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: $2,462 in Calgary versus $2,980 in Port Vila.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,628 in Calgary versus $4,025 in Port Vila.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,795 in Calgary versus $5,070 in Port Vila.

Living in Calgary costs roughly 17% less than in Port Vila, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 84% above, Port Vila 123% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Calgary
Port Vila
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.33 CA$25.70
$11.23 VUV 1,307
63.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.9 CA$98.0
$64.2 VUV 7,473
8.86%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.95 CA$15.35
$9.37 VUV 1,091
16.86%
Cappuccino
$3.74 CA$5.24
$5.06 VUV 590
-26.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 CA$2.86
$2.18 VUV 253
-6.42%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 CA$2.34
$1.69 VUV 197
-1.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.20 CA$7.29
$4.42 VUV 515
17.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.71 CA$9.41
$4.19 VUV 488
60.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Calgary
Port Vila
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.25 CA$3.15
$2.22 VUV 258
1.35%
White Bread (500g)
$2.75 CA$3.85
$2.48 VUV 289
10.89%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.23 CA$4.53
$3.85 VUV 448
-16.10%
Eggs
$3.45 CA$4.83
$5.19 VUV 604
-33.53%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.40 CA$20.19
$20.31 VUV 2,364
-29.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.89 CA$18.07
$18.40 VUV 2,142
-29.95%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.86 CA$22.24
$18.41 VUV 2,143
-13.85%
Apples (1kg)
$4.30 CA$6.02
$4.82 VUV 561
-10.79%
Banana (1kg)
$1.34 CA$1.88
$2.09 VUV 243
-35.89%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.85 CA$5.40
$6.08 VUV 708
-36.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.25 CA$5.97
$2.55 VUV 297
66.67%
Potato (1kg)
$2.55 CA$3.57
$4.24 VUV 494
-39.86%
Onion (1kg)
$2.62 CA$3.68
$2.08 VUV 243
25.96%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.80 CA$3.92
$2.59 VUV 301
8.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.95 CA$2.73
$1.05 VUV 123
85.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.97 CA$20.99
$8.99 VUV 1,047
66.52%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.90 CA$19.49
$12.67 VUV 1,475
9.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.92 CA$4.10
$2.99 VUV 348
-2.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91 CA$5.48
$3.02 VUV 351
29.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Calgary
Port Vila
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.74 CA$3.84
$1.69 VUV 197
62.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$87.8 CA$123
$66.6 VUV 7,758
31.75%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.60 CA$5.04
$2.15 VUV 251
67.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.30 CA$1.82
$0.82 VUV 95.8
58.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.70 CA$40.24
$5.04 VUV 587
469.44%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.12 CA$1.57
$1.85 VUV 215
-39.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.5K CA$35.7K
$23.5K VUV 2.7M
8.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.7K CA$30.5K
$38.0K VUV 4.4M
-42.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Calgary
Port Vila
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$213 CA$299
$542 VUV 63.1K
-60.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$40.96 CA$57.4
$24.94 VUV 2,903
64.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.9 CA$81.2
$226 VUV 26.3K
-74.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Calgary
Port Vila
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.2 CA$76.0
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$53.8 CA$75.4
$16.52 VUV 1,923
225.36%
Cinema Ticket
$12.63 CA$17.71
$12.55 VUV 1,461
0.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Calgary
Port Vila
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$874 CA$1,226
$620 VUV 72.1K
41.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.9K CA$22.3K
$6,934 VUV 807.2K
128.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Calgary
Port Vila
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.6 CA$82.2
$46.05 VUV 5,361
27.30%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.01 CA$65.9
$67.3 VUV 7,839
-30.19%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.1 CA$119
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 CA$151
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Calgary
Port Vila
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,380 CA$1,935
$1,894 VUV 220.5K
-27.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,159 CA$1,625
$1,412 VUV 164.3K
-17.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,324 CA$3,259
$3,379 VUV 393.4K
-31.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,905 CA$2,670
$2,063 VUV 240.2K
-7.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,786 CA$5,308
$6,092 VUV 709.2K
-37.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,511 CA$4,922
$2,199 VUV 256.0K
59.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Calgary
Port Vila
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,940 CA$4,121
$689 VUV 80.2K
326.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.71
7
-18.43%

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

Last update for Calgary: July 13, 2026

Last update for Port Vila: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,380 in Calgary and $1,894 in Port Vila. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 327% 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 $64.0 in Port Vila. Groceries flip the comparison at $396 vs $451, 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 21% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Calgary or Port Vila?
Average pay runs 327% 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: $1,380 in Calgary versus $1,894 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 $70.0 versus $64.0 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 $2,462 per month in Calgary versus $2,980 in Port Vila – a 21% 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 $2,462 in Calgary versus $2,980 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 21% less than in Port Vila. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Calgary vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities