Cost Of Living in French Polynesia 2025

Average monthly spending for singles, couples, students, and families in French Polynesia

Whether you're living in French Polynesia or planning to move there, it is very important to know the cost of living and the prices of things. Here we list the average spending for the four main population groups.

Financial goals of people in French Polynesia

In an attempt to understand the economic situation in French Polynesia, we asked participants about their financial targets. By knowing what the population in general is trying to achieve, we can shed light on the economic outlook, cost of living, and quality of life in general.

Around 7% of those who participated in the survey said that their main goal is to establish an emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses while 36% said their number one priority is to pay off high-interest debt or loans and improve credit. 9% of surveyed people confirmed that saving for retirement to ensure a comfortable lifestyle in the final years is their main target. Around 8% reported that their priority is saving for the tuition fees and education costs of their children while 17% choose to buy a home or pay off existing mortgage before other things. 8% of the population would like to build wealth through investments such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or real estate. For 9% of people, saving for vacations or upgrading their lifestyle is the number one concern. Approximately 11% of the residents said that saving for healthcare expenses including insurance premiums is their main goal.

Singles

The average monthly expense for a single person living in French Polynesia is 97,000 XPF. Expenses can range from 14,000 XPF at the minimum level to 650,000 XPF at the highest end.

Couples

The average monthly spending of couples in French Polynesia is 160,000 XPF. Expenditure can range from 54,000 XPF to 860,000 XPF per month.

Families

The average cost of living for families in French Polynesia is 220,000 XPF per month. Families spend anywhere from 76,000 XPF to 1.4M XPF.

Students

The average monthly expenditure for students in French Polynesia is 71,000 XPF. Students spend from 11,000 XPF to 470,000 XPF per month.

How do people spend their money in French Polynesia?

We asked thousands of people about their spending habits and expenditure breaks. Below are their answers.

People living in French Polynesia typically spend from 15% to 34% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 26% being the average. The average spend on housing is 42,000 XPF with expenditure ranging from 3,200 XPF to 420,000 XPF. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses. Housing costs are highest for families and lowest for students as expected.

Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in French Polynesia ranges from 4% to 11% of total expenses with 7% being the average. The average monthly cost of utilities is 7,000 XPF with 540 XPF and 70,000 XPF being the upper and lower limits.

Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether you live near your work or school, but roughly speaking you would expect to spend from 1,100 XPF to 140,000 XPF on commuting with 14,000 XPF being the norm for most people in one month. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 8% of total spending on average but can go as low as 4% or as high as 12%.

The average outlay on groceries in a month in French Polynesia is 35,000 XPF. The cost of groceries can range between 2,700 XPF to 350,000 XPF. People spend on average about 27% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 19% and 33% respectively.

People in French Polynesia allocate 4% to 12% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending is around 9%. The range of medical expenses range from 760 XPF to 98,000 XPF with 9,800 XPF being the norm.

This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 430 XPF to 56,000 XPF with 5,600 XPF being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 3% to 9% of total expenses with an average of 5% for most residents.

Spending on education can vary drastically between different people. While working singles can spend 0% on education, families and students' expenditure can reach up to 22%. On average, education constitutes 6% of the monthly expenditure with 4% and 12% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 8,400 XPF per month with 650 XPF being the minimum spent amount and 84,000 XPF being the maximum.

SingleSpending habits, consumption analysis, and expenditure patterns for a single person living in French Polynesia

CoupleAverage monthly living expenditure breaks and spending patterns for couples in French Polynesia

Monthly costs and expenses of energy and basic utilities in French Polynesia

Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in French Polynesia

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Individual

820 XPF

5,800 XPF

39,000 XPF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$7.5

$53

$350

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Couple

2,200 XPF

7,300 XPF

47,000 XPF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$20

$66

$430

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Family

3,800 XPF

11,000 XPF

70,000 XPF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$34

$98

$640

Internet and cable cost

730 XPF

1,500 XPF

1,900 XPF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$6.6

$13

$18

Mobile phone bill and charges

580 XPF

970 XPF

2,900 XPF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$5.3

$8.9

$27

The average monthly expenditure for individuals on electricty, water, and gas in French Polynesia ranges between 820 XPF and 39,000 XPF with average being 5,800 XPF, meanwhile the expenditure of couples is slightly higher at 7,300 XPF with 2,200 XPF and 47,000 XPF being the upper and lower limits respectively. As expected, the energy and water consumption of families is the highest among the three groups with an average of 11,000 XPF. The cost of internet and WiFi is unchanged among the three groups and ranges from 730 XPF to 1,900 XPF with 1,500 XPF being the average internet bill. Finally, the average monthly mobile charges is around 970 XPF but can range between 580 XPF and 2,900 XPF depending on consumption. Mobile charges include both calling minutes as well as data packages.

