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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,295 per month in Papeete vs $2,108 in Tahiti, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,444 per month in Papeete vs $3,234 in Tahiti, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,593 per month in Papeete vs $4,361 in Tahiti, rent included.

Papeete costs about 9% more than Tahiti, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Papeete and Tahiti sit above the global median – Papeete by 72%, Tahiti by 58%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.45 CFPF 1,815

$15.33 CFPF 1,595

13.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$82.3 CFPF 8,561

$52.6 CFPF 5,476

56.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.11 CFPF 1,260

$11.14 CFPF 1,159

8.71%

Cappuccino

$3.90 CFPF 406

$4.76 CFPF 496

-18.07%

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

$3.44 CFPF 358

$2.44 CFPF 254

40.98%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.70 CFPF 281

$2.45 CFPF 255

10.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.89 CFPF 301

$5.72 CFPF 595

-49.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.98 CFPF 414

$6.56 CFPF 683

-39.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.51 CFPF 157

White Bread (500g)

$0.76 CFPF 79.1

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.68 CFPF 175

Eggs

$6.41 CFPF 667

$10.27 CFPF 1,069

-37.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.40 CFPF 2,643

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.68 CFPF 1,735

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$26.72 CFPF 2,780

Apples (1kg)

$5.13 CFPF 534

Banana (1kg)

$2.28 CFPF 237

Oranges (1kg)

$5.88 CFPF 612

Tomato (1kg)

$7.68 CFPF 799

$8.01 CFPF 834

-4.12%

Potato (1kg)

$2.91 CFPF 303

Onion (1kg)

$2.59 CFPF 270

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.97 CFPF 413

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.17 CFPF 121

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.86 CFPF 1,234

Wine (Bottle)

$21.16 CFPF 2,202

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 CFPF 203

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.19 CFPF 332

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.99 CFPF 207

$1.96 CFPF 204

1.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$9.49 CFPF 987

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.58 CFPF 165

$1.52 CFPF 158

3.95%

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

$74.1 CFPF 7,710

147.19%

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

$17.68 CFPF 1,840

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.1 CFPF 6,457

$147 CFPF 15.3K

-57.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.2 CFPF 8,033

$53.6 CFPF 5,577

44.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.99 CFPF 1,872

Cinema Ticket

$14.71 CFPF 1,531

$12.67 CFPF 1,318

16.10%

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

$141 CFPF 14.7K

-44.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$82.3 CFPF 8,558

$91.4 CFPF 9,506

-9.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.2 CFPF 7,931

$176 CFPF 18.3K

-56.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.8 CFPF 9,556

$139 CFPF 14.5K

-33.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,219 CFPF 126.8K

$1,367 CFPF 142.3K

-10.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$971 CFPF 101.0K

$1,186 CFPF 123.4K

-18.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,918 CFPF 199.6K

$2,470 CFPF 257.0K

-22.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,535 CFPF 159.7K

$2,320 CFPF 241.4K

-33.81%

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

$2,060 CFPF 214.4K

15.84%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Tahiti: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,219 in Papeete versus $1,367 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 16% 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: $498 vs $81.0 – 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 9%, 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 $3,162 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 514% 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 $2,108, than in Papeete at $2,295. 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.