Cost of Living Comparison Between French Polynesia and Vanuatu Cost of Living Comparison Between French Polynesia and Vanuatu

Name: Vanuatu
Address: VU

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $787 in French Polynesia versus $3,223 in Vanuatu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,196 in French Polynesia versus $3,121 in Vanuatu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,604 in French Polynesia versus $3,019 in Vanuatu.

Living in French Polynesia costs about 76% less than in Vanuatu on average.

French Polynesia (41% below) and Vanuatu (141% above) straddle the global median.

Internal cost variation is higher in French Polynesia: monthly costs span $0 to $2,251, compared to $3,025–$3,420 in Vanuatu. City choice carries more weight in French Polynesia.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.81 CFPF 1,606

$11.22 VUV 1,327

40.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.7 CFPF 8,092

$65.6 VUV 7,760

21.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.93 CFPF 1,212

$9.39 VUV 1,111

27.05%

Cappuccino

$4.38 CFPF 445

$5.03 VUV 595

-12.92%

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

$2.66 CFPF 270

$2.12 VUV 251

25.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.21 CFPF 224

$1.73 VUV 205

27.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.04 CFPF 512

$4.58 VUV 542

10.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.77 CFPF 485

$4.14 VUV 490

15.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.50 CFPF 152

$2.37 VUV 280

-36.71%

White Bread (500g)

$2.86 CFPF 290

$2.87 VUV 340

-0.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.66 CFPF 169

$3.80 VUV 450

-56.32%

Eggs

$7.37 CFPF 749

$5.27 VUV 624

39.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$38.55 CFPF 3,915

$20.27 VUV 2,397

90.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$17.05 CFPF 1,732

$16.62 VUV 1,965

2.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$27.36 CFPF 2,778

$16.83 VUV 1,990

62.57%

Apples (1kg)

$5.38 CFPF 547

$4.89 VUV 578

10.02%

Banana (1kg)

$2.40 CFPF 244

$2.87 VUV 340

-16.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.83 CFPF 694

$5.32 VUV 629

28.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.84 CFPF 796

$3.41 VUV 404

129.91%

Potato (1kg)

$3.05 CFPF 310

$5.09 VUV 602

-40.08%

Onion (1kg)

$2.73 CFPF 277

$2.83 VUV 334

-3.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.93 CFPF 399

$2.47 VUV 293

59.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 CFPF 114

$1.35 VUV 159

-17.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.05 CFPF 1,224

$9.42 VUV 1,114

27.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$24.51 CFPF 2,489

$16.47 VUV 1,948

48.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.55 CFPF 259

$3.16 VUV 374

-19.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.59 CFPF 466

$2.91 VUV 344

57.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.92 CFPF 195

$1.71 VUV 202

12.28%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$67.9 VUV 8,024

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$9.91 CFPF 1,006

$2.13 VUV 252

365.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.82 VUV 96.6

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.15 VUV 609

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.59 CFPF 162

$1.88 VUV 223

-15.43%

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

$19.1K CFPF 1.9M

$23.6K VUV 2.8M

-19.00%

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

$28.9K CFPF 2.9M

$37.7K VUV 4.5M

-23.36%

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

$184 CFPF 18.7K

$531 VUV 62.8K

-65.35%

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

$17.61 CFPF 1,788

$25.34 VUV 2,997

-30.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$106 CFPF 10.7K

$225 VUV 26.6K

-52.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$73.4 CFPF 7,454

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.55 CFPF 1,782

$17.06 VUV 2,018

2.87%

Cinema Ticket

$14.69 CFPF 1,492

$12.80 VUV 1,513

14.77%

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

$477 CFPF 48.4K

$622 VUV 73.5K

-23.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,768 CFPF 992.0K

$6,923 VUV 818.6K

41.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$98.0 CFPF 9,947

$46.46 VUV 5,494

110.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$84.4 CFPF 8,569

$66.8 VUV 7,896

26.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$110 CFPF 11.2K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 CFPF 10.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,313 CFPF 133.3K

$1,864 VUV 220.5K

-29.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,100 CFPF 111.7K

$1,762 VUV 208.3K

-37.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,107 CFPF 214.0K

$3,343 VUV 395.3K

-36.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,840 CFPF 186.9K

$2,035 VUV 240.6K

-9.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,564 CFPF 869.8K

$8,456 VUV 999.9K

1.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,932 CFPF 805.6K

$3,346 VUV 395.6K

137.10%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,966 CFPF 199.7K

$456 VUV 54.0K

330.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.4

-22.86%

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

Last update for French Polynesia: April 22, 2026

Last update for Vanuatu: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $537 in French Polynesia, $940 in Vanuatu. Capital cities: $1,232 in Papeete vs $1,879 in Port Vila.

National salary averages: $2,144 in French Polynesia, $578 in Vanuatu. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 75% higher in Vanuatu.

Dining out costs 74% more in Vanuatu.

Salaries are 271% higher in French Polynesia, giving French Polynesia 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

French Polynesia vs Vanuatu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

At $1,126 per month in French Polynesia and $3,223 in Vanuatu, there's a 186% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.

French Polynesia is simply cheaper day-to-day: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.

Rent in Vanuatu beats French Polynesia across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.

In French Polynesia, $2,000 covers most cities easily. In Vanuatu, it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.

It depends on what you're after. French Polynesia wins on affordability; Vanuatu may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.