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: $365 in India versus $3,269 in Vanuatu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $579 in India versus $3,269 in Vanuatu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $792 in India versus $3,269 in Vanuatu.

Living in India costs about 89% less than in Vanuatu on average.

India (73% below) and Vanuatu (138% above) straddle the global median.

Internal cost variation is higher in India: monthly costs span $231 to $827, compared to $3,162$3,376 in Vanuatu. City choice carries more weight in India.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
India
Vanuatu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.06 ₹195
$12.50 VUV 1,437
-83.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.63 ₹1,004
$57.3 VUV 6,581
-81.43%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.70 ₹350
$14.55 VUV 1,673
-74.57%
Cappuccino
$1.74 ₹164
$4.09 VUV 471
-57.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ₹35.14
$2.32 VUV 266
-84.05%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.17 ₹16.26
$2.34 VUV 268
-92.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.93 ₹182
$5.18 VUV 596
-62.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06 ₹289
$7.00 VUV 804
-56.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
India
Vanuatu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.62 ₹58.6
$3.08 VUV 354
-79.87%
White Bread (500g)
$0.49 ₹46.45
$2.54 VUV 292
-80.71%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.63 ₹59.8
$3.78 VUV 434
-83.33%
Eggs
$0.94 ₹88.5
$5.93 VUV 681
-84.15%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.67 ₹441
$16.13 VUV 1,855
-71.05%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.88 ₹272
$16.01 VUV 1,841
-82.01%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$13.41 VUV 1,541
-
Apples (1kg)
$1.91 ₹180
$6.77 VUV 778
-71.79%
Banana (1kg)
$0.64 ₹60.6
$2.05 VUV 236
-68.78%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.98 ₹92.8
$3.95 VUV 454
-75.19%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.51 ₹47.90
$9.86 VUV 1,134
-94.83%
Potato (1kg)
$0.34 ₹31.92
$8.96 VUV 1,030
-96.21%
Onion (1kg)
$0.42 ₹39.68
$4.34 VUV 499
-90.32%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.48 ₹45.44
$2.51 VUV 289
-80.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.29 ₹27.27
$1.17 VUV 135
-75.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.91 ₹464
$10.09 VUV 1,160
-51.34%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.27 ₹687
$12.56 VUV 1,444
-42.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.65 ₹156
$2.89 VUV 332
-42.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66 ₹251
$3.04 VUV 349
-12.50%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
$5.22 ₹493
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
India
Vanuatu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 ₹25.67
$1.24 VUV 143
-78.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.45 ₹798
$67.3 VUV 7,733
-87.44%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.96 ₹90.9
$2.56 VUV 294
-62.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.27 ₹25.74
$0.86 VUV 98.5
-68.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.60 ₹151
$4.98 VUV 572
-67.87%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.12 ₹106
$1.84 VUV 212
-39.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$12.7K ₹1.2M
$23.0K VUV 2.6M
-44.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.4K ₹1.9M
$37.8K VUV 4.3M
-46.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
India
Vanuatu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$37.48 ₹3,541
$637 VUV 73.2K
-94.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.50 ₹331
$22.66 VUV 2,605
-84.55%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.16 ₹676
$366 VUV 42.1K
-98.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
India
Vanuatu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$14.79 ₹1,398
$68.2 VUV 7,839
-78.31%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.08 ₹669
$16.79 VUV 1,930
-57.83%
Cinema Ticket
$3.06 ₹289
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
India
Vanuatu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$57.0 ₹5,381
$630 VUV 72.4K
-90.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,679 ₹158.6K
$6,900 VUV 793.2K
-75.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
India
Vanuatu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$22.56 ₹2,131
$41.61 VUV 4,783
-45.78%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.04 ₹2,271
$66.5 VUV 7,644
-63.85%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$40.60 ₹3,836
$83.3 VUV 9,573
-51.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$30.39 ₹2,871
$100 VUV 11.5K
-69.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
India
Vanuatu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$145 ₹13.7K
$1,604 VUV 184.4K
-90.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$91.4 ₹8,630
$1,206 VUV 138.6K
-92.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$335 ₹31.6K
$3,352 VUV 385.4K
-90.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$209 ₹19.8K
$1,893 VUV 217.7K
-88.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,233 ₹116.5K
$6,133 VUV 705.0K
-79.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$626 ₹59.1K
$2,314 VUV 266.1K
-72.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
India
Vanuatu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$443 ₹41.9K
$343 VUV 39.4K
29.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.94
6.18
44.66%

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

Last update for India: August 30, 2026

Last update for Vanuatu: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $120 in India, $778 in Vanuatu. Capital cities: $272 in Delhi vs $1,556 in Port Vila.

National salary averages: $408 in India, $497 in Vanuatu. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 548% higher in Vanuatu.

Dining out costs 190% more in Vanuatu.

Public transport is 386% more expensive in Vanuatu.

Salaries are 22% higher in Vanuatu, and purchasing power comes out stronger in India.

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 $529 per month in India and $3,269 in Vanuatu, there's a 518% 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?
Day-to-day life is simply cheaper in India: 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 is consistently higher than in 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 in Vanuatu?
In India, $1,000 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.
Should I move to India or to 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.

India vs other spots: cost of living compared