Cost of Living Comparison Between India and Vanuatu Cost of Living Comparison Between India and Vanuatu

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $388 in India versus $3,227 in Vanuatu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $617 in India versus $3,156 in Vanuatu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $846 in India versus $3,085 in Vanuatu.

Living in India costs about 88% less than in Vanuatu on average.

India (71% below) and Vanuatu (141% above) straddle the global median.

India ($264$888) and Vanuatu ($2,983$3,471) have similar cost spreads. Where you settle within each country has roughly equal impact on the budget.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
India
Vanuatu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.49 ₹236
$11.00 VUV 1,270
-77.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.20 ₹1,349
$63.7 VUV 7,350
-77.70%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.98 ₹378
$9.42 VUV 1,087
-57.75%
Cappuccino
$1.88 ₹178
$5.04 VUV 582
-62.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44 ₹41.85
$2.22 VUV 256
-80.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.19 ₹18.51
$1.75 VUV 202
-89.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.02 ₹192
$4.45 VUV 513
-54.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.45 ₹328
$4.25 VUV 490
-18.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
India
Vanuatu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.72 ₹68.1
$2.40 VUV 277
-70.00%
White Bread (500g)
$0.52 ₹49.10
$2.73 VUV 315
-80.95%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.72 ₹68.5
$3.83 VUV 442
-81.20%
Eggs
$0.93 ₹88.5
$5.25 VUV 606
-82.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.24 ₹498
$20.37 VUV 2,351
-74.28%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.07 ₹291
$16.76 VUV 1,934
-81.68%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$16.78 VUV 1,937
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.17 ₹206
$4.79 VUV 553
-54.70%
Banana (1kg)
$0.76 ₹71.9
$2.79 VUV 322
-72.76%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.05 ₹99.7
$5.47 VUV 631
-80.80%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.53 ₹50.5
$3.45 VUV 398
-84.64%
Potato (1kg)
$0.39 ₹37.41
$5.12 VUV 591
-92.38%
Onion (1kg)
$0.49 ₹46.66
$2.86 VUV 330
-82.87%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.52 ₹49.19
$2.46 VUV 283
-78.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.33 ₹31.03
$1.33 VUV 154
-75.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.05 ₹385
$9.46 VUV 1,092
-57.19%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.39 ₹702
$14.39 VUV 1,661
-48.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84 ₹175
$3.16 VUV 364
-41.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90 ₹276
$2.94 VUV 339
-1.36%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
$5.65 ₹536
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
India
Vanuatu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 ₹34.48
$1.73 VUV 199
-79.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.74 ₹925
$68.0 VUV 7,843
-85.67%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.95 ₹90.3
$2.05 VUV 236
-53.66%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.30 ₹28.55
$0.87 VUV 101
-65.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.73 ₹164
$5.12 VUV 591
-66.21%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 ₹116
$1.87 VUV 215
-34.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$13.9K ₹1.3M
$23.2K VUV 2.7M
-40.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.6K ₹2.1M
$38.1K VUV 4.4M
-40.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
India
Vanuatu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.88 ₹3,881
$544 VUV 62.8K
-92.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.91 ₹371
$25.63 VUV 2,958
-84.74%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.81 ₹741
$228 VUV 26.3K
-96.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
India
Vanuatu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$16.15 ₹1,533
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.49 ₹711
$16.78 VUV 1,936
-55.36%
Cinema Ticket
$3.42 ₹325
$12.41 VUV 1,432
-72.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
India
Vanuatu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$69.9 ₹6,639
$611 VUV 70.5K
-88.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,793 ₹170.2K
$6,863 VUV 792.1K
-73.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
India
Vanuatu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.83 ₹2,452
$46.56 VUV 5,373
-44.52%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.61 ₹2,527
$67.5 VUV 7,788
-60.57%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$45.24 ₹4,295
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$33.68 ₹3,198
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
India
Vanuatu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$178 ₹16.9K
$1,845 VUV 212.9K
-90.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$115 ₹10.9K
$1,758 VUV 202.8K
-93.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$407 ₹38.6K
$3,380 VUV 390.1K
-87.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$264 ₹25.0K
$2,037 VUV 235.1K
-87.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,240 ₹117.7K
$6,133 VUV 707.8K
-79.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$631 ₹59.9K
$2,231 VUV 257.4K
-71.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
India
Vanuatu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$432 ₹41.0K
$338 VUV 39.1K
27.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.02
7
28.86%

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

Last update for India: June 2, 2026

Last update for Vanuatu: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $127 in India, $941 in Vanuatu. Capital cities: $239 in Delhi vs $1,882 in Port Vila.

National salary averages: $398 in India, $496 in Vanuatu. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 641% higher in Vanuatu.

Dining out costs 200% more in Vanuatu.

Public transport is 278% more expensive in Vanuatu.

Salaries are 25% higher in Vanuatu, giving India 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
India vs Vanuatu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between India and Vanuatu?
At $576 per month in India and $3,227 in Vanuatu, there's a 460% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
India 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.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Rent in Vanuatu beats India across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget in India or Vanuatu?
In India, $1,000 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.
Should I move to India or Vanuatu?
It depends on what you're after. India wins on affordability; Vanuatu may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

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