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: $2,980 in Port Vila versus $2,462 in Calgary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,025 in Port Vila versus $3,628 in Calgary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,070 in Port Vila versus $4,795 in Calgary.

Living in Port Vila is roughly 21% more expensive than in Calgary, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Port Vila 123% above, Calgary 84% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.23 VUV 1,307

$18.33 CA$25.70

-38.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.2 VUV 7,473

$69.9 CA$98.0

-8.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.37 VUV 1,091

$10.95 CA$15.35

-14.43%

Cappuccino

$5.06 VUV 590

$3.74 CA$5.24

35.29%

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

$2.18 VUV 253

$2.04 CA$2.86

6.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.69 VUV 197

$1.67 CA$2.34

1.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.42 VUV 515

$5.20 CA$7.29

-15.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.19 VUV 488

$6.71 CA$9.41

-37.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.22 VUV 258

$2.25 CA$3.15

-1.33%

White Bread (500g)

$2.48 VUV 289

$2.75 CA$3.85

-9.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.85 VUV 448

$3.23 CA$4.53

19.20%

Eggs

$5.19 VUV 604

$3.45 CA$4.83

50.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$20.31 VUV 2,364

$14.40 CA$20.19

41.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.40 VUV 2,142

$12.89 CA$18.07

42.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.41 VUV 2,143

$15.86 CA$22.24

16.08%

Apples (1kg)

$4.82 VUV 561

$4.30 CA$6.02

12.09%

Banana (1kg)

$2.09 VUV 243

$1.34 CA$1.88

55.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.08 VUV 708

$3.85 CA$5.40

57.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.55 VUV 297

$4.25 CA$5.97

-40.00%

Potato (1kg)

$4.24 VUV 494

$2.55 CA$3.57

66.27%

Onion (1kg)

$2.08 VUV 243

$2.62 CA$3.68

-20.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.59 VUV 301

$2.80 CA$3.92

-7.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 VUV 123

$1.95 CA$2.73

-46.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.99 VUV 1,047

$14.97 CA$20.99

-39.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.67 VUV 1,475

$13.90 CA$19.49

-8.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 VUV 348

$2.92 CA$4.10

2.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 VUV 351

$3.91 CA$5.48

-22.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.69 VUV 197

$2.74 CA$3.84

-38.32%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$66.6 VUV 7,758

$87.8 CA$123

-24.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.15 VUV 251

$3.60 CA$5.04

-40.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.82 VUV 95.8

$1.30 CA$1.82

-36.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.04 VUV 587

$28.70 CA$40.24

-82.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.85 VUV 215

$1.12 CA$1.57

65.18%

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

$23.5K VUV 2.7M

$25.5K CA$35.7K

-7.83%

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

$38.0K VUV 4.4M

$21.7K CA$30.5K

74.92%

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

$542 VUV 63.1K

$213 CA$299

154.54%

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

$24.94 VUV 2,903

$40.96 CA$57.4

-39.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$226 VUV 26.3K

$57.9 CA$81.2

290.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.2 CA$76.0

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.52 VUV 1,923

$53.8 CA$75.4

-69.27%

Cinema Ticket

$12.55 VUV 1,461

$12.63 CA$17.71

-0.63%

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

$620 VUV 72.1K

$874 CA$1,226

-29.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,934 VUV 807.2K

$15.9K CA$22.3K

-56.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.05 VUV 5,361

$58.6 CA$82.2

-21.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$67.3 VUV 7,839

$47.01 CA$65.9

43.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.1 CA$119

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 CA$151

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,894 VUV 220.5K

$1,380 CA$1,935

37.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,412 VUV 164.3K

$1,159 CA$1,625

21.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,379 VUV 393.4K

$2,324 CA$3,259

45.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,063 VUV 240.2K

$1,905 CA$2,670

8.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,092 VUV 709.2K

$3,786 CA$5,308

60.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,199 VUV 256.0K

$3,511 CA$4,922

-37.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$689 VUV 80.2K

$2,940 CA$4,121

-76.57%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.71

22.59%

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

Last update for Port Vila: July 14, 2026

Last update for Calgary: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,894 in Port Vila and $1,380 in Calgary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 327% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $64.0 in Port Vila vs $70.0 in Calgary. Groceries flip the comparison at $451 vs $396, 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 21% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 327% 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: $1,894 in Port Vila versus $1,380 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 $70.0 versus $64.0 in Port Vila. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,980 per month in Port Vila versus $2,462 in Calgary – a 21% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,462 in Calgary versus $2,980 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 21% less than in Port Vila. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.