Bottom Line: Is French Polynesia Expensive to Visit in 2024?
Traveling to French Polynesia for the first time and wondering: Is French Polynesia expensive to visit? Can You Travel to French Polynesia on a Budget? As your friendly budget travel expert who has first-hand experience visiting French Polynesia as a broke student, I’ve got answers! Within this post, I’ll be answering the above questions and giving you an idea of what to expect based on my experience visiting the islands!
Is French Polynesia Expensive (2024)
My honest opinion is yes and no. French Polynesia has a pretty hefty reputation for being super expensive to visit because it’s one of the more popular places for honeymoons, destination weddings, and luxurious retreats. To add to this perception, most travel brochures and social media posts only flaunt the overwater bungalows and all-inclusive 5-star resorts that French Polynesia is famous for. So, it’s easy to think, “There’s no way I can afford that. It must be ridiculously expensive to visit!”
The truth is that French Polynesia can absolutely be expensive to visit. But, it’s probably not half as bad as you think. After my trip, my friends and I thought French Polynesia was pretty affordable for everything we got to do and see!
Compared to places in Western Europe, such as Paris, Geneva, and Monaco, French Polynesia has a lower cost of living. Similarly, if you’re coming from the Scandinavian region of Europe, like Stockholm, Oslo, or Copenhagen, then French Polynesia is likely not going to seem that expensive — at least not once you’re on the island.
However, let’s say you’re coming from somewhere in Southeast Asia or Eastern Europe, such as Zagreb, Krakow, or Budapest. These places are known for being some of the cheapest places to visit. So in contrast, French Polynesia prices will probably seem astronomical.
Another factor to consider is what island or islands you’re visiting. Something you may not know is that French Polynesia is a country that’s made up of 118 islands. Naturally, prices vary across the different islands. Below, I’ll talk about what to generally expect for each of the three most commonly visited islands.
Is Tahiti Expensive?
Tahiti is the largest island in French Polynesia and the one that my friends and I spent the most time on. For us, we all found that Tahiti wasn’t nearly as expensive as we thought it would be and that it wasn’t too difficult to keep costs down. The biggest expense was just getting to the island itself, in this case, flying directly from Los Angeles International Airport to Fa’a’ฤ International Airport.
โ๏ธ PRO TIP: Use StudentUniverse and Skyscanner to play around with the dates and find the best flights. There are cheaper and more expensive times to visit the string of islands.
P.S. You don’t need to be a student to use StudentUniverse!
And while this was a major expense in our budget, we were at an advantage. Those of you who may be traveling from Europe or Asia will likely need to hop on some connecting flights. That said, once you’re on the island of Tahiti, it’s not too expensive. We spent about $107 USD per day, excluding the price of the flights. These costs include everything from excursions around Tahiti, souvenirs, food expenses, housing, transportation, and even very expensive, mandatory PCR COVID tests.
So, yes — Tahiti can be expensive to visit. Those seeking to experience luxury at its finest can easily spend a couple of thousand dollars every day on overwater bungalows, private boat and snorkeling tours, and incredible dining experiences.
But, if you want to travel here on a budget, you most certainly can do that as well. It’s not like Zurich, Switzerland where everything is insanely expensive, and it’s mission impossible to find a normal meal that’s less than $25 USD. Seriously, I loved Zurich and crossing paragliding off my bucket list, but I internally cried every time my friends and I tried to find a dinner place.
Is Moorea Expensive?
Moorea is an island that’s quite accessible from Tahiti, and in my opinion, Moorea is slightly more expensive than Tahiti. The reason I say this is because you can’t fly directly into Moorea. Thus, you’ll have to pay for additional transportation to reach that island. It’s not much and pretty easy to reach Moorea from Tahiti, but it’s still another expense that you’ll want to take into consideration.
Another thing to mention is that while there are tons of places to stay on Tahiti, housing options are a little more limited on Moorea. This is because Moorea is about an 8th of the size of Tahiti, so there’s less space for housing. As a result, you can expect to pay a little more than you might on Tahiti.
