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: $2,300 in Papeete versus $1,063 in Arue.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,431 in Papeete versus $1,551 in Arue.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,563 in Papeete versus $2,039 in Arue.

Living in Papeete is roughly 116% more expensive than 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

$17.39 CFPF 1,777

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.8 CFPF 8,359

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.04 CFPF 1,229

Cappuccino

$4.05 CFPF 414

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

$3.36 CFPF 343

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 CFPF 273

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.83 CFPF 289

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 CFPF 394

Milk (1 liter)

$1.57 CFPF 160

$1.40 CFPF 143

12.14%

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 CFPF 77.1

$4.96 CFPF 506

-84.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 CFPF 165

$3.82 CFPF 391

-57.59%

Eggs

$6.62 CFPF 676

$11.58 CFPF 1,183

-42.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.60 CFPF 2,616

$57.7 CFPF 5,895

-55.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.60 CFPF 1,696

$27.32 CFPF 2,790

-39.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$26.66 CFPF 2,723

$24.66 CFPF 2,519

8.11%

Apples (1kg)

$5.03 CFPF 514

$5.27 CFPF 539

-4.55%

Banana (1kg)

$2.23 CFPF 228

$2.97 CFPF 304

-24.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.90 CFPF 603

$7.99 CFPF 816

-26.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.98 CFPF 815

$8.66 CFPF 885

-7.85%

Potato (1kg)

$2.90 CFPF 296

$4.34 CFPF 444

-33.18%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 CFPF 267

$2.89 CFPF 295

-9.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.80 CFPF 389

$3.80 CFPF 388

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.11 CFPF 113

$1.48 CFPF 151

-25.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.83 CFPF 1,208

$12.07 CFPF 1,233

-1.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$24.52 CFPF 2,504

$29.51 CFPF 3,015

-16.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.98 CFPF 203

$2.95 CFPF 301

-32.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 CFPF 315

$7.99 CFPF 816

-61.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.99 CFPF 203

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$9.74 CFPF 995

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.53 CFPF 156

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

$19.2K CFPF 2.0M

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

$29.5K CFPF 3.0M

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

$184 CFPF 18.8K

$167 CFPF 17.1K

9.90%

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

$17.74 CFPF 1,812

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.0 CFPF 6,540

$124 CFPF 12.7K

-48.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.2 CFPF 7,885

Cinema Ticket

$14.65 CFPF 1,496

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

$481 CFPF 49.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,754 CFPF 996.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.1 CFPF 7,872

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$83.4 CFPF 8,517

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.0 CFPF 7,964

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$93.1 CFPF 9,514

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,231 CFPF 125.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$957 CFPF 97.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,929 CFPF 197.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,579 CFPF 161.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,536 CFPF 871.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,526 CFPF 666.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,416 CFPF 246.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Papeete: May 31, 2026

Last update for Arue: May 31, 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 $3,449 in Papeete and $1,594 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 52% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $2,300 per month in Papeete versus $1,063 in Arue – a 116% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,063 in Arue versus $2,300 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.