Cost of Living Comparison Between Renton, WA and Papeete Cost of Living Comparison Between Renton, WA and Papeete

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,980 per month in Renton, WA vs $2,295 in Papeete, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,205 per month in Renton, WA vs $3,444 in Papeete, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,431 per month in Renton, WA vs $4,593 in Papeete, rent included.

Renton, WA costs about 30% more than Papeete, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Renton, WA and Papeete sit above the global median – Renton, WA by 123%, Papeete by 72%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.12 $22.12

$17.45 CFPF 1,815

26.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$116 $116

$82.3 CFPF 8,561

41.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.85 $11.85

$12.11 CFPF 1,260

-2.15%

Cappuccino

$6.30 $6.30

$3.90 CFPF 406

61.54%

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

$2.59 $2.59

$3.44 CFPF 358

-24.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.70 CFPF 281

-24.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.97 $7.97

$2.89 CFPF 301

175.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.17 $7.17

$3.98 CFPF 414

80.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.51 CFPF 157

-28.48%

White Bread (500g)

$3.97 $3.97

$0.76 CFPF 79.1

422.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.72 $3.72

$1.68 CFPF 175

121.43%

Eggs

$4.93 $4.93

$6.41 CFPF 667

-23.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.98 $14.98

$25.40 CFPF 2,643

-41.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.95 $12.95

$16.68 CFPF 1,735

-22.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.53 $15.53

$26.72 CFPF 2,780

-41.88%

Apples (1kg)

$3.41 $3.41

$5.13 CFPF 534

-33.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.75 $1.75

$2.28 CFPF 237

-23.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.13 $2.13

$5.88 CFPF 612

-63.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.38 $3.38

$7.68 CFPF 799

-55.99%

Potato (1kg)

$2.06 $2.06

$2.91 CFPF 303

-29.21%

Onion (1kg)

$2.38 $2.38

$2.59 CFPF 270

-8.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.90 $1.90

$3.97 CFPF 413

-52.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.17 CFPF 121

45.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.57 $10.57

$11.86 CFPF 1,234

-10.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.94 $14.94

$21.16 CFPF 2,202

-29.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

$1.95 CFPF 203

10.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 $2.97

$3.19 CFPF 332

-6.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.55 $3.55

$1.99 CFPF 207

78.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.3 $76.3

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.96 $3.96

$9.49 CFPF 987

-58.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 $1.63

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.82 $14.82

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 $1.18

$1.58 CFPF 165

-25.32%

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

$20.8K $20.8K

$19.3K CFPF 2.0M

7.86%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$29.5K CFPF 3.1M

-13.71%

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

$155 $155

$183 CFPF 19.1K

-15.60%

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

$55.5 $55.5

$17.68 CFPF 1,840

213.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.3 $70.3

$62.1 CFPF 6,457

13.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.65 $38.65

$77.2 CFPF 8,033

-49.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.43 $39.43

Cinema Ticket

$14.90 $14.90

$14.71 CFPF 1,531

1.29%

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

$1,579 $1,579

$493 CFPF 51.3K

220.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.3K $30.3K

$9,750 CFPF 1.0M

210.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.71 $45.71

$78.5 CFPF 8,169

-41.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.05 $30.05

$82.3 CFPF 8,558

-63.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$67.9 $67.9

$76.2 CFPF 7,931

-10.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.2 $85.2

$91.8 CFPF 9,556

-7.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,815 $1,815

$1,219 CFPF 126.8K

48.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,713 $1,713

$971 CFPF 101.0K

76.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,589 $3,589

$1,918 CFPF 199.6K

87.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,184 $2,184

$1,535 CFPF 159.7K

42.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,632 $4,632

$8,591 CFPF 893.9K

-46.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,764 $3,764

$6,309 CFPF 656.4K

-40.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,043 $5,043

$2,387 CFPF 248.3K

111.30%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.61

10.17%

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

Last update for Renton, WA: July 13, 2026

Last update for Papeete: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,815 in Renton, WA versus $1,219 in Papeete. 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 111% higher in Renton, WA, 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 $116 in Renton, WA versus $82.0 in Papeete. Groceries tell a different story – $380 in Renton, WA vs $498 in Papeete – so Renton, WA wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Renton, WA vs Papeete: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Renton, WA is pricier by about 30%, 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 $4,469 per month in Renton, WA and $3,443 in Papeete. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Papeete, 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 $2,980 in Renton, WA and $2,295 in Papeete. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,579 per month in Renton, WA and $493 in Papeete. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Papeete, where all-in costs run around $2,295, than in Renton, WA at $2,980. In Papeete it covers expenses comfortably, while in Renton, WA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Papeete – 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 Papeete. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Renton, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.