Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Spain and French Polynesia

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.

Spain
French Polynesia
🇪🇸 Spain
$1,775
/mo nomad
🇵🇫 French Polynesia
$2,315
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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
🍽 Eating Out
Spain
French Polynesia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.69 €14.96
$16.95 CFPF 1,802
-1.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$55.7 €49.91
$76.4 CFPF 8,116
-27.05%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.37 €10.18
$14.24 CFPF 1,514
-20.15%
Cappuccino
$2.42 €2.17
$4.14 CFPF 440
-41.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 €2.40
$2.64 CFPF 280
1.52%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79 €1.60
$2.49 CFPF 265
-28.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.42 €3.07
$4.75 CFPF 505
-28.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88 €3.47
$5.58 CFPF 593
-30.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Spain
French Polynesia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.20 €1.07
$1.43 CFPF 152
-16.08%
White Bread (500g)
$1.48 €1.33
$4.40 CFPF 468
-66.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.67 €1.50
$1.73 CFPF 184
-3.47%
Eggs
$3.42 €3.07
$6.74 CFPF 716
-49.26%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.17 €12.70
$35.28 CFPF 3,750
-59.84%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.33 €7.46
$15.39 CFPF 1,636
-45.87%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.20 €14.52
$24.37 CFPF 2,591
-33.52%
Apples (1kg)
$2.45 €2.20
$4.93 CFPF 524
-50.30%
Banana (1kg)
$2.03 €1.82
$2.88 CFPF 306
-29.51%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.08 €1.86
$6.35 CFPF 675
-67.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.58 €2.31
$7.63 CFPF 811
-66.19%
Potato (1kg)
$1.83 €1.64
$2.92 CFPF 311
-37.33%
Onion (1kg)
$2.00 €1.79
$2.42 CFPF 258
-17.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.31 €1.17
$3.65 CFPF 388
-64.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77 €0.69
$1.16 CFPF 123
-33.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.36 €5.70
$13.06 CFPF 1,388
-51.30%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.64 €5.06
$23.36 CFPF 2,483
-75.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.30 €1.17
$2.92 CFPF 311
-55.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09 €1.87
$3.76 CFPF 400
-44.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Spain
French Polynesia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.64 €1.47
$1.82 CFPF 193
-9.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$32.91 €29.49
$14.33 CFPF 1,523
129.66%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.43 €3.97
$9.51 CFPF 1,011
-53.42%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.47 €1.31
$2.39 CFPF 254
-38.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.98 €22.39
$22.96 CFPF 2,441
8.80%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.77 €1.59
$1.44 CFPF 153
22.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.5K €31.8K
$18.6K CFPF 2.0M
91.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.6K €27.4K
$30.4K CFPF 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
$174 CFPF 18.4K
-13.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.67 €15.84
$18.73 CFPF 1,991
-5.66%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.88 €28.57
$69.8 CFPF 7,417
-54.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Spain
French Polynesia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.24 €39.64
$73.0 CFPF 7,763
-39.42%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.29 €13.70
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.66 €8.66
$14.25 CFPF 1,515
-32.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Spain
French Polynesia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$544 €488
$468 CFPF 49.7K
16.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.6K €9,504
$9,405 CFPF 999.7K
12.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Spain
French Polynesia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.9 €76.1
$69.1 CFPF 7,348
22.81%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.11 €33.26
$72.3 CFPF 7,687
-48.69%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.2 €79.9
$78.0 CFPF 8,288
14.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 €94.8
$89.4 CFPF 9,506
18.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Spain
French Polynesia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,056 €947
$1,233 CFPF 131.0K
-14.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$808 €724
$922 CFPF 98.0K
-12.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,621 €1,453
$1,868 CFPF 198.6K
-13.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,246 €1,117
$1,473 CFPF 156.6K
-15.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,135 €3,706
$7,062 CFPF 750.7K
-41.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,633 €2,359
$9,027 CFPF 959.6K
-70.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Spain
French Polynesia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,999 €1,791
$1,876 CFPF 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.
Accommodation & Living
Spain
$808
French Polynesia
$922 14.1% $114
Groceries & Markets
Spain
$272
French Polynesia
$565 108% $293
Eating Out
Spain
$239
French Polynesia
$283 18.4% $44
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Spain
$199
French Polynesia
$262 31.8% $63
Clothing & Footwear
Spain
$143
French Polynesia
$139 2.6% $3.6
Sport & Entertainment
Spain
$64
French Polynesia
$102 59.8% $38
Getting Around
Spain
$51
French Polynesia
$43 16% $8.2

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.

Good to know
🇪🇸 Spain
🇵🇫 French Polynesia
🕒 Local time
03:33 3:33 AM
16:33 4:33 PM
11 h behind Spain
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
47,415,750
278,786
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

XPF, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 0.896 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

CFP Franc exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 106 XPF (1,000 XPF = 9.41 USD). 1 EUR = 119 XPF (1,000 XPF = 8.43 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Spain French Polynesia 15,880 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.

Spain vs other spots: cost of living compared

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