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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $105 per month in Punaauia vs $2,248 in Papeete, rent included.

A couple spends around $163 per month in Punaauia vs $3,366 in Papeete, rent included.

A family of three spends $221 per month in Punaauia vs $4,483 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 67% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.33 CFPF 1,783

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$82.5 CFPF 8,488

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.35 CFPF 1,270

Cappuccino

$4.08 CFPF 420

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

$3.27 CFPF 336

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 CFPF 279

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.97 CFPF 306

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.86 CFPF 397

Milk (1 liter)

$1.49 CFPF 153

$1.53 CFPF 158

-2.61%

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 CFPF 77.2

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.69 CFPF 174

Eggs

$6.52 CFPF 671

Local Cheese (1kg)

$26.29 CFPF 2,704

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.58 CFPF 1,705

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$26.83 CFPF 2,759

Apples (1kg)

$5.32 CFPF 548

Banana (1kg)

$2.20 CFPF 227

Oranges (1kg)

$5.88 CFPF 605

Tomato (1kg)

$7.56 CFPF 778

Potato (1kg)

$2.95 CFPF 303

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 CFPF 278

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.95 CFPF 406

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 CFPF 115

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.01 CFPF 1,235

Wine (Bottle)

$22.10 CFPF 2,273

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.04 CFPF 210

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.09 CFPF 318

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.92 CFPF 197

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$9.74 CFPF 1,002

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 CFPF 159

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)

$28.6K CFPF 2.9M

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

$190 CFPF 19.6K

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

$17.53 CFPF 1,803

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.8 CFPF 6,455

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$92.7 CFPF 9,538

$78.1 CFPF 8,027

18.82%

Cinema Ticket

$14.69 CFPF 1,511

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

$478 CFPF 49.2K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,618 CFPF 989.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.4 CFPF 7,965

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$81.6 CFPF 8,396

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.2 CFPF 7,938

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.1 CFPF 9,467

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,171 CFPF 120.4K

$1,243 CFPF 127.8K

-5.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$953 CFPF 98.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,871 CFPF 192.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,562 CFPF 160.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,662 CFPF 890.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,452 CFPF 663.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,417 CFPF 248.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Punaauia: June 7, 2026

Last update for Papeete: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,171 in Punaauia versus $1,243 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 2046%, 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 $157 per month in Punaauia and $3,373 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 $105 in Punaauia and $2,248 in Papeete. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 3281% 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 $105, than in Papeete at $2,248. 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.