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: $1,717 in Italy versus $3,227 in Vanuatu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,624 in Italy versus $3,156 in Vanuatu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,530 in Italy versus $3,085 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 $1,170 to $2,508, compared to $2,983$3,471 in Vanuatu. City choice carries more weight in Italy.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Italy
Vanuatu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.44 €15.13
$11.00 VUV 1,270
58.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.5 €68.9
$63.7 VUV 7,350
24.78%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.76 €10.20
$9.42 VUV 1,087
24.84%
Cappuccino
$2.00 €1.73
$5.04 VUV 582
-60.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 €2.61
$2.22 VUV 256
35.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35 €1.17
$1.75 VUV 202
-22.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.94 €5.15
$4.45 VUV 513
33.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.36 €4.65
$4.25 VUV 490
26.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Italy
Vanuatu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 €1.42
$2.40 VUV 277
-31.67%
White Bread (500g)
$2.41 €2.09
$2.73 VUV 315
-11.72%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.99 €2.60
$3.83 VUV 442
-21.93%
Eggs
$3.96 €3.44
$5.25 VUV 606
-24.57%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.84 €14.61
$20.37 VUV 2,351
-17.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.43 €10.78
$16.76 VUV 1,934
-25.84%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.29 €17.60
$16.78 VUV 1,937
20.92%
Apples (1kg)
$2.47 €2.15
$4.79 VUV 553
-48.43%
Banana (1kg)
$2.15 €1.87
$2.79 VUV 322
-22.94%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.65 €2.30
$5.47 VUV 631
-51.55%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.40 €2.95
$3.45 VUV 398
-1.45%
Potato (1kg)
$1.92 €1.67
$5.12 VUV 591
-62.50%
Onion (1kg)
$1.81 €1.57
$2.86 VUV 330
-36.71%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.55 €1.34
$2.46 VUV 283
-36.99%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54 €0.47
$1.33 VUV 154
-59.40%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.79 €5.89
$9.46 VUV 1,092
-28.22%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.18 €6.23
$14.39 VUV 1,661
-50.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80 €1.56
$3.16 VUV 364
-43.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 €2.10
$2.94 VUV 339
-17.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Italy
Vanuatu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.00 €1.73
$1.73 VUV 199
15.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$42.35 €36.73
$68.0 VUV 7,843
-37.68%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.94 €5.16
$2.05 VUV 236
189.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.51 €1.31
$0.87 VUV 101
73.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.04 €29.53
$5.12 VUV 591
564.84%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.05 €1.78
$1.87 VUV 215
9.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.8K €28.5K
$23.2K VUV 2.7M
41.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.7K €29.2K
$38.1K VUV 4.4M
-11.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Italy
Vanuatu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$225 €196
$544 VUV 62.8K
-58.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.25 €11.49
$25.63 VUV 2,958
-48.30%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.95 €26.85
$228 VUV 26.3K
-86.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Italy
Vanuatu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.7 €48.36
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.15 €21.82
$16.78 VUV 1,936
49.88%
Cinema Ticket
$10.25 €8.89
$12.41 VUV 1,432
-17.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Italy
Vanuatu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$576 €500
$611 VUV 70.5K
-5.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.5K €9,074
$6,863 VUV 792.1K
52.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Italy
Vanuatu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.8 €79.7
$46.56 VUV 5,373
97.21%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.72 €35.32
$67.5 VUV 7,788
-39.66%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.0 €85.0
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$131 €113
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Italy
Vanuatu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$860 €746
$1,845 VUV 212.9K
-53.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$667 €578
$1,758 VUV 202.8K
-62.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,475 €1,280
$3,380 VUV 390.1K
-56.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,087 €943
$2,037 VUV 235.1K
-46.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,850 €3,340
$6,133 VUV 707.8K
-37.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,359 €2,046
$2,231 VUV 257.4K
5.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Italy
Vanuatu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,933 €1,677
$338 VUV 39.1K
471.27%
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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Vanuatu: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $743 in Italy, $941 in Vanuatu. Capital cities: $1,325 in Rome vs $1,882 in Port Vila.

National salary averages: $1,949 in Italy, $496 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 293% 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 $1,839 per month in Italy and $3,227 in Vanuatu, there's a 75% 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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