Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between the United Kingdom and French Polynesia

Name: French Polynesia
Address: PF

For one person, living is cheaper in French Polynesia: $2,315 a month against $2,462 in the United Kingdom, rent and utilities included – about $1,800 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in the United Kingdom outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

119

Cost of Living Index in the United Kingdom
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United Kingdom Living Index
112

Cost of Living Index in French Polynesia
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French Polynesia Living Index

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🇬🇧 United Kingdom

$2,462

/mo nomad

🇵🇫 French Polynesia

$2,315

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in the United Kingdom 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 the United Kingdom and in French Polynesia actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,462 in the United Kingdom versus $2,315 in French Polynesia.

United Kingdom $2,462
French Polynesia $2,315

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,600 in the United Kingdom versus $3,464 in French Polynesia.

United Kingdom $3,600
French Polynesia $3,464

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,738 in the United Kingdom versus $4,613 in French Polynesia.

United Kingdom $4,738
French Polynesia $4,613

Internal cost variation is higher in the United Kingdom: monthly costs span $1,126 to $4,646, compared to $14–$2,283 in French Polynesia. City choice carries more weight in the United Kingdom.

Living in the United Kingdom is roughly 6% more expensive than in French Polynesia on average.

Both countries sit above the global median: the United Kingdom 81% above, French Polynesia 70% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$21.48 £16.17

$16.95 CFPF 1,809

26.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$85.7 £64.5

$76.4 CFPF 8,146

12.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.61 £7.99

$14.24 CFPF 1,520

-25.49%

Cappuccino

$4.91 £3.70

$4.14 CFPF 441

18.60%

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

$2.66 £2.00

$2.64 CFPF 281

0.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.87 £1.41

$2.49 CFPF 266

-24.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.63 £4.99

$4.75 CFPF 507

39.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.84 £5.15

$5.58 CFPF 595

22.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 £1.26

$1.43 CFPF 153

17.48%

White Bread (500g)

$1.72 £1.29

$4.40 CFPF 470

-60.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 £1.63

$1.73 CFPF 185

25.43%

Eggs

$4.00 £3.01

$6.74 CFPF 719

-40.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.42 £7.09

$35.28 CFPF 3,764

-73.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.19 £6.91

$15.39 CFPF 1,643

-40.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.77 £11.11

$24.37 CFPF 2,600

-39.39%

Apples (1kg)

$2.97 £2.23

$4.93 CFPF 526

-39.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 £1.22

$2.88 CFPF 308

-43.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.85 £2.15

$6.35 CFPF 678

-55.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.52 £2.65

$7.63 CFPF 814

-53.87%

Potato (1kg)

$1.83 £1.38

$2.92 CFPF 312

-37.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.61 £1.21

$2.42 CFPF 259

-33.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.25 £0.94

$3.65 CFPF 390

-65.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 £1.25

$1.16 CFPF 123

43.10%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$23.65 £17.80

$13.06 CFPF 1,393

81.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.50 £7.90

$23.36 CFPF 2,493

-55.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.98 £2.25

$2.92 CFPF 312

2.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 £2.64

$3.76 CFPF 401

-6.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.98 £2.99

$1.82 CFPF 194

118.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$107 £80.9

$14.33 CFPF 1,529

649.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.18 £3.90

$9.51 CFPF 1,014

-45.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.35 £1.77

$2.39 CFPF 255

-1.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.84 £20.20

$22.96 CFPF 2,450

16.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.99 £1.50

$1.44 CFPF 153

38.19%

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

$39.4K £29.7K

$18.6K CFPF 2.0M

112.56%

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

$40.5K £30.5K

$30.4K CFPF 3.2M

32.98%

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

$327 £246

$174 CFPF 18.5K

88.54%

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

$18.21 £13.71

$18.73 CFPF 1,998

-2.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$43.60 £32.81

$69.8 CFPF 7,445

-37.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.36 £31.88

$73.0 CFPF 7,793

-42.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.22 £13.71

Cinema Ticket

$13.85 £10.42

$14.25 CFPF 1,521

-2.81%

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

$1,868 £1,406

$468 CFPF 49.9K

299.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.6K £17.0K

$9,405 CFPF 1.0M

140.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$92.9 £69.9

$69.1 CFPF 7,376

34.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.92 £34.56

$72.3 CFPF 7,716

-36.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 £76.5

$78.0 CFPF 8,319

30.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 £77.0

$89.4 CFPF 9,542

14.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,342 £1,010

$1,233 CFPF 131.5K

8.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,073 £808

$922 CFPF 98.4K

16.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,231 £1,679

$1,868 CFPF 199.3K

19.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,742 £1,311

$1,473 CFPF 157.2K

18.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,601 £4,216

$7,062 CFPF 753.5K

-20.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,265 £3,210

$9,027 CFPF 963.2K

-52.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,349 £2,521

$1,876 CFPF 200.2K

78.54%

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 the United Kingdom: October 26, 2026

Last update for French Polynesia: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

United Kingdom

$1.1K 43.6%

French Polynesia

$922 39.8% 14.1% $151

Monthly Utilities & Internet

United Kingdom

$389 15.8%

French Polynesia

$262 11.3% 32.6% $127

Eating Out

United Kingdom

$328 13.3%

French Polynesia

$283 12.2% 13.5% $44

Groceries & Markets

United Kingdom

$307 12.5%

French Polynesia

$565 24.4% 83.7% $257

Clothing & Footwear

United Kingdom

$154 6.3%

French Polynesia

$139 6% 9.9% $15

Getting Around

United Kingdom

$140 5.7%

French Polynesia

$43 1.9% 69.3% $97

Sport & Entertainment

United Kingdom

$70 2.9%

French Polynesia

$102 4.4% 45% $31

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $1,287 in the United Kingdom, $1,170 in French Polynesia. Capital cities: $2,811 in London vs $1,328 in Papeete.

National salary averages: $3,251 in the United Kingdom, $1,977 in French Polynesia. Higher pay doesn’t always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 10% higher in the United Kingdom.

Public transport is 621% more expensive in the United Kingdom.

Salaries are 64% higher in the United Kingdom, and purchasing power comes out stronger in the United Kingdom.

Good to know

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

🇵🇫 French Polynesia

🕒 Local time

14:25 2:25 PM

04:25 4:25 AM

10 h behind the United Kingdom

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

67,326,569

278,786

💱 Currency

British Pound GBP £

CFP Franc XPF Fr

📈 Exchange rate

1 GBP = 1.33 USD

1 GBP = 1.19 EUR

1,000 XPF = 9.37 USD

1,000 XPF = 8.42 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

XPF, USD, EUR to GBP – British Pound Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇬🇧 British Pound (£)

British Pound exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 0.753 GBP (1 GBP = 1.33 USD). 1 EUR = 0.838 GBP (1 GBP = 1.19 EUR).

CFP Franc exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 107 XPF (1,000 XPF = 9.37 USD). 1 EUR = 119 XPF (1,000 XPF = 8.42 EUR).

USD to GBP in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

United Kingdom French Polynesia 15,380 km ≈ 20 h nonstop flight

From you

United Kingdom
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

United Kingdom vs French Polynesia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

At $2,315 per month in French Polynesia and $2,462 in the United Kingdom, there’s a 6% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.

Rent for a central one-bedroom averages $1,287 in the United Kingdom and $1,170 in French Polynesia. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.

It depends on what you’re after: French Polynesia wins on affordability; the United Kingdom may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.