Cost of Living Comparison Between Punaauia and Papeete Cost of Living Comparison Between Punaauia and Papeete

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $14.46 per month in Punaauia vs $2,309 in Papeete, rent included.

A couple spends around $25.00 per month in Punaauia vs $3,489 in Papeete, rent included.

A family of three spends $36.15 per month in Punaauia vs $4,669 in Papeete, rent included.

Punaauia is about 99% cheaper than Papeete, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Punaauia sits 99% below the global median, while Papeete is 71% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.93 CFPF 2,002

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$95.3 CFPF 10.1K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.28 CFPF 1,615

Cappuccino

$3.53 CFPF 373

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

$2.78 CFPF 294

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 CFPF 359

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.40 CFPF 359

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 CFPF 394

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 CFPF 147

$1.51 CFPF 160

-7.95%

White Bread (500g)

$2.75 CFPF 291

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.69 CFPF 179

Eggs

$6.52 CFPF 690

Local Cheese (1kg)

$28.24 CFPF 2,986

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.44 CFPF 1,633

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$26.66 CFPF 2,819

Apples (1kg)

$4.68 CFPF 495

Banana (1kg)

$2.57 CFPF 272

Oranges (1kg)

$6.78 CFPF 717

Tomato (1kg)

$8.08 CFPF 855

Potato (1kg)

$2.71 CFPF 287

Onion (1kg)

$2.23 CFPF 236

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.87 CFPF 409

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 CFPF 122

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.86 CFPF 1,360

Wine (Bottle)

$21.77 CFPF 2,302

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.80 CFPF 296

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.15 CFPF 333

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.89 CFPF 200

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$9.63 CFPF 1,019

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 CFPF 163

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

$19.4K CFPF 2.1M

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

$29.0K CFPF 3.1M

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

$181 CFPF 19.2K

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

$20.30 CFPF 2,147

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.9 CFPF 7,605

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$84.9 CFPF 8,975

Cinema Ticket

$14.53 CFPF 1,537

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

$471 CFPF 49.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,613 CFPF 1.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.6 CFPF 7,470

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$72.3 CFPF 7,643

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.3 CFPF 8,496

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.2 CFPF 9,645

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,344 CFPF 142.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$935 CFPF 98.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,904 CFPF 201.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,511 CFPF 159.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,090 CFPF 749.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,670 CFPF 811.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,203 CFPF 233.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

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

Last update for Punaauia: September 26, 2026

Last update for Papeete: September 27, 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

Punaauia vs Papeete: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Papeete is pricier by about 15867%, 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 $21.69 per month in Punaauia and $3,463 in Papeete. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $14.46 in Punaauia and $2,309 in Papeete. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 3702% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Punaauia, where all-in costs run around $14.46, than in Papeete at $2,309. In Punaauia it covers expenses comfortably, while in Papeete it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Punaauia – 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 Punaauia. 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.