😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,719 in Italy versus $783 in French Polynesia.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,625 in Italy versus $1,188 in French Polynesia.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,531 in Italy versus $1,592 in French Polynesia.
😐Living in Italy is roughly 120% more expensive than French Polynesia on average.
📊Italy (28% above) and French Polynesia (42% below) straddle the global median.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Italy
French Polynesia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.02€14.75
$15.90CFPF 1,643
7.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$82.3€71.4
$81.6CFPF 8,428
0.92%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.62€10.07
$12.08CFPF 1,248
-3.81%
Cappuccino
$1.91€1.65
$4.49CFPF 463
-57.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02€2.62
$2.63CFPF 272
14.83%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31€1.14
$2.13CFPF 220
-38.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.81€5.04
$4.83CFPF 499
20.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.12€4.44
$4.96CFPF 513
3.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Italy
French Polynesia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.64€1.43
$1.51CFPF 156
8.61%
White Bread(500g)
$2.42€2.10
$2.80CFPF 289
-13.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.92€2.53
$1.63CFPF 168
79.14%
Eggs
$4.12€3.57
$7.03CFPF 726
-41.39%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.70€14.47
$38.13CFPF 3,938
-56.20%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.60€10.92
$16.45CFPF 1,699
-23.40%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.61€17.86
$27.44CFPF 2,834
-24.89%
Apples(1kg)
$2.48€2.15
$5.39CFPF 557
-53.99%
Banana(1kg)
$2.15€1.86
$2.35CFPF 243
-8.51%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.72€2.36
$6.61CFPF 683
-58.85%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.25€2.82
$7.73CFPF 799
-57.96%
Potato(1kg)
$1.94€1.68
$3.05CFPF 315
-36.39%
Onion(1kg)
$1.81€1.57
$2.74CFPF 283
-33.94%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.48€1.28
$3.92CFPF 405
-62.24%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54€0.47
$1.16CFPF 120
-53.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.82€5.91
$12.05CFPF 1,245
-43.40%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.33€6.36
$23.95CFPF 2,474
-69.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80€1.56
$2.55CFPF 264
-29.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54€2.20
$4.71CFPF 487
-46.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Italy
French Polynesia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.01€1.74
$1.95CFPF 202
3.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.70€36.14
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.90€5.12
$9.56CFPF 987
-38.28%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.52€1.31
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.23€29.67
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.13€1.84
$1.57CFPF 162
35.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.8K€28.4K
$19.5KCFPF 2.0M
68.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.5K€29.0K
$29.0KCFPF 3.0M
15.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Italy
French Polynesia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$226€196
$183CFPF 18.9K
23.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.32€11.54
$17.42CFPF 1,799
-23.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.26€27.10
$106CFPF 10.9K
-70.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Italy
French Polynesia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$56.9€49.31
$73.2CFPF 7,558
-22.24%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.71€22.28
$17.87CFPF 1,846
43.87%
Cinema Ticket
$10.35€8.97
$14.83CFPF 1,532
-30.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Italy
French Polynesia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$579€502
$484CFPF 50.0K
19.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5K€9,130
$9,615CFPF 993.2K
9.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Italy
French Polynesia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.2€78.2
$98.7CFPF 10.2K
-8.63%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.79€35.36
$85.8CFPF 8,867
-52.48%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.7€85.6
$108CFPF 11.1K
-8.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133€115
$109CFPF 11.3K
21.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Italy
French Polynesia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$853€739
$1,332CFPF 137.5K
-35.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$667€578
$1,090CFPF 112.6K
-38.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,517€1,315
$2,093CFPF 216.2K
-27.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,083€938
$1,871CFPF 193.3K
-42.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,767€3,264
$8,577CFPF 886.0K
-56.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,403€2,083
$7,962CFPF 822.5K
-69.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Italy
French Polynesia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,986€1,721
$1,919CFPF 198.2K
3.49%
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: June 9, 2026
Last update for French Polynesia: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $742 in Italy, $539 in French Polynesia. Capital cities: $1,368 in Rome vs $1,243 in Papeete.
💰National salary averages: $1,931 in Italy, $2,100 in French Polynesia. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 38% 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 Italy?
At $1,124 per month in French Polynesia and $1,804 in Italy, there's a 60% 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?
French Polynesia is simply cheaper day-to-day: 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 Italy?
Rent in Italy beats 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 works in regional areas but 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.