Energy / Utility expense to income ratio

The average utility-to-income ratio in French Polynesia is around 6%. This means that people pay 6% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 3% to 10% depending on salary and location.

Debt, loans, and mortgages in French Polynesia

Percentage of people who are in debt

According to the survey, 31% of the people in French Polynesia have some kind of debt, loan, mortgage, or credit card payments while 69% reported that they don't have financial obligations to banks.

Debt-to-income ratio in French Polynesia

Interpretation

The debt-to-income ratio measures the percentage of income being paid as debt settlement across the population. It is calculated by dividing the monthly debt settlement payment of an individual by their monthly income. Based on collected data, approximately 30% of the people's monthly income in French Polynesia goes to debt settlement.

Debt levels

Monthly debt settlement payment as percentage of monthly income

According to our data, 3% of the debtors in French Polynesia pay 60%+ of their income as debt settlement while 14% of the people pay 50% to 60% of their income for the same, which is quite an alarming financial situation for those individuals. 12% of people in debt dedicate 40% to 50% of their income to loan and mortgage payments while 14% dedicated 30% to 40% of income for same. Things are looking brighter for 13% of individuals as they only pay 20% to 30% of their income for loan and credit card repayment.

Distribution by type of debt in French Polynesia

11% of debtors in French Polynesia confirm that real estate mortgages constitutes the main part of their outstanding debt while 27% say that credit card payments are the reason they are in debt. Auto loans were the main type of debt for 20% of people and personal loans rose at 39%. Lastly, student loans are the main source of debt for 3% of debtors in French Polynesia.

Good debt vs. Bad debt

Not all debt is bad. Good debt typically refers to borrowing money for investments that can increase in value or generate income over time like purchasing a home or acquiring student loans. On the other hand, bad debt involves borrowing for things that fail to generate lasting value like high-interest credit card debt used for non-essential expenses like luxury items or vacations.

Loan Affordability Index in French Polynesia

Besides measuring the loan-to-income ratio, we asked residents how many times in a year they defaulted or were unable to pay their due credit card or loan payments on time. Understanding how often people default on their due payments is one of the indicators of the cost of living and economic situation.

Frequency and percentage of people who failed to pay their monthly credit card or loan payments on time last year.

Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in French Polynesia

Rent Cost in French Polynesia

Monthly Rent Prices

Studio apartment monthly rent cost

12,000 XPF

18,000 XPF

49,000 XPF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$110

$170

$440

1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

18,000 XPF

29,000 XPF

73,000 XPF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$170

$270

$660

2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

24,000 XPF

37,000 XPF

97,000 XPF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$220

$330

$890

3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

29,000 XPF

49,000 XPF

130,000 XPF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$270

$440

$1,200

Furnished apartment monthly rent cost

58,000 XPF

150,000 XPF

290,000 XPF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$530

$1,300

$2,700

Townhouse monthly rent cost

49,000 XPF

73,000 XPF

210,000 XPF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$440

$660

$1,900

House monthly rent cost

58,000 XPF

150,000 XPF

290,000 XPF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$530

$1,300

$2,700

Villa monthly rent cost

73,000 XPF

180,000 XPF

290,000 XPF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$660

$1,700

$2,700

The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in French Polynesia ranges between 12,000 XPF and 49,000 XPF, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 18,000 XPF to 73,000 XPF. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 24,000 XPF and 97,000 XPF per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 29,000 XPF to 130,000 XPF. The average rent of a townhouse in French Polynesia is around 73,000 XPF while house rental costs can be as high as 150,000 XPF per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 73,000 XPF to 290,000 XPF per month.