Even the budget options available like lodges and their highly-rated hostel are a bit pricey and can be a real heartbreaker if you’re working with a super tight budget. All this said, I still believe Tahiti and Moorea are relatively affordable compared to other islands in French Polynesia…
Is Bora Bora Expensive?
Speaking of other islands in French Polynesia…Bora Bora is another crowd-favorite island to visit! And compared to Moorea and Tahiti, Bora Bora is expensive to visit. First of all, Bora Bora is very small (as in only 11.8ย miยฒ), so most everything is imported. And secondly, the island purposely caters to guests looking for a getaway filled with both complete relaxation and opulence.
It’s overwater bungalows and luxury resorts galore over there, so you’ll have to dish out quite a few pretty pennies to stay the night on the idyllic island. Oh, and let’s not forget about getting to the island in the first place. To reach Bora Bora, you’ll want to fly there. Unlike Moorea’s quick 45-minute ferry, the ferry to Bora Bora takes 8 hours, so it’s not ideal. Therefore, you’ll most likely want to jump into the little seaplane to get there.
The cost of this 1-hour flight? About $200 one-way or $370 round trip. Add this expense to your $800 – $2000 flight to reach Tahiti and yikes…๐ฅต๐ฐ But, I don’t want to pooh-pooh all over Bora Bora just because I don’t have any semblance of financial stability lol. In all honesty, the island does offer some pretty awesome and adventurous excursions. Just prepare your bank account to spend a bit more than you would on Tahiti or Moorea!
๐ For example, I recommend checking out these highly-rated ATV tours, Jet ski tours, and incredible snorkeling tours through the crystal clear waters of Bora Bora Lagoon
How Much Is Accommodation in French Polynesia?
Prices for accommodation in French Polynesia vary widely across the islands. But, the general trend is that the bigger the island, the more affordable options there. Again, this is just because there are more competitive prices when there’s a greater supply of housing due to there being more space available.
In terms of specific prices for accommodation in French Polynesia, here are price ranges you can expect to see for the three main islands. Tahiti offers housing that’s as low as $50 per night to ~$600 USD per night, depending on the type of accommodation. There are plenty of mid-range options available too, so you’ll most likely be able to easily find something that fits within your budget.
Moorea has housing accommodations that range from about $70 – $800 USD per night. But, I would say the average price is about $200 USD.
Meanwhile, housing accommodations in Bora Bora start around $100 for rental homes and can be upwards of $1500 for all-inclusive luxury resorts. And to be honest, there’s kind of a weird price gap in your options for accommodation in Bora Bora. It’s like you’re either going to spend $100 – $300 USD or you’re going to spend $1000+ USD. Go big or go home am I right!? ๐
And, something to note is that if you’re keen on staying in an overwater bungalow, there are significantly more options on Moorea and Bora Bora compared to Tahiti. So, if you can’t find one available on Tahiti, check out Moorea or Bora Bora.
Recommendations for Accommodation in French Polynesia
In case you’re curious about what kind of housing you have to look forward to or ready to book your housing accommodations… Here are some highly rated places to stay that are worth checking out in Tahiti, Moorea, and Bora Bora.
Where to Stay in Tahiti
- Tamanu Lodge — includes airport shuttle & near lots of attractions | โญ๏ธ 9.2 / 10
- Manaeva Lodge — family-run lodge with lovely staff and amenities | โญ๏ธ 9.5 / 10
- Vanira Lodge — stay in a beautiful bungalow near Teahupo’o| โญ๏ธ 9.2 / 10
- InterContinental Resort Tahiti
- only resort w/ overwater bungalows | โญ๏ธ 8.4 / 10
Accommodation in Moorea
- Linareva Moorea Beach Resort — 3-star hotel w/ private beach | โญ๏ธ 9.2 / 10
- Moorea Island Beach Hotel — private beach & great breakfast | โญ๏ธ 9 / 10
- Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort & Spa — private beach, spa, & bar | โญ๏ธ 8.8 / 10
- Sofitel Kia Ora Moorea Beach Resort
- Incredible overwater bungalows near ferry | โญ๏ธ 9 / 10
Places to Stay in Bora Bora
- Rohutu Fare — beautiful immersive stay & free airport shuttle | โญ๏ธ 10 / 10
- Bora Bora Holiday’s Lodge & Villa — beach shuttle + outdoor pools | โญ๏ธ 9.6 / 10
- InterContinental Bora Bora — overwater bungalow + spa | โญ๏ธ 9.2 / 10
- Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora
- luxurious overwater bungalows | โญ๏ธ 9.6 / 10
Or, feel free to head to your favorite booking platform and check out what’s available there. Just know that Booking.com offers the biggest selection since a lot of smaller, boutique hotels in French Polynesia work with them and not Hotels.com or Expedia.com.
Are French Polynesia Tourist Attractions Expensive?
Unfortunately, the vast majority of French Polynesia tourist attractions are expensive. It’s perhaps the one thing that is consistent across the islands lol. Some of the most common things to do across the islands are go snorkeling, hiking, riding 4x4s, boat tours, and participating in an assortment of water activities.
On average, you can expect to pay about $100 – $250 USD per experience. But, they can easily cost $500+ USD if you opt for something more immersive or a private tour. This isn’t to say that there aren’t some cheaper or even free options — because there are. It’s just that you’ll have to do a bit more research and be more limited, especially if you don’t have a rental car or rental e-bike.
Furthermore, it’s worth mentioning that some of the islands are better geared toward certain activities. For example, if you’re keen on surfing and taking advantage of the consistent swell that the islands receive, Tahiti is much better. Similarly, if you want to embark on hikes to waterfalls tucked within the island’s verdant interior, such as Fautaua Waterfall, I think Tahiti is the best island for this.
Also, compared to Moorea and Bora Bora, Tahiti has more affordable activities to do. For instance, my friends and I enjoyed visiting the Three Waterfalls of Faarumai and Pointe Vรฉnus and Lighthouse.
But, for the experience of a lifetime, head to Moorea. There, you can swim alongside whales in their natural habitat during the whale season! You can check out some of the other amazing excursions available on Moorea here. As for Bora Bora, the top things to do here are explore the island’s lush interior, soak up the sun on Matira Beach, and observe the underwater world!
How Expensive Is Food in French Polynesia?
The food situation in French Polynesia is pretty consistent across the islands. But again, it can vary depending on where you’re sourcing your food from — I know supppeerrr helpful. ๐ So, to give you a better idea, here are some exact numbers that my friends and I spent. On Tahiti, we found a local boulangerie (bread shop) and spent about $10 USD there grabbing sandwiches, baguettes, and other pastries that lasted until mid-day.
We also frequented the Papeete Market a couple of times to grab lots of fresh fruit and some local meals for $10 USD. Seriously, I cannot recommend the mangos and starfruit enough — so freaking good!
At a restaurant on Tahiti, we each spent about $30 USD on a nice dinner. Likewise, at the Moorea Tropical Garden, which is a cute little outdoor restaurant at the top of a mountain, we spent about $25 USD on lunch. So, in general, the cost of food in French Polynesia will cost you about $25 – $30 USD for a meal at a regular restaurant. And, as you can tell, if you’re on a tighter budget, you can always opt to shop at local markets, or small food stands to pick up cheaper meals or ingredients for home cooking.
Cost of Getting Around French Polynesia
As mentioned earlier, getting around French Polynesia and traveling between the islands can get expensive pretty quickly. Unless you’re taking a boat between Moorea and Tahiti, you’ll likely want to take a small seaplane to reach Bora Bora, Raiatea, Huahine, or any of the other islands.
With regards to getting around Tahiti or traveling around Moorea, prices will vary. I know this answer may seem repetitive, but it’s the truth. ๐คท๐ฝโโ๏ธ Currently Uber and Lyft do not exist within French Polynesia. As such, you’ll have three main options for traveling around Tahiti: take a taxi, hire a private ride, or get a rental car.
Taxis are notorious for being VERY expensive around French Polynesia, so I would avoid them if you can. Hiring a private ride can cost $25 – $100 USD depending on group size and is a good option if you plan on mostly staying at your hotel or booking activities that include transport.
