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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $106 per month in Punaauia vs $2,329 in Papeete, rent included.

A couple spends around $165 per month in Punaauia vs $3,484 in Papeete, rent included.

A family of three spends $223 per month in Punaauia vs $4,639 in Papeete, rent included.

Punaauia is about 95% cheaper than Papeete, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Punaauia sits 92% below the global median, while Papeete is 74% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.17 CFPF 1,752

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.0 CFPF 8,270

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.15 CFPF 1,240

Cappuccino

$4.04 CFPF 412

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

$3.28 CFPF 334

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.70 CFPF 275

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 CFPF 298

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.97 CFPF 405

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 CFPF 147

$1.52 CFPF 155

-5.26%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 CFPF 76.0

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.63 CFPF 167

Eggs

$6.37 CFPF 650

Local Cheese (1kg)

$26.18 CFPF 2,672

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$17.02 CFPF 1,737

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$26.64 CFPF 2,718

Apples (1kg)

$5.24 CFPF 535

Banana (1kg)

$2.23 CFPF 228

Oranges (1kg)

$5.83 CFPF 595

Tomato (1kg)

$7.81 CFPF 797

Potato (1kg)

$2.90 CFPF 296

Onion (1kg)

$2.65 CFPF 271

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.86 CFPF 394

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 CFPF 114

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.25 CFPF 1,250

Wine (Bottle)

$24.26 CFPF 2,476

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.94 CFPF 198

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 CFPF 316

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.99 CFPF 203

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$9.43 CFPF 962

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.55 CFPF 158

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

$19.6K CFPF 2.0M

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

$29.6K CFPF 3.0M

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

$187 CFPF 19.1K

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

$17.15 CFPF 1,750

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.0 CFPF 6,331

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$92.9 CFPF 9,484

$77.7 CFPF 7,928

19.61%

Cinema Ticket

$14.57 CFPF 1,486

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

$490 CFPF 50.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,746 CFPF 994.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.5 CFPF 7,804

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$83.8 CFPF 8,546

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.8 CFPF 7,836

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$93.6 CFPF 9,554

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,153 CFPF 117.6K

$1,240 CFPF 126.5K

-7.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$967 CFPF 98.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,888 CFPF 192.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,574 CFPF 160.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,828 CFPF 900.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,349 CFPF 647.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,442 CFPF 249.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Punaauia: April 26, 2026

Last update for Papeete: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,153 in Punaauia versus $1,240 in Papeete. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

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 2093%, 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 $159 per month in Punaauia and $3,494 in Papeete. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Punaauia, 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 $106 in Punaauia and $2,329 in Papeete. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 3427% 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 $106, than in Papeete at $2,329. 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.