Cost of Living Comparison Between Fiji and Vanuatu Cost of Living Comparison Between Fiji and Vanuatu

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $504 per month in Fiji vs $3,223 in Vanuatu, rent included.

A couple spends around $858 per month in Fiji vs $3,121 in Vanuatu, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,212 per month in Fiji vs $3,019 in Vanuatu, rent included.

Fiji is roughly 84% cheaper than Vanuatu on average — the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Fiji sits 62% below the global median, while Vanuatu is 141% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Fiji has a wider regional cost range ($0$1,066) than Vanuatu ($3,025$3,420), so location matters more when choosing where to live in Fiji.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Fiji
Vanuatu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.33 FJD 9.66
$11.22 VUV 1,323
-61.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.25 FJD 98.7
$65.6 VUV 7,732
-32.57%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.93 FJD 15.45
$9.39 VUV 1,107
-26.20%
Cappuccino
$2.98 FJD 6.64
$5.03 VUV 592
-40.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29 FJD 2.87
$2.12 VUV 250
-39.15%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95 FJD 2.13
$1.73 VUV 204
-45.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.72 FJD 6.06
$4.58 VUV 540
-40.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.56 FJD 7.94
$4.14 VUV 488
-14.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Fiji
Vanuatu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.33 FJD 2.97
$2.37 VUV 279
-43.88%
White Bread (500g)
$0.57 FJD 1.26
$2.87 VUV 339
-80.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.05 FJD 2.35
$3.80 VUV 448
-72.37%
Eggs
$3.26 FJD 7.27
$5.27 VUV 621
-38.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.45 FJD 18.85
$20.27 VUV 2,389
-58.31%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.63 FJD 17.01
$16.62 VUV 1,958
-54.09%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.59 FJD 16.93
$16.83 VUV 1,983
-54.90%
Apples (1kg)
$2.55 FJD 5.69
$4.89 VUV 576
-47.85%
Banana (1kg)
$2.58 FJD 5.75
$2.87 VUV 339
-10.10%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.16 FJD 7.05
$5.32 VUV 626
-40.60%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.66 FJD 5.94
$3.41 VUV 402
-21.99%
Potato (1kg)
$1.42 FJD 3.17
$5.09 VUV 599
-72.10%
Onion (1kg)
$1.19 FJD 2.66
$2.83 VUV 333
-57.95%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 FJD 2.37
$2.47 VUV 292
-57.09%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82 FJD 1.83
$1.35 VUV 159
-39.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.60 FJD 21.41
$9.42 VUV 1,110
1.91%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.26 FJD 18.42
$16.47 VUV 1,941
-49.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.21 FJD 4.94
$3.16 VUV 372
-30.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.38 FJD 7.53
$2.91 VUV 342
16.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Fiji
Vanuatu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.73 FJD 1.63
$1.71 VUV 202
-57.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.38 FJD 49.90
$67.9 VUV 7,996
-67.02%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.91 FJD 2.03
$2.13 VUV 252
-57.28%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 FJD 0.93
$0.82 VUV 96.2
-48.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.83 FJD 10.77
$5.15 VUV 607
-6.21%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 FJD 3.02
$1.88 VUV 222
-28.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.4K FJD 52.2K
$23.6K VUV 2.8M
-0.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.8K FJD 50.8K
$37.7K VUV 4.4M
-39.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fiji
Vanuatu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$54.4 FJD 121
$531 VUV 62.5K
-89.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.62 FJD 30.36
$25.34 VUV 2,986
-46.25%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.70 FJD 50.6
$225 VUV 26.5K
-89.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Fiji
Vanuatu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.77 FJD 70.9
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.76 FJD 15.08
$17.06 VUV 2,010
-60.38%
Cinema Ticket
$4.38 FJD 9.76
$12.80 VUV 1,508
-65.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Fiji
Vanuatu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$173 FJD 385
$622 VUV 73.3K
-72.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.8K FJD 26.4K
$6,923 VUV 815.7K
70.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Fiji
Vanuatu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.30 FJD 56.4
$46.46 VUV 5,474
-45.54%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.49 FJD 68.0
$66.8 VUV 7,868
-54.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$67.1 FJD 150
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.5 FJD 162
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Fiji
Vanuatu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$615 FJD 1,371
$1,864 VUV 219.7K
-67.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$342 FJD 762
$1,762 VUV 207.6K
-80.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,554 FJD 3,464
$3,343 VUV 393.9K
-53.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$934 FJD 2,082
$2,035 VUV 239.8K
-54.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,253 FJD 2,795
$8,456 VUV 996.3K
-85.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$815 FJD 1,818
$3,346 VUV 394.2K
-75.63%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Fiji
Vanuatu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$860 FJD 1,917
$456 VUV 53.8K
88.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.5
7
-7.14%

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

Last update for Fiji: April 21, 2026

Last update for Vanuatu: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $279 in Fiji vs $940 in Vanuatu. For reference, capital cities sit at $603 in Suva and $1,879 in Port Vila.

Average salary: $728 in Fiji vs $578 in Vanuatu. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 237% higher in Vanuatu.

Dining out costs 27% more in Vanuatu.

Public transport is 386% more expensive in Vanuatu.

Salaries are 26% higher in Fiji, giving Fiji stronger purchasing power.

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
Fiji vs Vanuatu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fiji more expensive than Vanuatu?
Fiji is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 505% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in Vanuatu, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Vanuatu consistently has higher rents.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Fiji, contributing to the overall 505% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget in Fiji or Vanuatu?
$1,500 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Fiji, but in Vanuatu it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Fiji or Vanuatu?
Fiji is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.

Fiji vs other spots: cost of living compared

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