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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $14.37 per month in Punaauia vs $2,357 in Papeete, rent included.

A couple spends around $25.00 per month in Punaauia vs $3,547 in Papeete, rent included.

A family of three spends $36.46 per month in Punaauia vs $4,737 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 72% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.27 CFPF 1,962

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.5 CFPF 10.0K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.10 CFPF 1,537

Cappuccino

$3.51 CFPF 357

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

$2.82 CFPF 288

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.31 CFPF 337

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.45 CFPF 351

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 CFPF 385

Milk (1 liter)

$1.49 CFPF 152

$1.49 CFPF 151

White Bread (500g)

$2.71 CFPF 276

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.73 CFPF 176

Eggs

$6.40 CFPF 652

Local Cheese (1kg)

$29.01 CFPF 2,953

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.75 CFPF 1,603

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$27.87 CFPF 2,837

Apples (1kg)

$4.99 CFPF 508

Banana (1kg)

$2.51 CFPF 255

Oranges (1kg)

$6.94 CFPF 707

Tomato (1kg)

$8.06 CFPF 821

Potato (1kg)

$2.82 CFPF 287

Onion (1kg)

$2.35 CFPF 239

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.83 CFPF 390

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 CFPF 116

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.36 CFPF 1,360

Wine (Bottle)

$22.06 CFPF 2,246

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.85 CFPF 290

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 CFPF 324

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.92 CFPF 196

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$9.91 CFPF 1,009

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.56 CFPF 158

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)

$29.4K CFPF 3.0M

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

$186 CFPF 19.0K

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

$20.53 CFPF 2,090

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.0 CFPF 7,435

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$87.2 CFPF 8,880

Cinema Ticket

$14.37 CFPF 1,463

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

$492 CFPF 50.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,700 CFPF 987.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.1 CFPF 7,139

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$75.3 CFPF 7,662

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.6 CFPF 8,101

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$93.1 CFPF 9,481

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,373 CFPF 139.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$976 CFPF 99.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,921 CFPF 195.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,565 CFPF 159.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,283 CFPF 741.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,884 CFPF 802.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,454 CFPF 249.8K

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: August 18, 2026

Last update for Papeete: August 18, 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 16299%, 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 $21.56 per month in Punaauia and $3,535 in Papeete. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $14.37 in Punaauia and $2,357 in Papeete. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 3516% 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 $14.37, than in Papeete at $2,357. 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.