And then the option that my group personally went with is renting a car. We had a longer stay on Tahiti and knew we wanted to surf all over the island, so this made the most sense for us. To give you a ballpark range of how much this might cost, it cost me and my friends $600 USD + $20 for gas for an 8-day rental.
Other Forms of Transport
If you’re staying on Moorea, another option is to opt to rent an e-bike or rent an electric scooter. This is a great option if you don’t want to deal with renting a car but still want the freedom to explore the island at your leisure. This option costs about $53 – $67 per day, per person.
Meanwhile, on Bora Bora, you can rent an electric vehicle that can fit 2 people for about $90 per day. With the island being so small, you can easily drive around most, if not all, of it in a single day. Just know that the rental cars are on the smaller side, so if you’re tall, you’ll want to factor that in.
Does French Polynesia Have Public Transportation?
Yes — there is technically public transportation available around French Polynesia. They have a bus system, but it’s not very reliable as lots of random detours are made to pick up locals. So, I wouldn’t recommend it from a tourist perspective.
How Much Does It Cost to Go to French Polynesia?
Unfortunately, there’s no right answer for how much it costs to go to French Polynesia. It should come as no surprise that this 100% depends on where you’re coming from and the type of island vacation you have in mind! I know people who spend less than $2000 on trips to French Polynesia and people who have doled out more than $10,000 USD. So, it honestly just depends on what you want to do and the type of vacation you’re after! The sky is the limit on this one.
Can You Travel to French Polynesia on a Budget?
Yes! You can travel to French Polynesia on a budget. My friends and I traveled to French Polynesia right after graduating from university and were by no means ballin’ out! ๐ We were your stereotypical broke college students, just trying to have a good time before adulting (well some of us did…and some of us did not ๐๐ฝโโ๏ธ)
Anyway, since I know you probably hate me for the last answer, here’s some empirical data you can reference. For an 8-day trip to French Polynesia, my total cost was roughly $1631 USD, which is pretty good if you ask me! Thus, I’d argue it’s more than possible to do it. And if you’re wondering how my friends and I did it, I have a post where I delve into an exact breakdown of my expenses and ways to save on your trip to French Polynesia here!
Is French Polynesia Expensive: FAQ
You likely have a pretty decent idea of whether or not visiting French Polynesia is expensive for you or not. But, just to cover all the bases, here are my answers to some additional commonly asked questions!
Although Hawaii was also rough on my bank account, I would say that French Polynesia is more expensive than Hawaii. The reason is mostly because of the cost of the flights to French Polynesia and the lack of reliable public transportation around the islands.
Unless you have some serious connections, Bora Bora is not cheaper than Tahiti. Everything, from transportation and housing to the excursions available, is generally more expensive in Bora Bora than in Tahiti.
The currency in French Polynesia is French Pacific Franc, which is normally abbreviated to XPF or CFP. 1 USD = ~110 XPF & โฌ1 = ~120 XPF.
I recommend bringing $200 USD worth of foreign currency per week of vacation since a lot of smaller vendors only accept cash… Plus, if you want to tip, you’ll probably pay in cash. For more details on essential items to bring with you to the island paradise, check out this post! ๐งณ
I believe French Polynesia is a pretty safe place to visit. It was one of the most welcoming and peaceful places I’ve ever been. The crime rate is low with mostly petty crimes being reported. Overall, you’re more likely to encounter friendly locals than anything else. That being said, it’s always wise to stay vigilant and be aware of your surroundings, as you would in any new place.
Wrap-Up: Is French Polynesia Expensive to Visit (2024)
Yes, compared to other places in Europe, French Polynesia can be a very expensive destination to visit. But, with the right planning, you can enjoy everything this beautiful island destination has to offer without breaking the bank. Ok, maybe not the gorgeous overwater bungalows, but just about everything else. ๐ Either way, I hope this post has been helpful and given you a better idea of what to expect and the possibilities available when planning your dream vacation to French Polynesia!
๐ธ Appreciation Note: You’ll notice that a few of the pictures in this post were taken by my friend good friend Sol! You can see more of his amazing photography here!
Free Packing List for French Polynesia
