Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Port Vila Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Port Vila

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,523 in Calgary versus $2,983 in Port Vila.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,652 in Calgary versus $4,058 in Port Vila.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,780 in Calgary versus $5,134 in Port Vila.

Living in Calgary costs roughly 15% less than in Port Vila, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 88% above, Port Vila 123% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.59 CA$25.74

$11.14 VUV 1,282

66.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.0 CA$97.0

$64.5 VUV 7,426

8.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.96 CA$15.17

$9.83 VUV 1,131

11.50%

Cappuccino

$3.73 CA$5.17

$5.25 VUV 604

-28.95%

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

$1.99 CA$2.75

$2.15 VUV 247

-7.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 CA$2.39

$1.74 VUV 200

-1.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.01 CA$6.94

$4.42 VUV 508

13.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.50 CA$9.01

$4.23 VUV 486

53.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.22 CA$3.08

$2.23 VUV 257

-0.45%

White Bread (500g)

$2.67 CA$3.69

$2.50 VUV 288

6.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.26 CA$4.52

$3.93 VUV 452

-17.05%

Eggs

$3.35 CA$4.64

$5.18 VUV 596

-35.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 CA$20.07

$20.04 VUV 2,306

-27.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.95 CA$17.93

$18.57 VUV 2,137

-30.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.15 CA$22.36

$18.19 VUV 2,094

-11.21%

Apples (1kg)

$4.32 CA$5.98

$4.66 VUV 536

-7.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.35 CA$1.88

$2.05 VUV 236

-34.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.83 CA$5.30

$6.03 VUV 694

-36.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.18 CA$5.79

$2.47 VUV 284

69.23%

Potato (1kg)

$2.65 CA$3.67

$4.40 VUV 506

-39.77%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 CA$3.79

$2.18 VUV 251

25.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.76 CA$3.82

$2.57 VUV 296

7.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 CA$2.70

$1.06 VUV 122

83.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.98 CA$20.74

$9.46 VUV 1,089

58.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.67 CA$20.31

$12.44 VUV 1,432

17.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 CA$3.94

$2.95 VUV 340

-3.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.02 CA$5.56

$2.94 VUV 338

36.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.80 CA$3.88

$1.72 VUV 198

62.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$86.2 CA$119

$68.0 VUV 7,826

26.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 CA$4.99

$2.14 VUV 246

68.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.32 CA$1.82

$0.82 VUV 94.9

60.98%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.01 CA$40.17

$5.10 VUV 587

468.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 CA$1.55

$1.89 VUV 217

-40.74%

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

$24.9K CA$34.4K

$23.1K VUV 2.7M

7.60%

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

$22.0K CA$30.4K

$38.6K VUV 4.4M

-43.00%

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

$217 CA$301

$531 VUV 61.1K

-59.09%

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

$41.55 CA$57.5

$25.37 VUV 2,921

63.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.1 CA$80.4

$227 VUV 26.2K

-74.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.7 CA$75.8

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$52.8 CA$73.1

$16.92 VUV 1,948

212.17%

Cinema Ticket

$12.77 CA$17.68

$12.71 VUV 1,463

0.47%

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

$874 CA$1,210

$624 VUV 71.8K

39.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K CA$22.1K

$6,796 VUV 782.2K

134.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.8 CA$81.5

$45.92 VUV 5,286

28.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.47 CA$64.4

$68.2 VUV 7,851

-31.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.2 CA$121

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 CA$151

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,414 CA$1,957

$1,882 VUV 216.6K

-24.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,172 CA$1,623

$1,392 VUV 160.2K

-15.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,319 CA$3,211

$3,353 VUV 385.9K

-30.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,886 CA$2,612

$2,083 VUV 239.8K

-9.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,892 CA$5,389

$6,040 VUV 695.3K

-35.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,503 CA$4,851

$2,291 VUV 263.7K

52.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,149 CA$4,360

$696 VUV 80.2K

352.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.71

-18.43%

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

Last update for Calgary: June 1, 2026

Last update for Port Vila: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,414 in Calgary and $1,882 in Port Vila. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 352% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $70.0 in Calgary vs $65.0 in Port Vila. Groceries flip the comparison at $397 vs $449, with Calgary cheaper for home cooking.

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

Calgary vs Port Vila: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Calgary is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 18% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Calgary pays 352% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,414 in Calgary versus $1,882 in Port Vila. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Calgary – a meal for two runs $70.0 versus $65.0 in Port Vila. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,523 per month in Calgary versus $2,983 in Port Vila – a 18% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Calgary is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Calgary and Port Vila are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Calgary gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Port Vila. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.