Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Papeete and Renton, WA

For one person, living is cheaper in Papeete: $2,254 a month against $3,050 in Renton, WA, rent and utilities included – about $9,600 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Renton, WA outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

110

Cost of Living Index in Papeete
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Papeete Living Index
147

Cost of Living Index in Renton, WA
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Renton, WA Living Index

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Papeete

🇵🇫 French Polynesia

$2,254

/mo nomad

Renton, WA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,050

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Papeete and in Renton, WA

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

A single person spends $2,254 per month in Papeete vs $3,050 in Renton, WA, rent included.

Papeete $2,254
Renton, WA $3,050

A couple spends around $3,430 per month in Papeete vs $4,076 in Renton, WA, rent included.

Papeete $3,430
Renton, WA $4,076

A family of three spends $4,606 per month in Papeete vs $5,101 in Renton, WA, rent included.

Papeete $4,606
Renton, WA $5,101

Papeete is about 26% cheaper than Renton, WA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Papeete and Renton, WA sit above the global median – Papeete by 67%, Renton, WA by 126%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.82 CFPF 1,991

$19.81 $19.81

-5.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$95.1 CFPF 10.1K

$93.3 $93.3

1.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.63 CFPF 1,548

$12.22 $12.22

19.72%

Cappuccino

$3.34 CFPF 353

$4.72 $4.72

-29.24%

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

$2.71 CFPF 287

$2.45 $2.45

10.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.22 CFPF 340

$2.14 $2.14

50.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.25 CFPF 344

$5.07 $5.07

-35.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.64 CFPF 385

$6.97 $6.97

-47.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.50 CFPF 158

$1.16 $1.16

29.31%

White Bread (500g)

$2.70 CFPF 286

$4.11 $4.11

-34.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 CFPF 174

$3.58 $3.58

-54.19%

Eggs

$6.12 CFPF 647

$4.97 $4.97

23.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$28.27 CFPF 2,991

$13.01 $13.01

117.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.23 CFPF 1,611

$6.81 $6.81

123.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$26.07 CFPF 2,759

$16.07 $16.07

62.23%

Apples (1kg)

$4.70 CFPF 497

$3.40 $3.40

38.24%

Banana (1kg)

$2.43 CFPF 257

$1.68 $1.68

44.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.37 CFPF 674

$2.17 $2.17

193.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.87 CFPF 832

$3.43 $3.43

129.45%

Potato (1kg)

$2.71 CFPF 287

$2.33 $2.33

16.31%

Onion (1kg)

$2.24 CFPF 237

$2.28 $2.28

-1.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.70 CFPF 391

$1.77 $1.77

109.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 CFPF 121

$2.16 $2.16

-47.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.64 CFPF 1,337

$13.33 $13.33

-5.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.78 CFPF 2,198

$9.82 $9.82

111.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.68 CFPF 284

$1.71 $1.71

56.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.03 CFPF 321

$2.91 $2.91

4.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.83 CFPF 193

$3.51 $3.51

-47.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.9 $75.9

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$9.52 CFPF 1,007

$3.55 $3.55

168.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.66 $0.66

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.83 $14.83

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.51 CFPF 160

$1.25 $1.25

20.80%

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

$19.0K CFPF 2.0M

$18.7K $18.7K

1.86%

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

$27.8K CFPF 2.9M

$22.8K $22.8K

22.24%

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

$178 CFPF 18.8K

$198 $198

-10.20%

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

$19.79 CFPF 2,094

$59.7 $59.7

-66.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.6 CFPF 7,367

$62.2 $62.2

11.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$85.2 CFPF 9,011

$38.64 $38.64

120.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.38 $39.38

Cinema Ticket

$13.90 CFPF 1,471

$15.03 $15.03

-7.52%

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

$476 CFPF 50.3K

$1,629 $1,629

-70.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,522 CFPF 1.0M

$16.4K $16.4K

-42.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.4 CFPF 7,347

$52.7 $52.7

31.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$72.7 CFPF 7,686

$30.41 $30.41

138.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.2 CFPF 8,164

$64.5 $64.5

19.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.4 CFPF 9,461

$78.9 $78.9

13.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,310 CFPF 138.6K

$1,776 $1,776

-26.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$919 CFPF 97.2K

$1,814 $1,814

-49.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,812 CFPF 191.7K

$2,952 $2,952

-38.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,498 CFPF 158.5K

$2,242 $2,242

-33.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,955 CFPF 735.8K

$4,800 $4,800

44.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,589 CFPF 802.9K

$3,808 $3,808

99.26%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,232 CFPF 236.2K

$4,965 $4,965

-55.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

6.59

-31.71%

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

Last update for Papeete: October 13, 2026

Last update for Renton, WA: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Papeete

$919 40.8%

Renton, WA

$1.8K 59.5% 97.4% $895

Groceries & Markets

Papeete

$517 23%

Renton, WA

$340 11.1% 34.3% $178

Eating Out

Papeete

$282 12.5%

Renton, WA

$309 10.2% 9.9% $28

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Papeete

$267 11.9%

Renton, WA

$320 10.5% 19.7% $53

Clothing & Footwear

Papeete

$139 6.2%

Renton, WA

$102 3.3% 26.7% $37

Sport & Entertainment

Papeete

$113 5%

Renton, WA

$69 2.3% 39.2% $44

Getting Around

Papeete

$17 * 0.8%

Renton, WA

$97 3.2% 475% $80

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,310 in Papeete versus $1,776 in Renton, WA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 122% higher in Renton, WA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $95.0 in Papeete versus $93.0 in Renton, WA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $517 vs $340 – making Renton, WA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇵🇫 Papeete

🇺🇸 Renton, WA

🕒 Local time

07:28 7:28 AM

10:28 10:28 AM

3 h ahead of Papeete

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

26,050 Capital

106,785

💱 Currency

CFP Franc XPF Fr

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 XPF = 9.45 USD

1,000 XPF = 8.41 EUR

1 USD = 0.889 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to XPF – CFP Franc Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🌐 CFP Franc (Fr)

CFP Franc exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 106 XPF (1,000 XPF = 9.45 USD). 1 EUR = 119 XPF (1,000 XPF = 8.41 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.889 EUR).

USD to XPF in detail →

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Papeete Renton, WA 7,730 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight

From you

Papeete
Renton, WA

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

Papeete vs Renton, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Renton, WA is pricier by about 35%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,381 per month in Papeete and $4,575 in Renton, WA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Papeete, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,254 in Papeete and $3,050 in Renton, WA. That's a gap of about 35%.

Kindergarten costs $476 per month in Papeete and $1,629 in Renton, WA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Papeete, where all-in costs run around $2,254, than in Renton, WA at $3,050. In Papeete it covers expenses comfortably, while in Renton, WA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Papeete – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Papeete. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Renton, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.