Apartment and house prices in French Polynesia

Cost of buying a property

Studio apartment price

2.4M XPF

3.7M XPF

7.3M XPF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$22,000

$33,000

$66,000

1-bedroom apartment price

2.9M XPF

4.9M XPF

18M XPF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$27,000

$44,000

$170,000

2-bedroom apartment price

4.9M XPF

15M XPF

29M XPF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$44,000

$130,000

$270,000

3-bedroom apartment price

16M XPF

24M XPF

73M XPF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$150,000

$220,000

$660,000

Townhouse price

21M XPF

49M XPF

180M XPF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$190,000

$440,000

$1.7M

House price

24M XPF

150M XPF

210M XPF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$220,000

$1.3M

$1.9M

Villa price

29M XPF

160M XPF

240M XPF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$270,000

$1.5M

$2.2M

The average price of a studio apartment in French Polynesia can range from 2.4M XPF to 7.3M XPF depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 2.9M XPF to 18M XPF. A villa can cost you 160M XPF on average with prices ranging from 29M XPF to 240M XPF.

House / apartment prices to income ratio

Property prices in French Polynesia can be x105 to x203 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x105 multiples of the average monthly salary in French Polynesia.

Rent to income ratio

The average rent-to-income ratio in French Polynesia is around 31%. This means that people pay 31% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 21% to 41% depending on the salary, location, and type of property.

Housing affordability index

The housing affordability index measures how affordable accommodation is in a particular place. This can measured in multiple ways, the most common being housing expenditure to total expenditure ratio and the rent to income ratio. The housing expenditure ratio is a figure reported by individuals on the percentage they allocate for housing. Rent to income ratio is calculated by dividing the average monthly rent by the average income. Because these values are both percentages, we can find their average and get the best of the two worlds.

Property Taxes

Real estate owners pay property taxes to local tax authorities, which are determined by the assessed value of their property. Typically, these taxes are paid once a year. Property tax funds contribute to community development, financing infrastructure improvements, public services, and local education initiatives.

Home Maintenance Costs

Home maintenance costs encompass various expenses associated with the upkeep and repair of a residence. These expenditures include regular tasks such as lawn care, pest control, and HVAC system servicing, as well as occasional repairs and renovations like fixing leaks, painting, or replacing appliances.

Urban vs. rural living costs

Urban living typically entails higher housing and transportation costs due to demand and limited space, while rural areas generally offer lower housing expenses but may have higher prices for goods and services. The differnce in rental rates between urban areas and rural areas can be as high as 300% in some cases.

A typical and healthy budgeting structure

The 50/30/20 rule

Spending among different people can vary significantly based on factors such as their income, lifestyle, location, and personal preferences. A commonly used guideline for budgeting is the 50/30/20 rule, which suggests allocating your income into three main categories in the following percentages.

• 50% for needs and financial obligations

  This category includes essential expenses like housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, and healthcare.

• 30% for wants and discretionary spending

  This category covers discretionary spending on non-essential items, such as dining out, entertainment, travel, and other lifestyle choices.

• 20% for savings and emergency fund

  This is the percentage that must be allocated to savings, emergency funds, and retirement accounts.

About financial planning, money management, and household budgeting

Retirement, pension plans, and life after work in French Polynesia

What does the retirement lifestyle look like in French Polynesia and how much retirement savings are required?

Retirement age

The retirement age for most employees in is 65 years. Specific retirement ages can vary based on factors like occupation, gender, years of contribution, and location. It is not entirely unlikely for people to retire either before or after this age.

Retirement planning and savings

There are many retirement saving options, some are personally initiated and others are government-sponsered. Regardless of the source of savings, the minimum amount of money that needs to be put aside to ensure a peaceful and comfortable retirement at each age can be found in the table below. This data is largely approximated and can vary drastically based on individual needs and situations. Treat these figures as a general guideline.

Retirement Income Distribution

We asked residents about their retirement income sources and below are the results.

