.70%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.36€1.18
$2.20CFPF 230
-38.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.92€5.16
$4.95CFPF 518
19.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.25€4.58
$4.99CFPF 522
5.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Italy
French Polynesia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70€1.49
$1.45CFPF 151
17.24%
White Bread(500g)
$2.37€2.07
$2.75CFPF 288
-13.82%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.03€2.65
$1.70CFPF 178
78.24%
Eggs
$3.95€3.44
$7.20CFPF 752
-45.14%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.66€14.53
$39.16CFPF 4,094
-57.46%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.26€10.68
$16.80CFPF 1,757
-27.02%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.06€17.49
$26.82CFPF 2,804
-25.21%
Apples(1kg)
$2.55€2.23
$5.57CFPF 582
-54.22%
Banana(1kg)
$2.20€1.92
$2.37CFPF 248
-7.17%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.75€2.40
$6.86CFPF 717
-59.91%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.22€2.81
$7.80CFPF 815
-58.72%
Potato(1kg)
$1.94€1.69
$3.03CFPF 317
-35.97%
Onion(1kg)
$1.82€1.59
$2.69CFPF 281
-32.34%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.48€1.29
$3.82CFPF 399
-61.26%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50€0.43
$1.11CFPF 116
-54.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.13€6.21
$12.14CFPF 1,269
-41.27%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.37€6.43
$24.27CFPF 2,537
-69.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76€1.53
$2.57CFPF 269
-31.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53€2.20
$4.65CFPF 487
-45.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Italy
French Polynesia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.99€1.73
$1.99CFPF 208
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$42.32€36.90
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.67€4.94
$9.98CFPF 1,044
-43.19%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.52€1.32
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.94€30.46
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.09€1.83
$1.52CFPF 159
37.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.7K€28.5K
$19.7KCFPF 2.1M
65.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K€28.7K
$28.6KCFPF 3.0M
14.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Italy
French Polynesia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$227€198
$179CFPF 18.7K
26.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.58€11.84
$17.68CFPF 1,848
-23.19%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.57€27.52
$106CFPF 11.1K
-70.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Italy
French Polynesia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.7€50.3
$73.3CFPF 7,660
-21.30%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.23€22.00
$17.52CFPF 1,832
44.01%
Cinema Ticket
$10.59€9.24
$14.32CFPF 1,498
-26.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Italy
French Polynesia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$568€495
$485CFPF 50.7K
17.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5K€9,187
$9,864CFPF 1.0M
6.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Italy
French Polynesia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.7€79.0
$99.1CFPF 10.4K
-8.54%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.49€35.30
$84.7CFPF 8,851
-52.17%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.8€87.0
$108CFPF 11.3K
-7.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130€113
$108CFPF 11.3K
19.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Italy
French Polynesia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$865€754
$1,306CFPF 136.5K
-33.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$672€586
$1,084CFPF 113.3K
-37.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,523€1,328
$2,102CFPF 219.8K
-27.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,078€940
$1,869CFPF 195.4K
-42.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,767€3,284
$8,452CFPF 883.7K
-55.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,360€2,058
$7,640CFPF 798.8K
-69.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Italy
French Polynesia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,949€1,699
$1,931CFPF 201.9K
0.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.41
5.4
-18.33%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Italy: July 27, 2026
Last update for French Polynesia: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $743 in Italy, $536 in French Polynesia. Capital cities: $1,334 in Rome vs $1,233 in Papeete.
💰National salary averages: $1,912 in Italy, $2,056 in French Polynesia. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 39% higher in Italy.
⭐Dining out costs 289% more in Italy.
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
Italy vs French Polynesia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How does the cost of living in French Polynesia compare to the cost in Italy?
At $1,147 per month in French Polynesia and $1,817 in Italy, there's a 58% 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 Italy?
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 Italy?
Rent in Italy 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 Italy on $2,000 per month?
In French Polynesia, $2,000 covers most cities easily; in Italy 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 Italy?
It depends on what you're after: French Polynesia wins on affordability; Italy may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.