Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between French Polynesia and Vanuatu

Name: Vanuatu
Address: VU

For one person, living is cheaper in French Polynesia: $2,339 a month against $3,216 in Vanuatu, rent and utilities included – about $10,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

113

Cost of Living Index in French Polynesia
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French Polynesia Living Index
156

Cost of Living Index in Vanuatu
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Vanuatu Living Index

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🇵🇫 French Polynesia

$2,339

/mo nomad

🇻🇺 Vanuatu

$3,216

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in French Polynesia and in Vanuatu

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in French Polynesia and in Vanuatu actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,339 in French Polynesia versus $3,216 in Vanuatu.

French Polynesia $2,339
Vanuatu $3,216

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,508 in French Polynesia versus $4,324 in Vanuatu.

French Polynesia $3,508
Vanuatu $4,324

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,677 in French Polynesia versus $5,432 in Vanuatu.

French Polynesia $4,677
Vanuatu $5,432

Living in French Polynesia costs about 27% less than in Vanuatu on average.

Both countries sit above the global median: French Polynesia 73% above, Vanuatu 137% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.10 CFPF 1,809

$12.42 VUV 1,457

37.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.8 CFPF 8,021

$55.9 VUV 6,553

35.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.23 CFPF 1,505

$14.15 VUV 1,660

0.57%

Cappuccino

$4.20 CFPF 444

$3.97 VUV 466

5.79%

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

$2.55 CFPF 270

$2.30 VUV 270

10.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 CFPF 268

$2.33 VUV 274

8.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.68 CFPF 496

$5.03 VUV 590

-6.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.59 CFPF 591

$7.35 VUV 863

-23.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 CFPF 152

$3.13 VUV 367

-53.99%

White Bread (500g)

$4.23 CFPF 447

$2.50 VUV 293

69.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 CFPF 173

$3.86 VUV 452

-57.51%

Eggs

$6.91 CFPF 731

$6.21 VUV 728

11.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$34.89 CFPF 3,692

$16.29 VUV 1,911

114.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.64 CFPF 1,654

$16.00 VUV 1,876

-2.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.52 CFPF 2,594

$13.25 VUV 1,554

85.06%

Apples (1kg)

$5.06 CFPF 535

$6.57 VUV 771

-22.98%

Banana (1kg)

$2.85 CFPF 302

$2.07 VUV 243

37.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.53 CFPF 691

$3.91 VUV 459

67.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.63 CFPF 807

$10.09 VUV 1,184

-24.38%

Potato (1kg)

$3.03 CFPF 321

$8.96 VUV 1,052

-66.18%

Onion (1kg)

