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: $389 in India versus $3,223 in Vanuatu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $618 in India versus $3,121 in Vanuatu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $846 in India versus $3,019 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.

Internal cost variation is higher in India: monthly costs span $272 to $901, compared to $3,025$3,420 in Vanuatu. City choice carries more weight in India.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
India
Vanuatu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.53 ₹236
$11.22 VUV 1,323
-77.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.21 ₹1,324
$65.6 VUV 7,732
-78.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.03 ₹376
$9.39 VUV 1,107
-57.08%
Cappuccino
$1.81 ₹168
$5.03 VUV 592
-64.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43 ₹40.31
$2.12 VUV 250
-79.72%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.14 ₹13.49
$1.73 VUV 204
-91.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.03 ₹189
$4.58 VUV 540
-55.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.56 ₹331
$4.14 VUV 488
-14.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
India
Vanuatu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.73 ₹68.4
$2.37 VUV 279
-69.20%
White Bread (500g)
$0.51 ₹47.95
$2.87 VUV 339
-82.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.71 ₹66.5
$3.80 VUV 448
-81.32%
Eggs
$0.92 ₹85.5
$5.27 VUV 621
-82.54%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.38 ₹501
$20.27 VUV 2,389
-73.46%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.15 ₹294
$16.62 VUV 1,958
-81.05%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$16.83 VUV 1,983
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.19 ₹204
$4.89 VUV 576
-55.21%
Banana (1kg)
$0.76 ₹70.9
$2.87 VUV 339
-73.52%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.05 ₹98.2
$5.32 VUV 626
-80.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.54 ₹49.95
$3.41 VUV 402
-84.16%
Potato (1kg)
$0.39 ₹36.73
$5.09 VUV 599
-92.34%
Onion (1kg)
$0.45 ₹42.13
$2.83 VUV 333
-84.10%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.55 ₹51.4
$2.47 VUV 292
-77.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.33 ₹30.49
$1.35 VUV 159
-75.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.12 ₹384
$9.42 VUV 1,110
-56.26%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.51 ₹700
$16.47 VUV 1,941
-54.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.87 ₹175
$3.16 VUV 372
-40.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01 ₹280
$2.91 VUV 342
3.44%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
$5.74 ₹535
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
India
Vanuatu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.37 ₹34.14
$1.71 VUV 202
-78.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.64 ₹899
$67.9 VUV 7,996
-85.79%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.89 ₹83.3
$2.13 VUV 252
-58.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.28 ₹25.95
$0.82 VUV 96.2
-65.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.70 ₹158
$5.15 VUV 607
-66.99%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 ₹114
$1.88 VUV 222
-34.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$13.9K ₹1.3M
$23.6K VUV 2.8M
-41.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.3K ₹2.1M
$37.7K VUV 4.4M
-40.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
India
Vanuatu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$39.60 ₹3,690
$531 VUV 62.5K
-92.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.88 ₹361
$25.34 VUV 2,986
-84.69%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.76 ₹723
$225 VUV 26.5K
-96.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
India
Vanuatu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$16.21 ₹1,510
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.67 ₹715
$17.06 VUV 2,010
-55.04%
Cinema Ticket
$3.42 ₹319
$12.80 VUV 1,508
-73.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
India
Vanuatu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$70.4 ₹6,562
$622 VUV 73.3K
-88.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,830 ₹170.5K
$6,923 VUV 815.7K
-73.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
India
Vanuatu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.48 ₹2,374
$46.46 VUV 5,474
-45.16%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.46 ₹2,466
$66.8 VUV 7,868
-60.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$45.74 ₹4,261
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$33.10 ₹3,084
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
India
Vanuatu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$173 ₹16.1K
$1,864 VUV 219.7K
-90.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$111 ₹10.4K
$1,762 VUV 207.6K
-93.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$409 ₹38.1K
$3,343 VUV 393.9K
-87.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$255 ₹23.8K
$2,035 VUV 239.8K
-87.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,223 ₹113.9K
$8,456 VUV 996.3K
-85.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$633 ₹59.0K
$3,346 VUV 394.2K
-81.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
India
Vanuatu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$435 ₹40.5K
$456 VUV 53.8K
-4.73%
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: April 21, 2026

Last update for Vanuatu: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $127 in India, $940 in Vanuatu. Capital cities: $234 in Delhi vs $1,879 in Port Vila.

National salary averages: $404 in India, $578 in Vanuatu. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 640% higher in Vanuatu.

Dining out costs 200% more in Vanuatu.

Public transport is 278% more expensive in Vanuatu.

Salaries are 43% 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 $587 per month in India and $3,223 in Vanuatu, there's a 449% 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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