Cost of Living Comparison Between Italy and Vanuatu Cost of Living Comparison Between Italy and Vanuatu

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,718 in Italy versus $3,223 in Vanuatu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,623 in Italy versus $3,121 in Vanuatu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,527 in Italy versus $3,019 in Vanuatu.

Living in Italy costs about 47% less than in Vanuatu on average.

Both countries sit above the global median: Italy 28% above, Vanuatu 141% above.

Internal cost variation is higher in Italy: monthly costs span $1,195 to $2,531, compared to $3,025$3,420 in Vanuatu. City choice carries more weight in Italy.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Italy
Vanuatu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.20 €14.64
$11.22 VUV 1,327
53.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.2 €69.1
$65.6 VUV 7,760
23.76%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.40 €9.70
$9.39 VUV 1,111
21.41%
Cappuccino
$1.91 €1.62
$5.03 VUV 595
-62.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86 €2.44
$2.12 VUV 251
34.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33 €1.13
$1.73 VUV 205
-23.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.89 €5.02
$4.58 VUV 542
28.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.12 €4.36
$4.14 VUV 490
23.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Italy
Vanuatu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 €1.39
$2.37 VUV 280
-30.80%
White Bread (500g)
$2.30 €1.95
$2.87 VUV 340
-19.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.03 €2.58
$3.80 VUV 450
-20.26%
Eggs
$4.09 €3.48
$5.27 VUV 624
-22.39%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.26 €13.84
$20.27 VUV 2,397
-19.78%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.24 €10.42
$16.62 VUV 1,965
-26.35%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.45 €17.40
$16.83 VUV 1,990
21.51%
Apples (1kg)
$2.55 €2.17
$4.89 VUV 578
-47.85%
Banana (1kg)
$2.12 €1.81
$2.87 VUV 340
-26.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.68 €2.28
$5.32 VUV 629
-49.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.38 €2.88
$3.41 VUV 404
-0.88%
Potato (1kg)
$2.00 €1.70
$5.09 VUV 602
-60.71%
Onion (1kg)
$1.88 €1.60
$2.83 VUV 334
-33.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.47 €1.25
$2.47 VUV 293
-40.49%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54 €0.46
$1.35 VUV 159
-60.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.75 €5.74
$9.42 VUV 1,114
-28.34%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.18 €6.11
$16.47 VUV 1,948
-56.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80 €1.53
$3.16 VUV 374
-43.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45 €2.08
$2.91 VUV 344
-15.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Italy
Vanuatu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.02 €1.72
$1.71 VUV 202
18.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.49 €35.30
$67.9 VUV 8,024
-38.86%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.77 €4.91
$2.13 VUV 252
170.89%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.53 €1.30
$0.82 VUV 96.6
86.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.33 €30.07
$5.15 VUV 609
586.02%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.12 €1.81
$1.88 VUV 223
12.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.3K €27.5K
$23.6K VUV 2.8M
36.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4K €28.4K
$37.7K VUV 4.5M
-11.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Italy
Vanuatu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$224 €190
$531 VUV 62.8K
-57.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.24 €11.26
$25.34 VUV 2,997
-47.75%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.96 €26.35
$225 VUV 26.6K
-86.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Italy
Vanuatu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.6 €48.19
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.11 €21.37
$17.06 VUV 2,018
47.19%
Cinema Ticket
$10.32 €8.78
$12.80 VUV 1,513
-19.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Italy
Vanuatu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$563 €479
$622 VUV 73.5K
-9.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.6K €9,042
$6,923 VUV 818.6K
53.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Italy
Vanuatu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.1 €76.7
$46.46 VUV 5,494
94.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.60 €34.55
$66.8 VUV 7,896
-39.19%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$100 €85.2
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133 €113
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Italy
Vanuatu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$864 €735
$1,864 VUV 220.5K
-53.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$668 €569
$1,762 VUV 208.3K
-62.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,473 €1,254
$3,343 VUV 395.3K
-55.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,088 €926
$2,035 VUV 240.6K
-46.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,808 €3,241
$8,456 VUV 999.9K
-54.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,454 €2,088
$3,346 VUV 395.6K
-26.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Italy
Vanuatu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,935 €1,647
$456 VUV 54.0K
323.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.41
7
-37.00%

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

Last update for Italy: April 21, 2026

Last update for Vanuatu: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $742 in Italy, $940 in Vanuatu. Capital cities: $1,366 in Rome vs $1,879 in Port Vila.

National salary averages: $1,935 in Italy, $578 in Vanuatu. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 27% higher in Vanuatu.

Dining out costs 124% more in Italy.

Public transport is 29% more expensive in Italy.

Salaries are 235% higher in Italy, giving Italy 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
Italy vs Vanuatu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Italy and Vanuatu?
At $1,863 per month in Italy and $3,223 in Vanuatu, there's a 73% 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?
Italy 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 Italy across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget in Italy or Vanuatu?
In Italy, $2,500 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 Italy or Vanuatu?
It depends on what you're after. Italy 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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