$2.45 CFPF 259

$4.34 VUV 510

-43.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.60 CFPF 381

$2.60 VUV 305

38.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.17 CFPF 124

$1.16 VUV 137

0.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.05 CFPF 1,380

$9.57 VUV 1,122

36.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.65 CFPF 2,503

$12.45 VUV 1,460

89.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.83 CFPF 300

$2.94 VUV 344

-3.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 CFPF 388

$2.99 VUV 351

22.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.84 CFPF 195

$1.29 VUV 151

42.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.22 CFPF 1,505

$67.7 VUV 7,943

-79.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$9.44 CFPF 999

$2.51 VUV 295

276.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.42 CFPF 256

$0.81 VUV 95.4

198.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.23 CFPF 2,458

$5.00 VUV 587

364.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 CFPF 158

$1.84 VUV 216

-19.02%

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

$18.2K CFPF 1.9M

$23.0K VUV 2.7M

-21.04%

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

$30.6K CFPF 3.2M

$37.3K VUV 4.4M

-18.13%

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

$172 CFPF 18.2K

$624 VUV 73.2K

-72.39%

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

$18.99 CFPF 2,009

$22.95 VUV 2,692

-17.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.2 CFPF 7,639

$360 VUV 42.2K

-79.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$74.8 CFPF 7,916

$67.9 VUV 7,963

10.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.80 VUV 1,971

Cinema Ticket

$14.36 CFPF 1,519

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

$478 CFPF 50.6K

$632 VUV 74.1K

-24.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,401 CFPF 994.6K

$6,850 VUV 803.5K

37.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.6 CFPF 7,150

$40.81 VUV 4,787

65.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$71.3 CFPF 7,542

$66.5 VUV 7,797

7.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.5 CFPF 8,409

$85.2 VUV 9,991

-6.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.7 CFPF 9,598

$103 VUV 12.1K

-12.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,234 CFPF 130.6K

$1,566 VUV 183.7K

-21.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$940 CFPF 99.4K

$1,198 VUV 140.6K

-21.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,848 CFPF 195.5K

$3,359 VUV 394.0K

-44.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,528 CFPF 161.7K

$1,897 VUV 222.5K

-19.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,976 CFPF 738.1K

$6,080 VUV 713.1K

14.75%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,993 CFPF 951.4K

$2,184 VUV 256.2K

311.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,885 CFPF 199.4K

$345 VUV 40.4K

446.70%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.6

6.18

-25.57%

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

Last update for French Polynesia: October 20, 2026

Last update for Vanuatu: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

French Polynesia

$940 40.2%

Vanuatu

$1.2K 37.3% 27.5% $259

Groceries & Markets

French Polynesia

$565 24.2%

Vanuatu

$482 15% 14.7% $83

Eating Out

French Polynesia

$285 12.2%

Vanuatu

$248 7.7% 12.9% $37

Monthly Utilities & Internet

French Polynesia

$264 11.3%

Vanuatu

$1K 31.3% 282% $744

Clothing & Footwear

French Polynesia

$139 6%

Vanuatu

$133 4.1% 4.4% $6.1

Sport & Entertainment

French Polynesia

$104 4.4%

Vanuatu

$68 * 2.1% 34.4% $36

Getting Around

French Polynesia

$43 1.8%

Vanuatu

$79 2.5% 84.3% $36

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $341 in French Polynesia, $794 in Vanuatu. Capital cities: $1,360 in Papeete vs $1,587 in Port Vila.

National salary averages: $1,976 in French Polynesia, $488 in Vanuatu. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 133% higher in Vanuatu.

Dining out costs 27% more in Vanuatu.

Public transport is 1550% more expensive in Vanuatu.

Salaries are 305% higher in French Polynesia, and purchasing power comes out stronger in French Polynesia.

Good to know

🇵🇫 French Polynesia

🇻🇺 Vanuatu

🕒 Local time

04:47 4:47 AM

01:47 1:47 AM

21 h ahead of French Polynesia

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

278,786

300,019

💱 Currency

CFP Franc XPF Fr

Vanuatu Vatu VUV Vt

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 XPF = 9.45 USD

1,000 XPF = 8.41 EUR

1,000 VUV = 8.53 USD

1,000 VUV = 7.58 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

VUV, USD, EUR to XPF – CFP Franc Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🌐 CFP Franc (Fr)

CFP Franc exchange rates as of October 23, 2026: 1 USD = 106 XPF (1,000 XPF = 9.45 USD). 1 EUR = 119 XPF (1,000 XPF = 8.41 EUR).

Vanuatu Vatu exchange rates as of October 23, 2026: 1 USD = 117 VUV (1,000 VUV = 8.53 USD). 1 EUR = 132 VUV (1,000 VUV = 7.58 EUR).

USD to XPF in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

French Polynesia Vanuatu 4,450 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight

From you

French Polynesia
Vanuatu

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 $2,339 per month in French Polynesia and $3,216 in Vanuatu, there's a 37% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.

Day-to-day life is cheaper in French Polynesia: lower grocery prices, cheaper commutes, and more affordable meals out. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.

Rent for a central one-bedroom averages $794 in Vanuatu and $341 in French Polynesia. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.

In French Polynesia, $2,000 covers most cities easily; in Vanuatu it stretches only to regional areas and 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.