Cost of Living Comparison Between Papeete and Tahiti Cost of Living Comparison Between Papeete and Tahiti

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,300 per month in Papeete vs $2,057 in Tahiti, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,431 per month in Papeete vs $3,204 in Tahiti, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,563 per month in Papeete vs $4,351 in Tahiti, rent included.

Papeete costs about 12% more than Tahiti, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Papeete and Tahiti sit above the global median – Papeete by 72%, Tahiti by 54%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.39 CFPF 1,777

$15.47 CFPF 1,581

12.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.8 CFPF 8,359

$52.8 CFPF 5,391

55.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.04 CFPF 1,229

$11.27 CFPF 1,151

6.83%

Cappuccino

$4.05 CFPF 414

$4.70 CFPF 480

-13.83%

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

$3.36 CFPF 343

$2.39 CFPF 245

40.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 CFPF 273

$2.55 CFPF 261

5.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.83 CFPF 289

$5.72 CFPF 584

-50.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 CFPF 394

$6.56 CFPF 670

-41.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.57 CFPF 160

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 CFPF 77.1

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 CFPF 165

Eggs

$6.62 CFPF 676

$10.02 CFPF 1,023

-33.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.60 CFPF 2,616

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.60 CFPF 1,696

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$26.66 CFPF 2,723

Apples (1kg)

$5.03 CFPF 514

Banana (1kg)

$2.23 CFPF 228

Oranges (1kg)

$5.90 CFPF 603

Tomato (1kg)

$7.98 CFPF 815

$7.79 CFPF 796

2.44%

Potato (1kg)

$2.90 CFPF 296

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 CFPF 267

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.80 CFPF 389

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.11 CFPF 113

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.83 CFPF 1,208

Wine (Bottle)

$24.52 CFPF 2,504

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.98 CFPF 203

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 CFPF 315

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.99 CFPF 203

$1.89 CFPF 194

5.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$9.74 CFPF 995

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.53 CFPF 156

$1.47 CFPF 150

4.08%

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

$73.0 CFPF 7,460

151.60%

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

$17.74 CFPF 1,812

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.0 CFPF 6,540

$144 CFPF 14.7K

-55.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.2 CFPF 7,885

$54.2 CFPF 5,535

42.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.80 CFPF 1,819

Cinema Ticket

$14.65 CFPF 1,496

$12.78 CFPF 1,305

14.63%

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

$136 CFPF 13.9K

-43.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$83.4 CFPF 8,517

$92.9 CFPF 9,488

-10.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.0 CFPF 7,964

$174 CFPF 17.8K

-55.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$93.1 CFPF 9,514

$141 CFPF 14.4K

-33.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,231 CFPF 125.7K

$1,340 CFPF 136.9K

-8.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$957 CFPF 97.7K

$1,166 CFPF 119.1K

-17.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,929 CFPF 197.1K

$2,453 CFPF 250.6K

-21.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,579 CFPF 161.2K

$2,319 CFPF 236.9K

-31.93%

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

$2,147 CFPF 219.3K

12.53%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.81

24.74%

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

Last update for Papeete: May 31, 2026

Last update for Tahiti: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,231 in Papeete versus $1,340 in Tahiti. 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 13% higher in Papeete, 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 $53.0 in Tahiti. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $506 vs $79.0 – making Tahiti the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Tahiti: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Papeete is pricier by about 12%, 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 $3,449 per month in Papeete and $3,085 in Tahiti. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 540% more in Papeete, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $82.0 in Papeete and $53.0 in Tahiti. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tahiti, where all-in costs run around $2,057, than in Papeete at $2,300. In Tahiti it covers expenses comfortably, while in Papeete it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Tahiti – 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 Tahiti. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Papeete makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.