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 $2,987 per month in Renton, WA vs $2,338 in Papeete, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,012 per month in Renton, WA vs $3,582 in Papeete, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,036 per month in Renton, WA vs $4,827 in Papeete, rent included.

Renton, WA costs about 28% more than Papeete, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Renton, WA and Papeete sit above the global median – Renton, WA by 117%, Papeete by 70%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.97 $19.97

$19.27 CFPF 1,978

3.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$90.9 $90.9

$96.9 CFPF 9,947

-6.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.97 $10.97

$15.55 CFPF 1,596

-29.45%

Cappuccino

$4.89 $4.89

$3.57 CFPF 367

36.97%

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

$2.58 $2.58

$2.82 CFPF 289

-8.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 $2.12

$3.36 CFPF 345

-36.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.87 $4.87

$3.42 CFPF 351

42.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.98 $6.98

$3.99 CFPF 410

74.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$1.53 CFPF 157

-23.53%

White Bread (500g)

$4.10 $4.10

$2.72 CFPF 279

50.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.65 $3.65

$1.64 CFPF 168

122.56%

Eggs

$4.88 $4.88

$6.63 CFPF 680

-26.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.90 $12.90

$29.40 CFPF 3,017

-56.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.90 $6.90

$15.81 CFPF 1,622

-56.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.67 $15.67

$27.65 CFPF 2,838

-43.33%

Apples (1kg)

$3.37 $3.37

$4.96 CFPF 509

-32.06%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 $1.66

$2.53 CFPF 260

-34.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.20 $2.20

$6.84 CFPF 702

-67.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.55 $3.55

$8.10 CFPF 832

-56.17%

Potato (1kg)

$2.32 $2.32

$2.86 CFPF 294

-18.88%

Onion (1kg)

$2.40 $2.40

$2.35 CFPF 242

2.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.80 $1.80

$3.80 CFPF 390

-52.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 $2.22

$1.19 CFPF 122

86.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.29 $13.29

$13.36 CFPF 1,371

-0.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.16 $10.16

$21.65 CFPF 2,222

-53.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

$2.90 CFPF 297

-39.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.79 $2.79

$3.23 CFPF 331

-13.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.54 $3.54

$1.93 CFPF 199

83.42%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.0 $76.0

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.48 $3.48

$9.79 CFPF 1,005

-64.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.66 $0.66

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.16 $15.16

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$1.51 CFPF 155

-17.22%

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

$19.0K $19.0K

$19.3K CFPF 2.0M

-1.65%

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

$22.6K $22.6K

$29.1K CFPF 3.0M

-22.28%

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

$210 $210

$187 CFPF 19.2K

12.15%

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

$61.5 $61.5

$20.53 CFPF 2,107

199.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.8 $61.8

$72.9 CFPF 7,480

-15.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.88 $37.88

$86.8 CFPF 8,910

-56.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.72 $40.72

Cinema Ticket

$15.14 $15.14

$14.49 CFPF 1,487

4.49%

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

$1,629 $1,629

$487 CFPF 50.0K

234.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.3K $16.3K

$9,807 CFPF 1.0M

66.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.2 $52.2

$71.7 CFPF 7,356

-27.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.57 $29.57

$74.5 CFPF 7,650

-60.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.9 $62.9

$82.5 CFPF 8,470

-23.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.6 $81.6

$91.5 CFPF 9,385

-10.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,874 $1,874

$1,389 CFPF 142.5K

34.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,782 $1,782

$956 CFPF 98.1K

86.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,706 $2,706

$1,889 CFPF 193.9K

43.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,196 $2,196

$1,528 CFPF 156.8K

43.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,765 $4,765

$7,316 CFPF 750.8K

-34.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,719 $3,719

$7,648 CFPF 784.9K

-51.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,058 $5,058

$2,386 CFPF 244.9K

111.94%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.1

4.5

35.56%

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

Last update for Renton, WA: August 29, 2026

Last update for Papeete: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,874 in Renton, WA versus $1,389 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 112% 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 $91.0 in Renton, WA versus $97.0 in Papeete. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $341 vs $541 – making Renton, WA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 28%, 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 $4,480 per month in Renton, WA and $3,506 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 $2,987 in Renton, WA and $2,338 in Papeete. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,629 per month in Renton, WA and $487 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 $2,338, than in Renton, WA at $2,987. 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.