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

Name: French Polynesia
Address: PF

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,622 in United States versus $617 in French Polynesia.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,830 in United States versus $962 in French Polynesia.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,038 in United States versus $1,307 in French Polynesia.

Living in United States is roughly 325% more expensive than in French Polynesia on average.

United States (91% above) and French Polynesia (55% below) straddle the global median.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.78 $19.78

$17.62 CFPF 1,810

12.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.4 $81.4

$78.3 CFPF 8,044

3.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.11 $12.11

$14.82 CFPF 1,523

-18.29%

Cappuccino

$5.44 $5.44

$4.36 CFPF 448

24.77%

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

$2.67 $2.67

$2.65 CFPF 272

0.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 $2.08

$2.68 CFPF 276

-22.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.06 $6.06

$4.97 CFPF 510

21.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.14 $8.14

$5.97 CFPF 613

36.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.45 CFPF 149

-27.59%

White Bread (500g)

$3.65 $3.65

$4.41 CFPF 454

-17.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.45 $4.45

$1.70 CFPF 174

161.76%

Eggs

$4.35 $4.35

$7.05 CFPF 724

-38.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.73 $12.73

$36.25 CFPF 3,725

-64.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.46 $12.46

$16.21 CFPF 1,666

-23.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.95 $16.95

$24.96 CFPF 2,565

-32.09%

Apples (1kg)

$5.30 $5.30

$5.26 CFPF 540

0.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 $1.70

$2.87 CFPF 295

-40.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.40 $4.40

$6.88 CFPF 707

-36.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.01 $5.01

$7.86 CFPF 808

-36.26%

Potato (1kg)

$2.87 $2.87

$3.09 CFPF 318

-7.12%

Onion (1kg)

$3.13 $3.13

$2.47 CFPF 254

26.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.32 $2.32

$3.67 CFPF 377

-36.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$1.27 CFPF 130

84.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.55 $10.55

$13.47 CFPF 1,384

-21.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.94 $14.94

$24.26 CFPF 2,493

-38.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.12 $2.12

$2.90 CFPF 298

-26.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 $3.69

$3.93 CFPF 404

-6.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.37 $2.37

$1.93 CFPF 198

22.80%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$65.1 $65.1

$14.44 CFPF 1,483

350.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.42 $3.42

$9.61 CFPF 987

-64.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.89 $1.89

$2.46 CFPF 253

-23.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.16 $30.16

$24.04 CFPF 2,470

25.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.53 CFPF 157

-35.95%

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

$35.9K $35.9K

$18.7K CFPF 1.9M

92.58%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$30.8K CFPF 3.2M

-15.81%

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

$218 $218

$180 CFPF 18.5K

20.65%

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

$61.0 $61.0

$20.11 CFPF 2,067

203.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.8 $74.8

$72.9 CFPF 7,492

2.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.42 $44.42

$77.5 CFPF 7,960

-42.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.53 $22.53

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$14.71 CFPF 1,511

0.61%

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

$1,476 $1,476

$479 CFPF 49.2K

208.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.9K $25.9K

$9,901 CFPF 1.0M

161.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 $54.4

$72.3 CFPF 7,430

-24.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.59 $43.59

$73.9 CFPF 7,593

-41.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.9 $92.9

$80.3 CFPF 8,251

15.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 $114

$93.4 CFPF 9,593

22.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,639 $1,639

$1,287 CFPF 132.3K

27.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,358 $1,358

$989 CFPF 101.6K

37.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,699 $2,699

$1,910 CFPF 196.2K

41.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,199 $2,199

$1,553 CFPF 159.6K

41.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,269 $3,269

$7,378 CFPF 758.1K

-55.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,589 $2,589

$9,236 CFPF 949.0K

-71.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,357 $4,357

$1,950 CFPF 200.3K

123.48%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.21

4.6

35.00%

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

Last update for United States: August 30, 2026

Last update for French Polynesia: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $1,606 in United States, $353 in French Polynesia. Capital cities: $1,373 in Columbia, TN vs $1,389 in Papeete.

National salary averages: $4,519 in United States, $2,095 in French Polynesia. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 355% higher in United States.

Dining out costs 241% more in United States.

Public transport is 1250% more expensive in United States.

Salaries are 116% higher in United States, 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 States vs French Polynesia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

At $1,169 per month in French Polynesia and $3,080 in United States, there's a 163% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.

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.

Rent in United States 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.

In French Polynesia, $2,000 covers most cities easily; in United States it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.

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