Cost of Living Comparison Between Papeete and Arue Cost of Living Comparison Between Papeete and Arue

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,338 in Papeete versus $1,073 in Arue.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,582 in Papeete versus $1,589 in Arue.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,827 in Papeete versus $2,105 in Arue.

Living in Papeete is roughly 118% more expensive than in Arue, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Papeete is 70% above, Arue is 22% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.27 CFPF 1,973

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$96.9 CFPF 9,920

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.55 CFPF 1,592

Cappuccino

$3.57 CFPF 366

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

$2.82 CFPF 288

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.36 CFPF 344

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.42 CFPF 350

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.99 CFPF 408

Milk (1 liter)

$1.53 CFPF 157

$1.45 CFPF 148

5.52%

White Bread (500g)

$2.72 CFPF 278

$5.00 CFPF 512

-45.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 CFPF 168

$4.00 CFPF 409

-59.00%

Eggs

$6.63 CFPF 678

$11.60 CFPF 1,187

-42.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$29.40 CFPF 3,009

$58.2 CFPF 5,952

-49.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.81 CFPF 1,618

$27.00 CFPF 2,764

-41.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$27.65 CFPF 2,830

$24.61 CFPF 2,518

12.35%

Apples (1kg)

$4.96 CFPF 508

$5.37 CFPF 549

-7.64%

Banana (1kg)

$2.53 CFPF 259

$2.87 CFPF 293

-11.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.84 CFPF 700

$7.89 CFPF 807

-13.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$8.10 CFPF 829

$8.85 CFPF 906

-8.47%

Potato (1kg)

$2.86 CFPF 293

$4.43 CFPF 453

-35.44%

Onion (1kg)

$2.35 CFPF 241

$2.88 CFPF 295

-18.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.80 CFPF 389

$3.77 CFPF 386

0.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 CFPF 122

$1.50 CFPF 153

-20.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.36 CFPF 1,367

$11.93 CFPF 1,221

11.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.65 CFPF 2,216

$29.51 CFPF 3,021

-26.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.90 CFPF 296

$2.91 CFPF 298

-0.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 CFPF 331

$7.80 CFPF 799

-58.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.93 CFPF 198

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$9.79 CFPF 1,002

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.51 CFPF 154

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

$19.3K CFPF 2.0M

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

$29.1K CFPF 3.0M

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

$187 CFPF 19.2K

$165 CFPF 16.8K

13.69%

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

$20.53 CFPF 2,101

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.9 CFPF 7,459

$124 CFPF 12.7K

-41.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$86.8 CFPF 8,886

Cinema Ticket

$14.49 CFPF 1,483

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

$487 CFPF 49.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,807 CFPF 1.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$71.7 CFPF 7,336

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$74.5 CFPF 7,629

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.5 CFPF 8,447

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.5 CFPF 9,360

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,389 CFPF 142.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$956 CFPF 97.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,889 CFPF 193.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,528 CFPF 156.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,316 CFPF 748.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,648 CFPF 782.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,386 CFPF 244.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

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

Last update for Papeete: August 31, 2026

Last update for Arue: August 30, 2026

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

Papeete vs Arue: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Arue wins on cost – living expenses run 118% lower than in Papeete. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Arue the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $3,506 in Papeete and $1,609 in Arue to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Shoppers in Papeete pay roughly 43% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $2,338 per month in Papeete versus $1,073 in Arue – a 118% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,073 in Arue versus $2,338 in Papeete, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Arue but tight or insufficient in Papeete. The gap between the two cities makes Arue the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Papeete and Arue are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Arue gentler on the wallet – expenses run 118% less than in Papeete. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.