Cost of Living Comparison Between Papeete and Renton, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Papeete and Renton, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,295 per month in Papeete vs $2,980 in Renton, WA, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,444 per month in Papeete vs $4,205 in Renton, WA, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,593 per month in Papeete vs $5,431 in Renton, WA, rent included.

Papeete is about 23% cheaper than Renton, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Papeete and Renton, WA sit above the global median – Papeete by 72%, Renton, WA by 123%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.45 CFPF 1,815

$22.12 $22.12

-21.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$82.3 CFPF 8,561

$116 $116

-29.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.11 CFPF 1,260

$11.85 $11.85

2.19%

Cappuccino

$3.90 CFPF 406

$6.30 $6.30

-38.10%

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

$3.44 CFPF 358

$2.59 $2.59

32.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.70 CFPF 281

$2.03 $2.03

33.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.89 CFPF 301

$7.97 $7.97

-63.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.98 CFPF 414

$7.17 $7.17

-44.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.51 CFPF 157

$1.08 $1.08

39.81%

White Bread (500g)

$0.76 CFPF 79.1

$3.97 $3.97

-80.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.68 CFPF 175

$3.72 $3.72

-54.84%

Eggs

$6.41 CFPF 667

$4.93 $4.93

30.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.40 CFPF 2,643

$14.98 $14.98

69.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.68 CFPF 1,735

$12.95 $12.95

28.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$26.72 CFPF 2,780

$15.53 $15.53

72.05%

Apples (1kg)

$5.13 CFPF 534

$3.41 $3.41

50.44%

Banana (1kg)

$2.28 CFPF 237

$1.75 $1.75

30.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.88 CFPF 612

$2.13 $2.13

176.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.68 CFPF 799

$3.38 $3.38

127.22%

Potato (1kg)

$2.91 CFPF 303

$2.06 $2.06

41.26%

Onion (1kg)

$2.59 CFPF 270

$2.38 $2.38

8.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.97 CFPF 413

$1.90 $1.90

108.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.17 CFPF 121

$1.70 $1.70

-31.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.86 CFPF 1,234

$10.57 $10.57

12.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.16 CFPF 2,202

$14.94 $14.94

41.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 CFPF 203

$2.15 $2.15

-9.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.19 CFPF 332

$2.97 $2.97

7.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.99 CFPF 207

$3.55 $3.55

-43.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.3 $76.3

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$9.49 CFPF 987

$3.96 $3.96

139.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 $1.63

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.82 $14.82

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.58 CFPF 165

$1.18 $1.18

33.90%

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

$19.3K CFPF 2.0M

$20.8K $20.8K

-7.29%

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

$29.5K CFPF 3.1M

$25.4K $25.4K

15.89%

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

$183 CFPF 19.1K

$155 $155

18.49%

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

$17.68 CFPF 1,840

$55.5 $55.5

-68.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.1 CFPF 6,457

$70.3 $70.3

-11.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.2 CFPF 8,033

$38.65 $38.65

99.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.43 $39.43

Cinema Ticket

$14.71 CFPF 1,531

$14.90 $14.90

-1.28%

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

$493 CFPF 51.3K

$1,579 $1,579

-68.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,750 CFPF 1.0M

$30.3K $30.3K

-67.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$78.5 CFPF 8,169

$45.71 $45.71

71.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$82.3 CFPF 8,558

$30.05 $30.05

173.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.2 CFPF 7,931

$67.9 $67.9

12.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.8 CFPF 9,556

$85.2 $85.2

7.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,219 CFPF 126.8K

$1,815 $1,815

-32.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$971 CFPF 101.0K

$1,713 $1,713

-43.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,918 CFPF 199.6K

$3,589 $3,589

-46.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,535 CFPF 159.7K

$2,184 $2,184

-29.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,591 CFPF 893.9K

$4,632 $4,632

85.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,309 CFPF 656.4K

$3,764 $3,764

67.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,387 CFPF 248.3K

$5,043 $5,043

-52.67%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.61

-9.23%

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

Last update for Papeete: July 13, 2026

Last update for Renton, WA: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,219 in Papeete versus $1,815 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 111% 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 $82.0 in Papeete versus $116 in Renton, WA. Groceries tell a different story – $498 in Papeete vs $380 in Renton, WA – so Renton, WA wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 30%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,443 per month in Papeete and $4,469 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 $2,295 in Papeete and $2,980 in Renton, WA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $493 per month in Papeete and $1,579 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 $2,295, than in Renton, WA at $2,980. 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.