For one person, living is cheaper in Spain: $1,775 a month against $2,315 in French Polynesia, rent and utilities included – about $6,500 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.
How much you'll spend in Spain and in French Polynesia
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Spain and in French Polynesia actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,775 in Spain versus $2,315 in French Polynesia.
Spain $1,775
French Polynesia $2,315
Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,606 in Spain versus $3,464 in French Polynesia.
Spain $2,606
French Polynesia $3,464
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,438 in Spain versus $4,613 in French Polynesia.
Spain $3,438
French Polynesia $4,613
📏
Internal cost variation is higher in French Polynesia: monthly costs span $14 to $2,283, compared to $931–$2,610 in Spain. City choice carries more weight in French Polynesia.
🌍
Living in Spain costs about 23% less than in French Polynesia on average.
📊
Both countries sit above the global median: Spain 30% above, French Polynesia 70% above.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Spain
French Polynesia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.69€14.96
$16.95CFPF 1,802
-1.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$55.7€49.91
$76.4CFPF 8,116
-27.05%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.37€10.18
$14.24CFPF 1,514
-20.15%
Cappuccino
$2.42€2.17
$4.14CFPF 440
-41.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68€2.40
$2.64CFPF 280
1.52%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79€1.60
$2.49CFPF 265
-28.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.42€3.07
$4.75CFPF 505
-28.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.47
$5.58CFPF 593
-30.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Spain
French Polynesia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.20€1.07
$1.43CFPF 152
-16.08%
White Bread(500g)
$1.48€1.33
$4.40CFPF 468
-66.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.67€1.50
$1.73CFPF 184
-3.47%
Eggs
$3.42€3.07
$6.74CFPF 716
-49.26%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.17€12.70
$35.28CFPF 3,750
-59.84%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.33€7.46
$15.39CFPF 1,636
-45.87%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.20€14.52
$24.37CFPF 2,591
-33.52%
Apples(1kg)
$2.45€2.20
$4.93CFPF 524
-50.30%
Banana(1kg)
$2.03€1.82
$2.88CFPF 306
-29.51%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08€1.86
$6.35CFPF 675
-67.24%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.58€2.31
$7.63CFPF 811
-66.19%
Potato(1kg)
$1.83€1.64
$2.92CFPF 311
-37.33%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.79
$2.42CFPF 258
-17.36%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.31€1.17
$3.65CFPF 388
-64.11%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77€0.69
$1.16CFPF 123
-33.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.36€5.70
$13.06CFPF 1,388
-51.30%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.64€5.06
$23.36CFPF 2,483
-75.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.30€1.17
$2.92CFPF 311
-55.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09€1.87
$3.76CFPF 400
-44.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Spain
French Polynesia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.64€1.47
$1.82CFPF 193
-9.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$32.91€29.49
$14.33CFPF 1,523
129.66%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.43€3.97
$9.51CFPF 1,011
-53.42%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.47€1.31
$2.39CFPF 254
-38.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$24.98€22.39
$22.96CFPF 2,441
8.80%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.77€1.59
$1.44CFPF 153
22.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.5K€31.8K
$18.6KCFPF 2.0M
91.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.6K€27.4K
$30.4KCFPF 3.2M
0.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Spain
French Polynesia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$149€134
$174CFPF 18.4K
-13.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.67€15.84
$18.73CFPF 1,991
-5.66%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.88€28.57
$69.8CFPF 7,417
-54.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Spain
French Polynesia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.24€39.64
$73.0CFPF 7,763
-39.42%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.29€13.70
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.66€8.66
$14.25CFPF 1,515
-32.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Spain
French Polynesia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$544€488
$468CFPF 49.7K
16.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.6K€9,504
$9,405CFPF 999.7K
12.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Spain
French Polynesia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.9€76.1
$69.1CFPF 7,348
22.81%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.11€33.26
$72.3CFPF 7,687
-48.69%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.2€79.9
$78.0CFPF 8,288
14.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106€94.8
$89.4CFPF 9,506
18.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Spain
French Polynesia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,056€947
$1,233CFPF 131.0K
-14.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$808€724
$922CFPF 98.0K
-12.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,621€1,453
$1,868CFPF 198.6K
-13.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,246€1,117
$1,473CFPF 156.6K
-15.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,135€3,706
$7,062CFPF 750.7K
-41.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,633€2,359
$9,027CFPF 959.6K
-70.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Spain
French Polynesia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,999€1,791
$1,876CFPF 199.4K
6.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.3
4.6
-28.26%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Spain: October 24, 2026
Last update for French Polynesia: October 24, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Spain
$808 45.5%
French Polynesia
$922 39.8% ↑ 14.1%$114
🛒Groceries & Markets
Spain
$272 15.3%
French Polynesia
$565 24.4% ↑ 108%$293
🍽Eating Out
Spain
$239 13.5%
French Polynesia
$283 12.2% ↑ 18.4%$44
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Spain
$199 11.2%
French Polynesia
$262 11.3% ↑ 31.8%$63
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Spain
$143 8%
French Polynesia
$139 6% ↓ 2.6%$3.6
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Spain
$64 3.6%
French Polynesia
$102 4.4% ↑ 59.8%$38
🚌Getting Around
Spain
$51 2.9%
French Polynesia
$43 1.9% ↓ 16%$8.2
🏠Accommodation & Living
Spain
$1.2K 36.3%
French Polynesia
$1.5K 31.9% ↑ 18.2%$227
🛒Groceries & Markets
Spain
$646 18.8%
French Polynesia
$1.3K 28.4% ↑ 102%$662
🍽Eating Out
Spain
$763 22.2%
French Polynesia
$948 20.6% ↑ 24.2%$185
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Spain
$217 6.3%
French Polynesia
$281 6.1% ↑ 29.7%$64
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Spain
$317 9.2%
French Polynesia
$309 6.7% ↓ 2.6%$8.1
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Spain
$142 4.1%
French Polynesia
$203 * 4.4% ↑ 42.6%$61
🚌Getting Around
Spain
$106 3.1%
French Polynesia
$90 1.9% ↓ 15.2%$16
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $920 in Spain, $1,170 in French Polynesia. Capital cities: $1,508 in Madrid vs $1,328 in Papeete.
💰National salary averages: $1,972 in Spain, $1,977 in French Polynesia. Higher pay doesn’t always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 27% higher in French Polynesia.
⭐Dining out costs 33% more in French Polynesia.
⭐Public transport is 121% more expensive in Spain.
Spain→French Polynesia15,880 km≈ 20 h nonstop flight
From you
Spain
French Polynesia
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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 $2,315 per month in French Polynesia and $1,775 in Spain, Spain comes out about 23% cheaper. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Is rent more expensive in French Polynesia or in Spain?
Rent for a central one-bedroom averages $1,170 in French Polynesia and $920 in Spain. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.
Which country is better for expats: French Polynesia or Spain?
It depends on what you’re after: Spain wins on affordability, while salaries, visas, language, and lifestyle can tip the balance either way.