😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,642 in Spain versus $790 in French Polynesia.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,392 in Spain versus $1,187 in French Polynesia.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,142 in Spain versus $1,583 in French Polynesia.
🌍Living in Spain is roughly 108% more expensive than in French Polynesia on average.
📊Spain (23% above) and French Polynesia (41% below) straddle the global median.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Spain
French Polynesia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.06€13.91
$16.13CFPF 1,670
-0.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$56.9€49.24
$79.8CFPF 8,256
-28.72%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.30€8.92
$12.34CFPF 1,277
-16.53%
Cappuccino
$2.32€2.01
$4.52CFPF 468
-48.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.60€2.26
$2.76CFPF 286
-5.80%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84€1.59
$2.20CFPF 228
-16.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.43€2.97
$4.95CFPF 513
-30.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.97€3.44
$4.99CFPF 516
-20.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Spain
French Polynesia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.19€1.03
$1.45CFPF 150
-17.93%
White Bread(500g)
$1.52€1.32
$2.75CFPF 285
-44.73%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.67€1.45
$1.70CFPF 176
-1.76%
Eggs
$2.98€2.58
$7.20CFPF 745
-58.61%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.42€12.49
$39.16CFPF 4,053
-63.18%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.59€7.44
$16.80CFPF 1,739
-48.87%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.95€13.81
$26.82CFPF 2,776
-40.53%
Apples(1kg)
$2.51€2.17
$5.57CFPF 576
-54.94%
Banana(1kg)
$2.07€1.80
$2.37CFPF 245
-12.66%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.04€1.77
$6.86CFPF 710
-70.26%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.64€2.28
$7.80CFPF 807
-66.15%
Potato(1kg)
$1.76€1.52
$3.03CFPF 313
-41.91%
Onion(1kg)
$1.98€1.71
$2.69CFPF 278
-26.39%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.35€1.17
$3.82CFPF 395
-64.66%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74€0.64
$1.11CFPF 114
-33.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.27€5.43
$12.14CFPF 1,256
-48.35%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.75€4.98
$24.27CFPF 2,512
-76.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.30€1.13
$2.57CFPF 266
-49.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.78
$4.65CFPF 482
-55.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Spain
French Polynesia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.77€1.53
$1.99CFPF 206
-11.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$34.49€29.87
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.49€3.89
$9.98CFPF 1,033
-55.01%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.32€1.15
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$27.12€23.48
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.80€1.56
$1.52CFPF 157
18.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.2K€33.1K
$19.7KCFPF 2.0M
93.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.8K€26.7K
$28.6KCFPF 3.0M
7.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Spain
French Polynesia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$149€129
$179CFPF 18.5K
-16.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.14€17.44
$17.68CFPF 1,830
13.91%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.50€29.01
$106CFPF 11.0K
-68.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Spain
French Polynesia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.30€40.10
$73.3CFPF 7,583
-36.81%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.61€13.52
$17.52CFPF 1,814
-10.90%
Cinema Ticket
$9.40€8.14
$14.32CFPF 1,483
-34.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Spain
French Polynesia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$522€452
$485CFPF 50.2K
7.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,880€8,556
$9,864CFPF 1.0M
0.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Spain
French Polynesia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.1€76.3
$99.1CFPF 10.3K
-11.17%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.98€31.16
$84.7CFPF 8,762
-57.50%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.0€77.1
$108CFPF 11.2K
-17.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108€93.6
$108CFPF 11.2K
-0.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Spain
French Polynesia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,039€900
$1,306CFPF 135.1K
-20.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$820€710
$1,084CFPF 112.2K
-24.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,689€1,462
$2,102CFPF 217.6K
-19.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,214€1,051
$1,869CFPF 193.4K
-35.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,301€3,725
$8,452CFPF 874.8K
-49.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,604€2,255
$7,640CFPF 790.8K
-65.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Spain
French Polynesia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,982€1,716
$1,931CFPF 199.9K
2.61%
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for French Polynesia: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $898 in Spain, $536 in French Polynesia. Capital cities: $1,561 in Madrid vs $1,233 in Papeete.
💰National salary averages: $1,989 in Spain, $2,056 in French Polynesia. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 68% 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 the cost in Spain?
At $1,147 per month in French Polynesia and $2,188 in Spain, there's a 91% 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?
Day-to-day life is simply cheaper in French Polynesia: 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 in Spain?
Rent in Spain is consistently higher than in 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 stretches only to regional areas and 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.