Cost of Living Comparison Between United States and Vanuatu Cost of Living Comparison Between United States and Vanuatu

Name: Vanuatu
Address: VU

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,643 per month in United States vs $3,224 in Vanuatu, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,857 per month in United States vs $3,154 in Vanuatu, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,071 per month in United States vs $3,083 in Vanuatu, rent included.

The cost of living in United States is roughly 18% lower than in Vanuatu on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Both United States and Vanuatu are pricier than the global median – United States by 98%, Vanuatu by 141%.

The regional cost range is wider in United States ($1,341–$5,102) than in Vanuatu ($3,042–$3,406), so city choice matters more there.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.02 $20.02

$11.39 VUV 1,325

75.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.7 $74.7

$64.3 VUV 7,490

16.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.67 $11.67

$9.58 VUV 1,115

21.82%

Cappuccino

$5.30 $5.30

$5.10 VUV 594

3.92%

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

$2.48 $2.48

$2.13 VUV 248

16.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 $2.11

$1.71 VUV 199

23.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.82 $5.82

$4.51 VUV 525

29.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.92 $6.92

$4.11 VUV 478

68.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 $1.07

$2.45 VUV 285

-56.33%

White Bread (500g)

$3.62 $3.62

$2.73 VUV 318

32.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.68 $4.68

$3.73 VUV 435

25.47%

Eggs

$4.23 $4.23

$5.14 VUV 598

-17.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.07 $13.07

$20.00 VUV 2,329

-34.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.42 $12.42

$16.59 VUV 1,932

-25.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.12 $16.12

$16.76 VUV 1,951

-3.82%

Apples (1kg)

$5.27 $5.27

$4.71 VUV 549

11.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 $1.66

$2.78 VUV 323

-40.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$5.50 VUV 641

-18.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.02 $5.02

$3.33 VUV 388

50.75%

Potato (1kg)

$2.97 $2.97

$5.17 VUV 602

-42.55%

Onion (1kg)

$3.16 $3.16

$2.82 VUV 328

12.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.51 VUV 292

-13.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$1.32 VUV 154

72.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.07 $10.07

$9.56 VUV 1,113

5.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.27 $15.27

$14.82 VUV 1,725

3.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.94 $1.94

$3.28 VUV 382

-40.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.55 $3.55

$2.93 VUV 341

21.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.45 $2.45

$1.71 VUV 199

43.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$65.0 $65.0

$68.1 VUV 7,929

-4.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.84 $3.84

$2.15 VUV 250

78.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.71 $1.71

$0.81 VUV 94.9

111.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.30 $30.30

$4.99 VUV 581

507.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$1.94 VUV 226

-54.64%

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

$29.7K $29.7K

$23.0K VUV 2.7M

28.95%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$38.5K VUV 4.5M

-31.27%

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

$204 $204

$545 VUV 63.5K

-62.53%

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

$57.4 $57.4

$25.05 VUV 2,916

129.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.5 $70.5

$232 VUV 27.0K

-69.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.43 $45.43

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.15 $22.15

$17.11 VUV 1,992

29.46%

Cinema Ticket

$14.14 $14.14

$12.77 VUV 1,486

10.73%

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

$1,373 $1,373

$626 VUV 72.8K

119.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.0K $23.0K

$6,974 VUV 811.8K

229.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.5 $51.5

$46.39 VUV 5,400

11.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.10 $43.10

$68.0 VUV 7,910

-36.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.1 $90.1

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 $115

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,703 $1,703

$1,896 VUV 220.7K

-10.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,451 $1,451

$1,808 VUV 210.4K

-19.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,834 $2,834

$3,414 VUV 397.4K

-16.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,365 $2,365

$2,096 VUV 244.0K

12.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,338 $3,338

$6,075 VUV 707.2K

-45.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,570 $2,570

$2,207 VUV 256.9K

16.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,326 $4,326

$336 VUV 39.1K

1186.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

-7.00%

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

Last update for United States: July 19, 2026

Last update for Vanuatu: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,635 in United States vs $942 in Vanuatu. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,604 in Washington, MI and $1,885 in Port Vila.

Average salary: $4,500 in United States vs $490 in Vanuatu. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 74% higher in United States.

Dining out costs 128% more in United States.

Public transport is 32% more expensive in Vanuatu.

Salaries are 818% higher in United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in United States.

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

United States vs Vanuatu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Housing costs more in Vanuatu, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Vanuatu consistently has higher rents.

$4,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in United States, but in Vanuatu it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.

United States is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.