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: $2,353 in Calgary versus $3,162 in Port Vila.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,488 in Calgary versus $4,309 in Port Vila.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,622 in Calgary versus $5,456 in Port Vila.

Living in Calgary costs roughly 26% less than in Port Vila, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 71% above, Port Vila 130% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Calgary
Port Vila
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.94 CA$24.74
$12.55 VUV 1,446
42.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.5 CA$97.3
$57.5 VUV 6,626
22.66%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.69 CA$14.74
$14.58 VUV 1,681
-26.68%
Cappuccino
$3.79 CA$5.22
$4.14 VUV 477
-8.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00 CA$2.76
$2.27 VUV 261
-11.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98 CA$2.72
$2.45 VUV 282
-19.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.19 CA$7.16
$4.97 VUV 573
4.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.86 CA$8.08
$7.03 VUV 810
-16.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Calgary
Port Vila
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.95 CA$2.69
$2.74 VUV 316
-28.83%
White Bread (500g)
$2.82 CA$3.89
$1.89 VUV 217
49.21%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.61 CA$7.74
$3.66 VUV 422
53.28%
Eggs
$3.75 CA$5.17
$6.35 VUV 731
-40.94%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.50 CA$15.86
$17.86 VUV 2,058
-35.61%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.46 CA$15.81
$16.17 VUV 1,864
-29.13%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.95 CA$26.14
$13.93 VUV 1,605
36.04%
Apples (1kg)
$4.83 CA$6.66
$6.96 VUV 802
-30.60%
Banana (1kg)
$1.37 CA$1.89
$2.14 VUV 246
-35.98%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.25 CA$5.86
$3.95 VUV 456
7.59%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.15 CA$5.72
$9.34 VUV 1,076
-55.57%
Potato (1kg)
$2.70 CA$3.73
$8.81 VUV 1,015
-69.35%
Onion (1kg)
$2.83 CA$3.90
$3.50 VUV 403
-19.14%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.64 CA$3.64
$2.48 VUV 285
6.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.51 CA$2.08
$1.21 VUV 140
24.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.60 CA$20.14
$9.19 VUV 1,059
58.87%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.76 CA$21.73
$12.65 VUV 1,458
24.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.60 CA$3.58
$2.43 VUV 279
7.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08 CA$4.25
$2.75 VUV 316
12.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Calgary
Port Vila
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.93 CA$4.04
$1.26 VUV 145
132.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$89.3 CA$123
$68.3 VUV 7,872
30.68%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.32 CA$4.58
$2.56 VUV 294
29.69%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.43 CA$1.97
$0.80 VUV 92.1
78.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$27.71 CA$38.21
$5.19 VUV 598
433.91%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.26 CA$1.74
$1.74 VUV 201
-27.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.9K CA$39.9K
$23.1K VUV 2.7M
25.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.3K CA$29.4K
$38.5K VUV 4.4M
-44.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Calgary
Port Vila
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$183 CA$252
$635 VUV 73.1K
-71.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.31 CA$52.8
$22.76 VUV 2,623
68.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.7 CA$71.3
$366 VUV 42.2K
-85.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Calgary
Port Vila
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.9 CA$75.7
$67.6 VUV 7,787
-18.81%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.66 CA$25.73
$16.59 VUV 1,912
12.48%
Cinema Ticket
$14.26 CA$19.66
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Calgary
Port Vila
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$828 CA$1,142
$630 VUV 72.6K
31.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.9K CA$21.9K
$6,806 VUV 784.3K
133.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Calgary
Port Vila
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.6 CA$82.1
$42.39 VUV 4,886
40.50%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.47 CA$54.4
$68.3 VUV 7,876
-42.24%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.3 CA$130
$82.8 VUV 9,544
13.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 CA$156
$103 VUV 11.9K
9.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Calgary
Port Vila
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,265 CA$1,744
$1,556 VUV 179.3K
-18.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,051 CA$1,450
$1,147 VUV 132.2K
-8.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,934 CA$2,667
$3,423 VUV 394.5K
-43.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,700 CA$2,344
$1,899 VUV 218.8K
-10.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,680 CA$5,075
$6,073 VUV 699.8K
-39.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,333 CA$4,597
$2,260 VUV 260.4K
47.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Calgary
Port Vila
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,276 CA$4,518
$700 VUV 80.7K
368.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.4
6.18
-28.80%

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

Last update for Calgary: September 1, 2026

Last update for Port Vila: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,265 in Calgary and $1,556 in Port Vila. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 368% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $71.0 in Calgary vs $57.0 in Port Vila. Groceries flip the comparison at $397 vs $473, 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
Is Port Vila cheaper than Calgary?
Calgary is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 34% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Calgary or Port Vila?
Average pay runs 368% higher in Calgary, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Calgary and Port Vila?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,265 in Calgary versus $1,556 in Port Vila. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Calgary or in Port Vila?
Dining out is cheaper in Calgary – a meal for two runs $71.0 versus $57.0 in Port Vila. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Calgary and in Port Vila?
All in, you'll spend $2,353 per month in Calgary versus $3,162 in Port Vila – a 34% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Calgary or in Port Vila?
At $2,353 in Calgary versus $3,162 in Port Vila, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Calgary but tight or insufficient in Port Vila. The gap between the two cities makes Calgary the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Calgary or in Port Vila?
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.
Which city is safer, Calgary or Port Vila?
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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Calgary gentler on the wallet – expenses run 34% less than in Port Vila. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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