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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $503 per month in Fiji vs $3,227 in Vanuatu, rent included.

A couple spends around $861 per month in Fiji vs $3,156 in Vanuatu, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,219 per month in Fiji vs $3,085 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.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Fiji
Vanuatu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.37 FJD 9.63
$11.00 VUV 1,270
-60.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.11 FJD 97.2
$63.7 VUV 7,350
-30.74%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.27 FJD 16.03
$9.42 VUV 1,087
-22.82%
Cappuccino
$2.84 FJD 6.27
$5.04 VUV 582
-43.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27 FJD 2.80
$2.22 VUV 256
-42.79%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93 FJD 2.06
$1.75 VUV 202
-46.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.86 FJD 6.30
$4.45 VUV 513
-35.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46 FJD 7.63
$4.25 VUV 490
-18.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Fiji
Vanuatu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.29 FJD 2.85
$2.40 VUV 277
-46.25%
White Bread (500g)
$0.56 FJD 1.23
$2.73 VUV 315
-79.49%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.11 FJD 2.44
$3.83 VUV 442
-71.02%
Eggs
$3.21 FJD 7.09
$5.25 VUV 606
-38.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.32 FJD 18.35
$20.37 VUV 2,351
-59.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.59 FJD 16.72
$16.76 VUV 1,934
-54.71%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.34 FJD 16.19
$16.78 VUV 1,937
-56.26%
Apples (1kg)
$2.44 FJD 5.38
$4.79 VUV 553
-49.06%
Banana (1kg)
$2.51 FJD 5.53
$2.79 VUV 322
-10.04%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.29 FJD 7.26
$5.47 VUV 631
-39.85%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.64 FJD 5.82
$3.45 VUV 398
-23.48%
Potato (1kg)
$1.37 FJD 3.02
$5.12 VUV 591
-73.24%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 FJD 2.66
$2.86 VUV 330
-57.69%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 FJD 2.28
$2.46 VUV 283
-58.13%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 FJD 1.98
$1.33 VUV 154
-32.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.95 FJD 21.93
$9.46 VUV 1,092
5.18%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.44 FJD 18.60
$14.39 VUV 1,661
-41.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.18 FJD 4.82
$3.16 VUV 364
-31.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33 FJD 7.35
$2.94 VUV 339
13.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Fiji
Vanuatu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.70 FJD 1.54
$1.73 VUV 199
-59.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.27 FJD 49.10
$68.0 VUV 7,843
-67.23%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.85 FJD 1.87
$2.05 VUV 236
-58.54%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.45 FJD 0.99
$0.87 VUV 101
-48.28%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.87 FJD 10.74
$5.12 VUV 591
-4.88%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 FJD 2.96
$1.87 VUV 215
-28.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.7K FJD 52.3K
$23.2K VUV 2.7M
2.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.6K FJD 49.8K
$38.1K VUV 4.4M
-40.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fiji
Vanuatu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$53.2 FJD 117
$544 VUV 62.8K
-90.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.10 FJD 28.88
$25.63 VUV 2,958
-48.89%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.29 FJD 51.3
$228 VUV 26.3K
-89.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Fiji
Vanuatu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.45 FJD 69.3
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.74 FJD 14.86
$16.78 VUV 1,936
-59.83%
Cinema Ticket
$4.56 FJD 10.05
$12.41 VUV 1,432
-63.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Fiji
Vanuatu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$172 FJD 379
$611 VUV 70.5K
-71.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.6K FJD 25.6K
$6,863 VUV 792.1K
69.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Fiji
Vanuatu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.87 FJD 54.8
$46.56 VUV 5,373
-46.59%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.44 FJD 67.1
$67.5 VUV 7,788
-54.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$67.4 FJD 148
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.4 FJD 164
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Fiji
Vanuatu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$617 FJD 1,361
$1,845 VUV 212.9K
-66.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$333 FJD 735
$1,758 VUV 202.8K
-81.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,587 FJD 3,499
$3,380 VUV 390.1K
-53.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$955 FJD 2,105
$2,037 VUV 235.1K
-53.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,248 FJD 2,750
$6,133 VUV 707.8K
-79.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$841 FJD 1,854
$2,231 VUV 257.4K
-62.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Fiji
Vanuatu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$881 FJD 1,942
$338 VUV 39.1K
160.33%
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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Vanuatu: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $276 in Fiji vs $941 in Vanuatu. For reference, capital cities sit at $582 in Suva and $1,882 in Port Vila.

Average salary: $751 in Fiji vs $496 in Vanuatu. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 241% higher in Vanuatu.

Dining out costs 27% more in Vanuatu.

Public transport is 386% more expensive in Vanuatu.

Salaries are 51% 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 508% 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 508% 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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