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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,108 per month in Tahiti vs $2,295 in Papeete, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,234 per month in Tahiti vs $3,444 in Papeete, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,361 per month in Tahiti vs $4,593 in Papeete, rent included.

Tahiti is about 8% cheaper than Papeete, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Tahiti and Papeete sit above the global median – Tahiti by 58%, Papeete by 72%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.33 CFPF 1,595

$17.45 CFPF 1,815

-12.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.6 CFPF 5,476

$82.3 CFPF 8,561

-36.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.14 CFPF 1,159

$12.11 CFPF 1,260

-8.01%

Cappuccino

$4.76 CFPF 496

$3.90 CFPF 406

22.05%

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

$2.44 CFPF 254

$3.44 CFPF 358

-29.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.45 CFPF 255

$2.70 CFPF 281

-9.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.72 CFPF 595

$2.89 CFPF 301

97.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.56 CFPF 683

$3.98 CFPF 414

64.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.51 CFPF 157

White Bread (500g)

$0.76 CFPF 79.1

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.68 CFPF 175

Eggs

$10.27 CFPF 1,069

$6.41 CFPF 667

60.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.40 CFPF 2,643

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.68 CFPF 1,735

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$26.72 CFPF 2,780

Apples (1kg)

$5.13 CFPF 534

Banana (1kg)

$2.28 CFPF 237

Oranges (1kg)

$5.88 CFPF 612

Tomato (1kg)

$8.01 CFPF 834

$7.68 CFPF 799

4.30%

Potato (1kg)

$2.91 CFPF 303

Onion (1kg)

$2.59 CFPF 270

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.97 CFPF 413

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.17 CFPF 121

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.86 CFPF 1,234

Wine (Bottle)

$21.16 CFPF 2,202

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 CFPF 203

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.19 CFPF 332

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.96 CFPF 204

$1.99 CFPF 207

-1.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$9.49 CFPF 987

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.52 CFPF 158

$1.58 CFPF 165

-3.80%

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

$19.3K CFPF 2.0M

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

$29.5K CFPF 3.1M

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

$74.1 CFPF 7,710

$183 CFPF 19.1K

-59.55%

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

$17.68 CFPF 1,840

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$147 CFPF 15.3K

$62.1 CFPF 6,457

136.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.6 CFPF 5,577

$77.2 CFPF 8,033

-30.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.99 CFPF 1,872

Cinema Ticket

$12.67 CFPF 1,318

$14.71 CFPF 1,531

-13.87%

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

$493 CFPF 51.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,750 CFPF 1.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$141 CFPF 14.7K

$78.5 CFPF 8,169

79.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$91.4 CFPF 9,506

$82.3 CFPF 8,558

11.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$176 CFPF 18.3K

$76.2 CFPF 7,931

131.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 CFPF 14.5K

$91.8 CFPF 9,556

51.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,367 CFPF 142.3K

$1,219 CFPF 126.8K

12.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,186 CFPF 123.4K

$971 CFPF 101.0K

22.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,470 CFPF 257.0K

$1,918 CFPF 199.6K

28.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,320 CFPF 241.4K

$1,535 CFPF 159.7K

51.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,591 CFPF 893.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,309 CFPF 656.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,060 CFPF 214.4K

$2,387 CFPF 248.3K

-13.67%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.81

-19.83%

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

Last update for Tahiti: July 12, 2026

Last update for Papeete: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,367 in Tahiti versus $1,219 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 16% 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 $53.0 in Tahiti versus $82.0 in Papeete. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $81.0 vs $498 – 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 9%, 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 $3,162 per month in Tahiti and $3,443 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 514% 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 $53.0 in Tahiti and $82.0 in Papeete. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tahiti, where all-in costs run around $2,108, than in Papeete at $2,295. 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.