Retirement Monthly Expenses in French Polynesia

Low-cost alternatives in French Polynesia

People are always looking for ways to cut down expenses and reduce expenditures. The hallmark of any affordable place is the availability of discount stores, bargain deals, smart or secondhand shopping, refurbished items, and couponing. We asked residents how easily cost-cutting is and the answers were distributed as follows:

Plenty of low-cost options56%

Few low-cost options44%

Based on the survey, 56% of the people living in French Polynesia have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 44% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.

Financial Literacy in

Financial literacy is the knowledge of concepts and principles related to personal finance that allow individuals to make informed decisions regarding their money such as budgeting, saving, investing, borrowing, managing debt, financial risk management, and planning.

Financial Leteracy57%

We asked residents of whether they acquired any adequate personal financial training in their lives. Approximately 43% of the people who participated in the survey said that they are not well informed about the topics of budgeting, saving, etc., and just manage things based on their own experience, while 57% said that they know about the general principles of personal finance from sources other than their own experience.

Difficulty in Budgeting and Financial Planning

We wanted to understand whether residents of have problems or difficulties in managing their expenditures and savings so we asked people one simple question: do you struggle with your personal finances? 44% of the participants reported that they indeed struggle in creating budgets and in organizing their finances while 56% said that they have everything under control.

Struggles with finance44%

Easily manages finances56%

How much money can you save in French Polynesia every month?

We asked thousands of people what percentage of their income can they save in a month. Below are the answers.

What percentage of people in French Polynesia manage to save money from their income every month?

Almost 58% of the surveyed people in French Polynesia said that they can save some money at the end of each month while 42% said that aren't saving anything.

Percentage of people saving money by population group in French Polynesia

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

For most people, 10% to 30% of their monthly income is what they can allocate to their savings, with 17% being the average. The amount of money that people can save is approximately 50,000 XPF on average with savings ranging from 3,800 XPF to 500,000 XPF.

66% of surveyed singles reported some of their income going to savings while 61% of couples said the same. 56% of families confirmed their ability to save money.

How much money do people actually save in French Polynesia?

Singles

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for singles

Interpretation and Analysis

Singles who can afford to save reported that they allocate from 13% to 32% of their monthly income to savings, with 21% being the average for most singles. The average amount of money that singles are able to save is 34,000 XPF with 3,800 XPF and 230,000 XPF being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Couples

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for couples

Interpretation and Analysis

Couples who confirmed their ability to save reported saving equivalent to 11% to 31% of their monthly income, with 19% being the average for most couples. The average amount of money that couples can save is 57,000 XPF with 19,000 XPF and 310,000 XPF being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Families

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for families

Interpretation and Analysis

Families in French Polynesia can save anywhere between 9% to 28% of their monthly income, with 16% being the average for most families. The average amount of money that families can put aside is 76,000 XPF with 27,000 XPF and 500,000 XPF being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Affordable living in French Polynesia

Income and cost of living compatibility

We asked residents one simple question and recorded their answers.

Is it affordable or economical to live in French Polynesia?

Around 62% of surveyed residents think that living in French Polynesia is affordable with proper budgeting while 38% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.

Emergency Funds

An emergency fund is a financial safety net comprised of easily accessible savings set aside to cover unexpected expenses or financial emergencies, typically amounting to three to six months' worth of living expenses. We asked residents whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.

Yes58%

No42%

Based on the survey, 42% of the people living in French Polynesia said that they don't have an emergency fund while 58% said that they do.

Typical saving choices for people in French Polynesia

Where do people choose to put their savings?

Saving Challenges in French Polynesia

Reasons that make it difficult for people to save money

We wanted to understand what is stopping people from maximizing their savings in French Polynesia. Listed below are the answers given by the survey participants.

Around 6% of the people said that their salary is too low to accommodate a portion for savings while 9% said that the high cost of living leaves little room for savings. 16% of the residents said that they are burdened with debt and find it challenging to save money. 11% reported that they just don't have the knowledge or discipline to create and stick to a budget, leading to overspending and an inability to save. 10% blamed impulsive spending as the reason for saving inability. Around 6% said that unexpected expenses like medical bills or car repairs are derailing their savings goals. 6% bluntly said that they don't see the purpose of it and prefer to live each day to the fullest. 18% reported that they understand the value of saving but are putting off saving for the future, thinking they have plenty of time to start later. 12% blamed inflation, saying that every time they save some money they end up using it immediately. A surprising 3% said that social pressure and keeping up with peers or social expectations makes them overspend. Lastly, 3% blamed market instability and price fluctuations.

Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in French Polynesia

Prices and cost of goods and services in French Polynesia

Dining out, food, and beverages costs. Price variations for common food items.

Fast food combo meal price

150 XPF

290 XPF

490 XPF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.3

$2.7

$4.4

The average price of a regular combo meal at a fast food outlet or chain like McDonald's, Pizzahut, or KFC in French Polynesia is approximatly 290 XPF with meal cost ranging from 150 XPF to 490 XPF. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.

Restaurant meal for one price

490 XPF

730 XPF

1,500 XPF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$4.4

$6.6

$13

If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 490 XPF and 1,500 XPF with 730 XPF being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in French Polynesia.

Fine dining meal for one price

970 XPF

1,500 XPF

5,800 XPF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$8.9

$13

$53

The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 970 XPF to 5,800 XPF with the average cost being 1,500 XPF for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in French Polynesia.

Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..

120 XPF

190 XPF

290 XPF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.1

$1.8

$2.7

The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in French Polynesia is around 190 XPF. Price ranges between 120 XPF and 290 XPF depending on the type of beverage, the size, and optional add-ons.

Grocery and market costs

Large bottle of milk price

97 XPF

120 XPF

150 XPF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.89

$1.1

$1.3

The average price of a large bottle of milk in French Polynesia is 120 XPF. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 150 XPF and the minimum being 97 XPF depending on the brand of milk and other properties.

12 eggs price

73 XPF

97 XPF

150 XPF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.66

$0.89

$1.3

A dozen eggs costs around 97 XPF on average with 73 XPF and 150 XPF being the lower and upper limits respectively.

Fresh whole chicken price

170 XPF

210 XPF

300 XPF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.5

$2

$2.8

The price range of a fresh whole chicken in French Polynesia is between 170 XPF and 300 XPF depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 210 XPF.

Pack of beef price

190 XPF

290 XPF

580 XPF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.8

$2.7

$5.3

The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 290 XPF. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.

Medium bag of rice price

79 XPF

110 XPF

150 XPF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.71

$0.98

$1.4

A bag of rice in French Polynesia costs around 110 XPF on average with prices rangeing between 79 XPF and 150 XPF depending on the brand and quality.

Bag of tomatos price

29 XPF

39 XPF

73 XPF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.27

$0.35

$0.66

A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 29 XPF to 73 XPF. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Bag of apples price

52 XPF

68 XPF

110 XPF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.47

$0.62

$1

A bag of apples costs 68 XPF on average. A bag of apples denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Grocery and food expenditure to income ratio

The average grocery-to-income ratio in French Polynesia is around 26%. This means that people spend 26% of their income on grocery and basic household items. The expenditure can range from 18% to 32% depending on salary and location.

Expenditure on food and grocery for every population group

A single person living alone spends approximately 16,000 XPF per month on grocery and food with expenditure fluctuating between 2,200 XPF and 100,000 XPF depending on location and the type of person. The average cost of food and groceries for a couple is around 23,000 XPF per month. That number can be get as low as 7,600 XPF or a high as 120,000 XPF. Families' spending on grocery ranges from 14,000 XPF to 250,000 XPF with the location, income, and size of the family being the most determinite factors.

Expenditure to Income Ratio in French Polynesia

One of the most definite ways to determine how affordable a place is measuring the ratio of expenses to salary. A high expense-to-income to ratio indicates a high cost-of-living index while a low expenditure-to-salary ratio means the place is affordable to live in.

Expense to income distribution levels

Interpretation and Analysis

The average spending-to-salary ratio in French Polynesia is 85% This means that on average, people spend around 85% of their income for living. According to the distribution table, 17% of the population spend approximately 60% to 70% of their income every month.

Individual
77%
Spending-Income-Ratio

---

69%

85%

Couple
81%
Spending-Income-Ratio

---

73%

89%

Family
89%
Spending-Income-Ratio

---

81%

99%

FamilyAverage monthly expenses and break out of spending for families living in French Polynesia

StudentCost of living and expenses break down for students living in French Polynesia