Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Papeete

For one person, living is cheaper in Lisbon: $2,210 a month against $2,283 in Papeete, rent and utilities included – about $880 less a year. The total is higher in Papeete despite lower rent and utilities.

Lisbon, Portugal
Papeete, French Polynesia
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,210
/mo nomad
Papeete
🇵🇫 French Polynesia
$2,283
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Lisbon and in Papeete

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $2,283 in Papeete.

  • Lisbon $2,210
  • Papeete $2,283

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,275 in Lisbon versus $3,451 in Papeete.

  • Lisbon $3,275
  • Papeete $3,451

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,341 in Lisbon versus $4,620 in Papeete.

  • Lisbon $4,341
  • Papeete $4,620

Living in Lisbon costs roughly 3% less than in Papeete, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 62% above, Papeete 68% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Papeete
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.65 €14.95
$18.56 CFPF 1,980
-10.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.7 €55.5
$95.4 CFPF 10.2K
-35.30%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.36 €10.20
$14.54 CFPF 1,551
-21.87%
Cappuccino
$2.97 €2.67
$3.41 CFPF 364
-12.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 €2.06
$2.62 CFPF 280
-12.60%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 €1.56
$3.25 CFPF 346
-46.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.40 €3.06
$3.35 CFPF 358
1.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31 €2.97
$3.76 CFPF 402
-11.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Papeete
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.16 €1.04
$1.49 CFPF 159
-22.15%
White Bread (500g)
$1.91 €1.72
$2.75 CFPF 293
-30.55%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.51 €1.36
$1.61 CFPF 171
-6.21%
Eggs
$4.02 €3.61
$6.36 CFPF 678
-36.79%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.94 €11.62
$27.25 CFPF 2,907
-52.51%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.77 €6.98
$15.12 CFPF 1,613
-48.61%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.76 €15.95
$26.88 CFPF 2,868
-33.93%
Apples (1kg)
$2.30 €2.07
$4.79 CFPF 512
-51.98%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 €1.56
$2.42 CFPF 258
-28.51%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.86 €1.67
$6.39 CFPF 682
-70.89%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.59 €2.33
$7.76 CFPF 828
-66.62%
Potato (1kg)
$1.82 €1.64
$2.64 CFPF 282
-31.06%
Onion (1kg)
$1.97 €1.77
$2.18 CFPF 233
-9.63%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.47 €1.32
$3.65 CFPF 390
-59.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 €0.65
$1.14 CFPF 121
-36.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58 €5.91
$12.97 CFPF 1,384
-49.27%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.61 €5.04
$21.00 CFPF 2,240
-73.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36 €1.22
$2.69 CFPF 287
-49.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 €1.92
$3.19 CFPF 340
-32.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Papeete
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.33 €2.10
$1.91 CFPF 204
21.99%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.68 €40.14
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.85 €3.46
$9.23 CFPF 984
-58.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.07 €0.96
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.46 €14.79
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.20 €1.98
$1.51 CFPF 161
45.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.2K €30.7K
$18.4K CFPF 2.0M
85.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.7K €34.8K
$27.8K CFPF 3.0M
39.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Papeete
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$161 €145
$179 CFPF 19.1K
-10.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.41 €16.54
$19.50 CFPF 2,081
-5.59%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.74 €29.41
$70.8 CFPF 7,549
-53.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Papeete
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.55 €40.02
$84.0 CFPF 8,963
-46.97%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.10 €17.16
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.60 €8.62
$14.21 CFPF 1,516
-32.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Papeete
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$668 €600
$461 CFPF 49.2K
44.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.6K €15.8K
$9,248 CFPF 986.7K
90.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Papeete
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102 €91.6
$69.2 CFPF 7,380
47.51%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.46 €39.94
$70.5 CFPF 7,517
-36.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.5 €88.5
$77.7 CFPF 8,288
26.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124 €111
$89.3 CFPF 9,529
38.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Papeete
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,608 €1,445
$1,328 CFPF 141.7K
21.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,190 €1,069
$947 CFPF 101.1K
25.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,812 €2,526
$1,806 CFPF 192.7K
55.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,013 €1,808
$1,513 CFPF 161.4K
33.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,839 €7,042
$7,081 CFPF 755.6K
10.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,576 €4,110
$7,507 CFPF 801.0K
-39.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Papeete
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,575 €1,415
$2,222 CFPF 237.1K
-29.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.85
4.5
-14.44%

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

Last update for Lisbon: October 27, 2026

Last update for Papeete: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
$1.2K
Papeete
$947 20.4% $243
Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
$272
Papeete
$517 90% $245
Eating Out
Lisbon
$243
Papeete
$281 15.7% $38
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
$212
Papeete
$270 27% $57
Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
$166
Papeete
$138 16.8% $28
Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
$64
Papeete
$112 76.4% $49
Getting Around
Lisbon
$63
Papeete
$17 * 73.3% $46

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,608 in Lisbon and $1,328 in Papeete. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Papeete pays 41% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $62 in Lisbon vs $95 in Papeete for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $272 vs $517 per month, with Lisbon cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🇵🇫 Papeete
🕒 Local time
06:27 6:27 AM
20:27 8:27 PM
10 h behind Lisbon
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
545,923 Capital
26,050 Capital
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

XPF, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 0.898 EUR (1 EUR = 1.11 USD).

CFP Franc exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 107 XPF (1,000 XPF = 9.37 USD). 1 EUR = 119 XPF (1,000 XPF = 8.42 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Lisbon Papeete 15,530 km ≈ 20 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Lisbon
  • Papeete

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
Lisbon vs Papeete: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Papeete?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $2,210 in Lisbon and $2,283 in Papeete, so Lisbon is about 3% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 29% lower in Lisbon. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and in Papeete?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,608 in Lisbon versus $1,328 in Papeete. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 90% higher in Papeete. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Lisbon or Papeete?
All in, you’ll spend $2,210 per month in Lisbon versus $2,283 in Papeete – Lisbon is about 3% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
How far does $3,000 go in Lisbon compared to Papeete?
Either city works on $3,000 a month, though Lisbon gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is Lisbon or Papeete safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Papeete are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.
How do I decide between Lisbon and Papeete?
It comes down to priorities – Lisbon wins on affordability, Papeete on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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