Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Tahiti and Arue

For one person, living is cheaper in Tahiti: $862 a month against $1,012 in Arue, rent and utilities included – about $1,800 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Arue outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Jump to prices

Tahiti

🇵🇫 French Polynesia

$862

/mo nomad

Arue

🇵🇫 French Polynesia

$1,012

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Tahiti and in Arue

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Tahiti and in Arue actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $862 in Tahiti versus $1,012 in Arue.

Tahiti $862
Arue $1,012

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,481 in Tahiti versus $1,498 in Arue.

Tahiti $1,481
Arue $1,498

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,099 in Tahiti versus $1,984 in Arue.

Tahiti $2,099
Arue $1,984

Living in Tahiti costs roughly 15% less than in Arue, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tahiti 36% lower, Arue 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.87 CFPF 1,573

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$56.6 CFPF 5,984

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.42 CFPF 1,208

Cappuccino

$4.84 CFPF 513

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

$2.08 CFPF 220

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 CFPF 273

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.39 CFPF 676

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.85 CFPF 725

Milk (1 liter)

$1.28 CFPF 136

$1.34 CFPF 142

-4.48%

White Bread (500g)

$3.85 CFPF 408

$4.54 CFPF 481

-15.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 CFPF 134

$3.75 CFPF 397

-66.13%

Eggs

$7.46 CFPF 789

$11.43 CFPF 1,209

-34.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$55.4 CFPF 5,859

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.25 CFPF 1,508

$26.05 CFPF 2,756

-45.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$21.88 CFPF 2,315

$22.92 CFPF 2,425

-4.54%

Apples (1kg)

$5.97 CFPF 632

$5.29 CFPF 560

12.85%

Banana (1kg)

$3.24 CFPF 343

$2.89 CFPF 305

12.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.35 CFPF 566

$7.36 CFPF 779

-27.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.91 CFPF 837

$8.54 CFPF 904

-7.38%

Potato (1kg)

$2.15 CFPF 228

$4.09 CFPF 433

-47.43%

Onion (1kg)

$2.16 CFPF 228

$2.83 CFPF 300

-23.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.81 CFPF 403

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 CFPF 92.1

$1.37 CFPF 145

-36.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.86 CFPF 1,255

Wine (Bottle)

$27.67 CFPF 2,927

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.20 CFPF 339

$2.73 CFPF 289

17.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.77 CFPF 399

$7.40 CFPF 782

-49.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.62 CFPF 172

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.33 CFPF 1,516

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$9.59 CFPF 1,014

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.38 CFPF 252

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.44 CFPF 2,480

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.42 CFPF 150

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

$17.7K CFPF 1.9M

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

$31.8K CFPF 3.4M

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

$156 CFPF 16.5K

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

$16.66 CFPF 1,762

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.8 CFPF 7,808

$122 CFPF 12.9K

-39.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.8 CFPF 5,370

Cinema Ticket

$12.34 CFPF 1,305

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,025 CFPF 108.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,070 CFPF 219.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.81

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

Last update for Tahiti: October 17, 2026

Last update for Arue: October 19, 2026

Good to know

🇵🇫 Tahiti

🇵🇫 Arue

🕒 Local time

02:31 2:31 AM

Same time as Tahiti

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

183,645

10,000

💱 Currency

CFP Franc XPF Fr

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 XPF = 9.45 USD

1,000 XPF = 8.41 EUR

1,000 XPF = 9.45 USD

1,000 XPF = 8.41 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Tahiti Arue 19 km

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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

Tahiti vs Arue: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tahiti wins on cost – living expenses run 17% lower than in Arue. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Tahiti the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,293 in Tahiti and $1,518 in Arue to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Supermarket bills run roughly 94% higher in Arue. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $862 per month in Tahiti versus $1,012 in Arue – a 17% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $862 in Tahiti versus $1,012 in Arue, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Tahiti but tight or insufficient in Arue. The gap between the two cities makes Tahiti the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Tahiti and Arue are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Tahiti gentler on the wallet – expenses run 17% less than in Arue. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.