Cost of Living Comparison Between Tahiti and Papeete Cost of Living Comparison Between Tahiti and Papeete

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $896 per month in Tahiti vs $2,338 in Papeete, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,540 per month in Tahiti vs $3,582 in Papeete, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,185 per month in Tahiti vs $4,827 in Papeete, rent included.

Tahiti is about 62% cheaper than Papeete, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Tahiti sits 35% below the global median, while Papeete is 70% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.72 CFPF 1,609

$19.27 CFPF 1,973

-18.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$57.2 CFPF 5,853

$96.9 CFPF 9,920

-40.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.62 CFPF 1,189

$15.55 CFPF 1,592

-25.27%

Cappuccino

$5.21 CFPF 533

$3.57 CFPF 366

45.94%

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

$2.11 CFPF 216

$2.82 CFPF 288

-25.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.54 CFPF 260

$3.36 CFPF 344

-24.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.02 CFPF 719

$3.42 CFPF 350

105.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.83 CFPF 699

$3.99 CFPF 408

71.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 CFPF 131

$1.53 CFPF 157

-16.99%

White Bread (500g)

$3.85 CFPF 394

$2.72 CFPF 278

41.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 CFPF 130

$1.64 CFPF 168

-22.56%

Eggs

$7.57 CFPF 774

$6.63 CFPF 678

14.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$29.40 CFPF 3,009

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.33 CFPF 1,467

$15.81 CFPF 1,618

-9.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.72 CFPF 2,325

$27.65 CFPF 2,830

-17.83%

Apples (1kg)

$6.14 CFPF 629

$4.96 CFPF 508

23.79%

Banana (1kg)

$3.34 CFPF 342

$2.53 CFPF 259

32.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.49 CFPF 562

$6.84 CFPF 700

-19.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.94 CFPF 813

$8.10 CFPF 829

-1.98%

Potato (1kg)

$2.19 CFPF 225

$2.86 CFPF 293

-23.43%

Onion (1kg)

$2.28 CFPF 234

$2.35 CFPF 241

-2.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.80 CFPF 389

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 CFPF 89.2

$1.19 CFPF 122

-26.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.36 CFPF 1,367

Wine (Bottle)

$21.65 CFPF 2,216

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.33 CFPF 341

$2.90 CFPF 296

14.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.77 CFPF 385

$3.23 CFPF 331

16.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.75 CFPF 179

$1.93 CFPF 198

-9.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.62 CFPF 1,496

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$9.76 CFPF 999

$9.79 CFPF 1,002

-0.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.55 CFPF 261

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.32 CFPF 2,489

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.52 CFPF 156

$1.51 CFPF 154

0.66%

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

$18.6K CFPF 1.9M

$19.3K CFPF 2.0M

-3.92%

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

$33.0K CFPF 3.4M

$29.1K CFPF 3.0M

13.21%

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

$187 CFPF 19.2K

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

$17.64 CFPF 1,806

$20.53 CFPF 2,101

-14.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$77.1 CFPF 7,891

$72.9 CFPF 7,459

5.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.6 CFPF 5,483

$86.8 CFPF 8,886

-38.30%

Cinema Ticket

$12.74 CFPF 1,303

$14.49 CFPF 1,483

-12.08%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$487 CFPF 49.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,807 CFPF 1.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$71.7 CFPF 7,336

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$74.5 CFPF 7,629

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.5 CFPF 8,447

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.5 CFPF 9,360

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,083 CFPF 110.8K

$1,389 CFPF 142.1K

-22.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$956 CFPF 97.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,889 CFPF 193.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,528 CFPF 156.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,316 CFPF 748.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,648 CFPF 782.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,145 CFPF 219.5K

$2,386 CFPF 244.2K

-10.13%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.81

4.5

6.89%

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

Last update for Tahiti: August 31, 2026

Last update for Papeete: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,083 in Tahiti versus $1,389 in Papeete. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 11% higher in Papeete, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $57.0 in Tahiti versus $97.0 in Papeete. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $385 vs $541 – making Tahiti the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Papeete: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Papeete is pricier by about 161%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,344 per month in Tahiti and $3,506 in Papeete. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Tahiti, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 41% more in Papeete, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $57.0 in Tahiti and $97.0 in Papeete. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Tahiti, where all-in costs run around $896, than in Papeete at $2,338. In Tahiti it covers expenses comfortably, while in Papeete it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Tahiti – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Tahiti. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Papeete makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.