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The total monthly occupancy cost for a long-term rental in Tahiti is made up of several components that international students must budget for carefully.
TL;DR: International students in Tahiti should target the Punaauia and Papeete areas for long-term rentals, close to the UPF campus. Official student residences (Cité Universitaire, CHE Outumaoro, CHE Paraita) offer the lowest rents — from 22,500 XPF/month — but places are limited and applications close in late May. Private furnished studios near campus range from 50,000 to 100,000 XPF/month. Budget for a security deposit of up to 1.5 months' rent, agency fees, and mandatory home insurance at move-in. Prepare your rental application file early — the market is competitive and good properties go fast.
Finding long-term student accommodation in Tahiti requires advance planning and a solid understanding of the local rental market. The island's higher education hub is centred on the Université de la Polynésie Française (UPF) in Punaauia, and the surrounding communes — Punaauia, Papeete, and Faa'a — concentrate the majority of student-friendly rental listings. Official student residences managed by UPF and the Office Polynésien de l'Habitat (OPH) offer the most affordable rates, but places are limited and allocated through a competitive annual process. International students who do not secure a place in official housing must navigate the private rental market, where furnished studios start from around 50,000 XPF/month near campus. Preparing a complete rental application file (dossier locatif) well in advance — including proof of identity, proof of enrolment, and financial guarantees — is essential in a market where demand regularly outpaces supply.
Tahiti, the main island of French Polynesia, is home to the Université de la Polynésie Française (UPF), located on the campus d'Outumaoro in Punaauia, which enrolled over 2,869 students in 2023–2024. The long-term rental market is concentrated along the west coast, with the most student-friendly areas in Punaauia, Papeete, and Faa'a. Official student housing — including the Cité Universitaire (72 rooms on campus), CHE Outumaoro (197 units), and CHE Paraita (63 studios) — is managed by UPF and the Office Polynésien de l'Habitat (OPH), with applications open from late January to late May each year. Private furnished studios near the UPF campus range from approximately 50,000 XPF/month to 100,000 XPF/month, while colocation remains a popular and more affordable alternative. Leases are typically signed for one year, with a security deposit of up to one and a half months' rent and mandatory home insurance required from the date of signing.
Finding long-term student accommodation in Tahiti requires advance planning and a solid understanding of the local rental market. The island's higher education hub is centred on the Université de la Polynésie Française (UPF) in Punaauia, and the surrounding communes — Punaauia, Papeete, and Faa'a — concentrate the majority of student-friendly rental listings. Official student residences managed by UPF and the Office Polynésien de l'Habitat (OPH) offer the most affordable rates, but places are limited and allocated through a competitive annual process. International students who do not secure a place in official housing must navigate the private rental market, where furnished studios start from around 50,000 XPF/month near campus. Preparing a complete rental application file (dossier locatif) well in advance — including proof of identity, proof of enrolment, and financial guarantees — is essential in a market where demand regularly outpaces supply.
Renting long-term in Tahiti requires careful financial planning. The rental market is tight, particularly in the Papeete–Punaauia corridor where most higher education institutions are located, and quality properties are let quickly — sometimes within days of listing (Atike Immobilier, 2026). International students who do not qualify for official student housing (Cité Universitaire, CHE Outumaoro, CHE Paraita) should expect to pay between 50,000 XPF/month and 100,000 XPF/month for a furnished studio in the private market near the UPF campus (UPF housing page; Atike Immobilier, 2026). Colocation is a widely used alternative that reduces individual costs. Always verify whether utilities and building charges are included in the advertised rent, as this significantly affects the true monthly cost.
One of the most common mistakes made by international students searching for long-term rentals in Tahiti is underestimating the total move-in cost. Many students focus only on the monthly rent and overlook the upfront expenses: a security deposit of up to one and a half months' rent, the first month's rent, agency fees (approximately one month's rent plus 13% TVA), and mandatory home insurance — all due at or before lease signing (Move in Tahiti). A second frequent error is not verifying which charges are included in the rent: water, electricity, and building maintenance fees may or may not be covered, and electricity costs can be high due to air conditioning and electric water heaters. Finally, many students apply too late for official student housing: applications for the Cité Universitaire, CHE Outumaoro, and CHE Paraita open each year from late January to late May, and places are limited and allocated by priority (UPF; OPH).
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