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: $2,295 in Papeete versus $1,062 in Arue.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,444 in Papeete versus $1,574 in Arue.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,593 in Papeete versus $2,087 in Arue.

Living in Papeete is roughly 116% more expensive than in Arue, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Papeete is 72% above, Arue is 21% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.45 CFPF 1,815

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$82.3 CFPF 8,561

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.11 CFPF 1,260

Cappuccino

$3.90 CFPF 406

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

$3.44 CFPF 358

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.70 CFPF 281

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.89 CFPF 301

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.98 CFPF 414

Milk (1 liter)

$1.51 CFPF 157

$1.39 CFPF 144

8.63%

White Bread (500g)

$0.76 CFPF 79.1

$4.83 CFPF 502

-84.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.68 CFPF 175

$3.95 CFPF 411

-57.47%

Eggs

$6.41 CFPF 667

$11.60 CFPF 1,207

-44.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.40 CFPF 2,643

$57.4 CFPF 5,974

-55.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.68 CFPF 1,735

$27.36 CFPF 2,847

-39.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$26.72 CFPF 2,780

$24.70 CFPF 2,570

8.18%

Apples (1kg)

$5.13 CFPF 534

$5.57 CFPF 580

-7.90%

Banana (1kg)

$2.28 CFPF 237

$2.85 CFPF 296

-20.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.88 CFPF 612

$7.86 CFPF 818

-25.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.68 CFPF 799

$8.92 CFPF 928

-13.90%

Potato (1kg)

$2.91 CFPF 303

$4.38 CFPF 456

-33.56%

Onion (1kg)

$2.59 CFPF 270

$2.87 CFPF 298

-9.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.97 CFPF 413

$3.81 CFPF 396

4.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.17 CFPF 121

$1.41 CFPF 147

-17.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.86 CFPF 1,234

$12.06 CFPF 1,255

-1.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.16 CFPF 2,202

$28.67 CFPF 2,983

-26.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 CFPF 203

$2.98 CFPF 311

-34.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.19 CFPF 332

$7.75 CFPF 806

-58.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.99 CFPF 207

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$9.49 CFPF 987

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.58 CFPF 165

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)

$29.5K CFPF 3.1M

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

$183 CFPF 19.1K

$164 CFPF 17.1K

11.58%

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

$17.68 CFPF 1,840

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.1 CFPF 6,457

$125 CFPF 13.0K

-50.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.2 CFPF 8,033

Cinema Ticket

$14.71 CFPF 1,531

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

$493 CFPF 51.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,750 CFPF 1.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$78.5 CFPF 8,169

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$82.3 CFPF 8,558

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.2 CFPF 7,931

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.8 CFPF 9,556

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,219 CFPF 126.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$971 CFPF 101.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,918 CFPF 199.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,535 CFPF 159.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,591 CFPF 893.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,309 CFPF 656.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,387 CFPF 248.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Papeete: July 13, 2026

Last update for Arue: July 11, 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 116% 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 $3,443 in Papeete and $1,593 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 54% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $2,295 per month in Papeete versus $1,062 in Arue – a 116% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,062 in Arue versus $2,295 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 116% less than in Papeete. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.