Cost of Living Comparison Between Spain and French Polynesia Cost of Living Comparison Between Spain and French Polynesia

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,642 in Spain versus $783 in French Polynesia.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,399 in Spain versus $1,188 in French Polynesia.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,155 in Spain versus $1,592 in French Polynesia.

Living in Spain is roughly 110% more expensive than French Polynesia on average.

Spain (22% above) and French Polynesia (42% below) straddle the global median.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Spain
French Polynesia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.98 €13.80
$15.90 CFPF 1,642
0.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.6 €49.74
$81.6 CFPF 8,424
-29.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.27 €8.87
$12.08 CFPF 1,248
-14.98%
Cappuccino
$2.38 €2.05
$4.49 CFPF 463
-46.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 €2.23
$2.63 CFPF 271
-1.90%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 €1.58
$2.13 CFPF 220
-14.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.54 €3.05
$4.83 CFPF 499
-26.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.09 €3.53
$4.96 CFPF 513
-17.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Spain
French Polynesia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.22 €1.06
$1.51 CFPF 156
-19.21%
White Bread (500g)
$1.53 €1.32
$2.80 CFPF 289
-45.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.60 €1.38
$1.63 CFPF 168
-1.84%
Eggs
$2.93 €2.53
$7.03 CFPF 726
-58.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 €12.37
$38.13 CFPF 3,936
-62.42%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.31 €7.18
$16.45 CFPF 1,698
-49.48%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.62 €13.49
$27.44 CFPF 2,833
-43.08%
Apples (1kg)
$2.53 €2.18
$5.39 CFPF 557
-53.06%
Banana (1kg)
$1.99 €1.72
$2.35 CFPF 242
-15.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.11 €1.82
$6.61 CFPF 683
-68.08%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.54 €2.20
$7.73 CFPF 798
-67.14%
Potato (1kg)
$1.77 €1.53
$3.05 CFPF 315
-41.97%
Onion (1kg)
$1.98 €1.71
$2.74 CFPF 283
-27.74%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.30 €1.12
$3.92 CFPF 405
-66.84%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74 €0.64
$1.16 CFPF 120
-36.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.19 €5.34
$12.05 CFPF 1,244
-48.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.93 €5.12
$23.95 CFPF 2,473
-75.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 €1.08
$2.55 CFPF 263
-50.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07 €1.79
$4.71 CFPF 486
-56.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Spain
French Polynesia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.78 €1.54
$1.95 CFPF 202
-8.72%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$34.91 €30.15
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.48 €3.87
$9.56 CFPF 987
-53.14%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.34 €1.15
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$26.24 €22.66
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.76 €1.52
$1.57 CFPF 162
12.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.2K €33.0K
$19.5K CFPF 2.0M
95.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.6K €27.3K
$29.0K CFPF 3.0M
9.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Spain
French Polynesia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$149 €128
$183 CFPF 18.9K
-18.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.16 €17.41
$17.42 CFPF 1,798
15.73%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.11 €29.46
$106 CFPF 10.9K
-67.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Spain
French Polynesia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.12 €40.69
$73.2 CFPF 7,554
-35.59%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.83 €13.67
$17.87 CFPF 1,845
-11.42%
Cinema Ticket
$9.47 €8.18
$14.83 CFPF 1,531
-36.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Spain
French Polynesia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$517 €446
$484 CFPF 50.0K
6.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.2K €8,772
$9,615 CFPF 992.8K
5.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Spain
French Polynesia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.2 €75.3
$98.7 CFPF 10.2K
-11.68%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.36 €32.26
$85.8 CFPF 8,863
-56.48%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.3 €78.9
$108 CFPF 11.1K
-15.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 €91.2
$109 CFPF 11.3K
-3.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Spain
French Polynesia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,074 €927
$1,332 CFPF 137.5K
-19.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$815 €704
$1,090 CFPF 112.6K
-25.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,691 €1,460
$2,093 CFPF 216.1K
-19.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,228 €1,060
$1,871 CFPF 193.2K
-34.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,338 €3,746
$8,577 CFPF 885.6K
-49.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,744 €2,370
$7,962 CFPF 822.1K
-65.54%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Spain
French Polynesia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,031 €1,754
$1,919 CFPF 198.1K
5.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.51
5.4
-35.00%

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

Last update for Spain: June 9, 2026

Last update for French Polynesia: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $898 in Spain, $539 in French Polynesia. Capital cities: $1,609 in Madrid vs $1,243 in Papeete.

National salary averages: $2,011 in Spain, $2,100 in French Polynesia. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 67% higher in Spain.

Dining out costs 179% more in Spain.

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
Spain vs French Polynesia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How does the cost of living in French Polynesia compare to Spain?
At $1,124 per month in French Polynesia and $2,191 in Spain, there's a 95% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
How do daily expenses compare in French Polynesia vs Spain?
French Polynesia is simply cheaper day-to-day: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
Is rent more expensive in French Polynesia or Spain?
Rent in Spain beats French Polynesia across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Can you live in both French Polynesia and Spain on $2,000 per month?
In French Polynesia, $2,000 covers most cities easily. In Spain, it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Which country is better for expats: French Polynesia or Spain?
It depends on what you're after. French Polynesia wins on affordability; Spain may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

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