Cost of Living Comparison Between United Kingdom and French Polynesia Cost of Living Comparison Between United Kingdom and French Polynesia

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,405 in United Kingdom versus $620 in French Polynesia.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,520 in United Kingdom versus $951 in French Polynesia.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,635 in United Kingdom versus $1,281 in French Polynesia.

Living in United Kingdom is roughly 288% more expensive than in French Polynesia on average.

United Kingdom (74% above) and French Polynesia (55% below) straddle the global median.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
United Kingdom
French Polynesia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.52 £15.90
$17.67 CFPF 1,811
21.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$88.0 £65.0
$79.2 CFPF 8,117
11.01%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.89 £8.05
$14.80 CFPF 1,516
-26.42%
Cappuccino
$4.92 £3.64
$4.16 CFPF 426
18.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59 £1.91
$2.65 CFPF 272
-2.26%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84 £1.36
$2.59 CFPF 266
-28.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.91 £5.11
$5.00 CFPF 512
38.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.86 £5.07
$5.70 CFPF 584
20.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
United Kingdom
French Polynesia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.67 £1.23
$1.49 CFPF 153
12.08%
White Bread (500g)
$1.67 £1.23
$4.45 CFPF 456
-62.47%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.20 £1.63
$1.74 CFPF 178
26.44%
Eggs
$4.19 £3.10
$6.98 CFPF 715
-39.97%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.98 £7.38
$36.96 CFPF 3,787
-73.00%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.47 £7.00
$16.29 CFPF 1,669
-41.87%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.41 £11.39
$24.81 CFPF 2,542
-37.89%
Apples (1kg)
$3.02 £2.23
$5.13 CFPF 525
-41.13%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 £1.25
$2.99 CFPF 307
-43.14%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.92 £2.16
$6.64 CFPF 681
-56.02%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.38 £2.50
$8.01 CFPF 821
-57.80%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 £1.36
$3.19 CFPF 327
-42.32%
Onion (1kg)
$1.58 £1.17
$2.44 CFPF 250
-35.25%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.26 £0.93
$3.68 CFPF 377
-65.76%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 £1.26
$1.27 CFPF 130
33.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$24.21 £17.90
$13.15 CFPF 1,347
84.11%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.00 £8.13
$24.08 CFPF 2,467
-54.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.98 £2.21
$2.88 CFPF 295
3.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39 £2.51
$3.98 CFPF 408
-14.82%
🚌 Getting Around
United Kingdom
French Polynesia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.43 £2.53
$1.91 CFPF 195
79.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$105 £77.9
$14.49 CFPF 1,484
627.33%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.36 £3.96
$9.60 CFPF 983
-44.17%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.37 £1.75
$2.56 CFPF 262
-7.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$27.55 £20.36
$24.30 CFPF 2,490
13.37%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.93 £1.43
$1.55 CFPF 158
24.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.7K £29.3K
$19.1K CFPF 2.0M
107.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.7K £30.1K
$30.9K CFPF 3.2M
31.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
United Kingdom
French Polynesia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$321 £238
$185 CFPF 19.0K
73.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.67 £13.80
$20.23 CFPF 2,073
-7.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.93 £32.47
$73.0 CFPF 7,481
-39.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
United Kingdom
French Polynesia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.56 £34.41
$75.5 CFPF 7,740
-38.36%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.71 £13.83
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.53 £10.00
$14.48 CFPF 1,483
-6.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
United Kingdom
French Polynesia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,739 £1,285
$493 CFPF 50.5K
252.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.7K £16.7K
$9,918 CFPF 1.0M
128.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
United Kingdom
French Polynesia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.9 £67.2
$70.5 CFPF 7,221
28.95%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.40 £35.04
$74.3 CFPF 7,613
-36.21%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$105 £77.8
$80.7 CFPF 8,263
30.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101 £74.9
$94.1 CFPF 9,640
7.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
United Kingdom
French Polynesia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,382 £1,022
$1,303 CFPF 133.5K
6.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,095 £809
$977 CFPF 100.1K
12.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,216 £1,638
$1,924 CFPF 197.2K
15.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,814 £1,341
$1,576 CFPF 161.4K
15.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,730 £4,235
$7,196 CFPF 737.2K
-20.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,515 £3,337
$9,139 CFPF 936.3K
-50.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
United Kingdom
French Polynesia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,329 £2,461
$1,947 CFPF 199.5K
70.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.32
4.6
15.65%

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

Last update for United Kingdom: September 5, 2026

Last update for French Polynesia: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $1,285 in United Kingdom, $347 in French Polynesia. Capital cities: $2,926 in London vs $1,365 in Papeete.

National salary averages: $3,292 in United Kingdom, $2,126 in French Polynesia. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 270% higher in United Kingdom.

Dining out costs 282% more in United Kingdom.

Public transport is 4200% more expensive in United Kingdom.

Salaries are 55% higher in United Kingdom, and purchasing power comes out stronger in French Polynesia.

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
United Kingdom vs French Polynesia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How does the cost of living in French Polynesia compare to the cost in United Kingdom?
At $1,197 per month in French Polynesia and $2,668 in United Kingdom, there's a 123% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
How do daily expenses compare in French Polynesia vs United Kingdom?
Day-to-day life is simply cheaper in French Polynesia: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
Is rent more expensive in French Polynesia or in United Kingdom?
Rent in United Kingdom is consistently higher than in French Polynesia across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Can you live in both French Polynesia and United Kingdom on $2,000 per month?
In French Polynesia, $2,000 covers most cities easily; in United Kingdom it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Which country is better for expats: French Polynesia or United Kingdom?
It depends on what you're after: French Polynesia wins on affordability; United Kingdom may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

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