FREN
🌺 Guide & Tool

How much does it cost to
relocate permanently
to French Polynesia?

One-time setup budget + realistic monthly cost of living. Calculated by someone who actually lives here — not a travel agency.

🏠 Housing 📦 Moving 📋 Admin steps 🛒 Cost of living 💰 Monthly budget
⚠️ Before you start: French Polynesia is a French overseas territory, not a foreign country. French citizens do not need a visa — but settling long-term still requires certain steps (residence permit for non-EU nationals, CPS social security registration, etc.). Prices are significantly higher than in metropolitan France: +30 to +60% on groceries, fuel, and imported goods.
1
Your profile
2
Housing
Property type
Studio
1-bed apartment
2-bed apartment
3-bed house+
Status
Renting
Owner (purchase)
Employer-provided housing

Rents in Papeete and surroundings are among the highest in the Pacific — often comparable to or exceeding Paris.

3
Moving & setup
Volume of belongings to ship
🧳 Suitcases only
📦 Partial container (5–10 m³)
🚛 Full container (20 m³+)
🛋️ Buy everything locally
Partial container to Papeete from France: ~€3,000–5,000. Transit time: 35–45 days.
Initial furnishings budget
Essentials (basic appliances)
Full home + vehicle
Minimal (furnished rental)
4
Administrative steps
🏥
CPS registration (Caisse de Prévoyance Sociale) Mandatory for all residents. Separate from French mainland social security. Covers health, maternity, workplace accidents.
🚗
Driver's licence & vehicle registration French licence is valid. Vehicles must be re-registered in Polynesia (timeline: 3–6 months). A car is near-essential outside central Papeete.
🏦
Local bank account (Banque de Tahiti / Socredo / BNP) Opening a local account is strongly recommended. Transfers from Europe incur fees. The euro is not the local currency (XPF ≈ €0.0084).
📋
Residence declaration (tax authority) If your primary residence is in Polynesia, you exit the French mainland tax system. Local tax rules differ — notably, there is no income tax in French Polynesia.
Public education in Polynesia is managed locally, and is generally of good quality.
Fuel ~160 XPF/L. Insurance + maintenance: ~30,000 XPF/month.
5
Monthly lifestyle
Food
🥭 Local & markets (budget)
🛒 Mixed (supermarket + markets)
🧀 Imported products (expensive)
Leisure & going out
🏄 Nature / free activities
🍹 Regular outings
🥂 Active social life
Return trips to mainland per year
None
Once a year
Twice a year
ℹ️ Estimates based on 2026 data. Prices may vary depending on the local property market, salary negotiations and cost-of-living changes. These figures are indicative only — consult a local accountant for your specific tax situation.

One-time setup budget

~0€
To have ready before you leave
Travel & moving
✈️ Flights (return) —
📦 Moving / freight —
🛋️ Home furnishings —
Housing
🔑 Security deposit (2 months) —
📋 Agency fees —
Admin & misc
🚗 Vehicle(s) —
📋 Admin fees (misc) ~€500
🔒 Emergency buffer (3 months) —
TOTAL SETUP —

⚠️ Budget generously

In Polynesia, everything costs more and timelines are longer. Always add at least 20% buffer to your setup budget.

📋 service-public.pf — Official admin procedures 🏥 CPS — Social Security (Caisse de Prévoyance Sociale)