Cost of Living Comparison Between Port Vila and Calgary Cost of Living Comparison Between Port Vila and Calgary

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,162 in Port Vila versus $2,353 in Calgary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,309 in Port Vila versus $3,488 in Calgary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,456 in Port Vila versus $4,622 in Calgary.

Living in Port Vila is roughly 34% more expensive than in Calgary, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Port Vila 130% above, Calgary 71% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.55 VUV 1,446

$17.94 CA$24.74

-30.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$57.5 VUV 6,626

$70.5 CA$97.3

-18.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.58 VUV 1,681

$10.69 CA$14.74

36.39%

Cappuccino

$4.14 VUV 477

$3.79 CA$5.22

9.23%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 VUV 261

$2.00 CA$2.76

13.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.45 VUV 282

$1.98 CA$2.72

23.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.97 VUV 573

$5.19 CA$7.16

-4.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.03 VUV 810

$5.86 CA$8.08

19.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.74 VUV 316

$1.95 CA$2.69

40.51%

White Bread (500g)

$1.89 VUV 217

$2.82 CA$3.89

-32.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.66 VUV 422

$5.61 CA$7.74

-34.76%

Eggs

$6.35 VUV 731

$3.75 CA$5.17

69.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.86 VUV 2,058

$11.50 CA$15.86

55.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.17 VUV 1,864

$11.46 CA$15.81

41.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.93 VUV 1,605

$18.95 CA$26.14

-26.49%

Apples (1kg)

$6.96 VUV 802

$4.83 CA$6.66

44.10%

Banana (1kg)

$2.14 VUV 246

$1.37 CA$1.89

56.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.95 VUV 456

$4.25 CA$5.86

-7.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$9.34 VUV 1,076

$4.15 CA$5.72

125.06%

Potato (1kg)

$8.81 VUV 1,015

$2.70 CA$3.73

226.30%

Onion (1kg)

$3.50 VUV 403

$2.83 CA$3.90

23.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.48 VUV 285

$2.64 CA$3.64

-6.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 VUV 140

$1.51 CA$2.08

-19.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.19 VUV 1,059

$14.60 CA$20.14

-37.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.65 VUV 1,458

$15.76 CA$21.73

-19.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.43 VUV 279

$2.60 CA$3.58

-6.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.75 VUV 316

$3.08 CA$4.25

-10.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.26 VUV 145

$2.93 CA$4.04

-57.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$68.3 VUV 7,872

$89.3 CA$123

-23.48%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.56 VUV 294

$3.32 CA$4.58

-22.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.80 VUV 92.1

$1.43 CA$1.97

-44.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.19 VUV 598

$27.71 CA$38.21

-81.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.74 VUV 201

$1.26 CA$1.74

38.10%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$23.1K VUV 2.7M

$28.9K CA$39.9K

-20.17%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$38.5K VUV 4.4M

$21.3K CA$29.4K

80.38%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$635 VUV 73.1K

$183 CA$252

246.88%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$22.76 VUV 2,623

$38.31 CA$52.8

-40.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$366 VUV 42.2K

$51.7 CA$71.3

609.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.6 VUV 7,787

$54.9 CA$75.7

23.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.59 VUV 1,912

$18.66 CA$25.73

-11.09%

Cinema Ticket

$14.26 CA$19.66

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$630 VUV 72.6K

$828 CA$1,142

-23.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,806 VUV 784.3K

$15.9K CA$21.9K

-57.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.39 VUV 4,886

$59.6 CA$82.1

-28.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$68.3 VUV 7,876

$39.47 CA$54.4

73.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.8 VUV 9,544

$94.3 CA$130

-12.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 VUV 11.9K

$113 CA$156

-8.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,556 VUV 179.3K

$1,265 CA$1,744

23.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,147 VUV 132.2K

$1,051 CA$1,450

9.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,423 VUV 394.5K

$1,934 CA$2,667

76.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,899 VUV 218.8K

$1,700 CA$2,344

11.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,073 VUV 699.8K

$3,680 CA$5,075

65.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,260 VUV 260.4K

$3,333 CA$4,597

-32.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$700 VUV 80.7K

$3,276 CA$4,518

-78.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.18

4.4

40.45%

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

Last update for Port Vila: August 30, 2026

Last update for Calgary: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,556 in Port Vila and $1,265 in Calgary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 368% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $57.0 in Port Vila vs $71.0 in Calgary. Groceries flip the comparison at $473 vs $397, with Calgary cheaper for home cooking.

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

Port Vila vs Calgary: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Calgary is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 34% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 368% lower in Calgary. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,556 in Port Vila versus $1,265 in Calgary. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Calgary – a meal for two runs $71.0 versus $57.0 in Port Vila. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,162 per month in Port Vila versus $2,353 in Calgary – a 34% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,353 in Calgary versus $3,162 in Port Vila, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Calgary but tight or insufficient in Port Vila. The gap between the two cities makes Calgary the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Port Vila and Calgary are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Calgary gentler on the wallet – expenses run 34% less than in Port Vila. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.