Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between the United States and Vanuatu

Name: Vanuatu
Address: VU

For one person, living is cheaper in the United States: $2,727 a month against $3,216 in Vanuatu, rent and utilities included – about $5,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

132

Cost of Living Index in the United States
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United States Living Index
156

Cost of Living Index in Vanuatu
Learn more

Vanuatu Living Index

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🇺🇸 United States

$2,727

/mo nomad

🇻🇺 Vanuatu

$3,216

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in the United States and in Vanuatu

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in the United States and in Vanuatu actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,727 per month in the United States vs $3,216 in Vanuatu, rent included.

United States $2,727
Vanuatu $3,216

A couple spends around $4,009 per month in the United States vs $4,324 in Vanuatu, rent included.

United States $4,009
Vanuatu $4,324

A family of three spends $5,291 per month in the United States vs $5,432 in Vanuatu, rent included.

United States $5,291
Vanuatu $5,432

The regional cost range is wider in the United States ($977–$5,215) than in Vanuatu ($3,155–$3,454), so city choice matters more there.

The cost of living in the United States is roughly 15% lower than in Vanuatu on average.

Both the United States and Vanuatu are pricier than the global median – the United States by 101%, Vanuatu by 137%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.73 $19.73

$12.42 VUV 1,457

58.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.0 $81.0

$55.9 VUV 6,553

44.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.98 $11.98

$14.15 VUV 1,660

-15.34%

Cappuccino

$5.59 $5.59

$3.97 VUV 466

40.81%

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

$2.78 $2.78

$2.30 VUV 270

20.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 $2.10

$2.33 VUV 274

-9.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.98 $5.98

$5.03 VUV 590

18.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.92 $7.92

$7.35 VUV 863

7.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.03 $1.03

$3.13 VUV 367

-67.09%

White Bread (500g)

$3.75 $3.75

$2.50 VUV 293

50.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$3.86 VUV 452

15.54%

Eggs

$4.34 $4.34

$6.21 VUV 728

-30.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.75 $12.75

$16.29 VUV 1,911

-21.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.27 $12.27

$16.00 VUV 1,876

-23.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.29 $17.29

$13.25 VUV 1,554

30.49%

Apples (1kg)

$5.31 $5.31

$6.57 VUV 771

-19.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.67 $1.67

$2.07 VUV 243

-19.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$3.91 VUV 459

10.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.03 $5.03

$10.09 VUV 1,184

-50.15%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$8.96 VUV 1,052

-68.64%

Onion (1kg)

$3.05 $3.05

$4.34 VUV 510

-29.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.22 $2.22

$2.60 VUV 305

-14.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.16 VUV 137

102.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.92 $10.92

$9.57 VUV 1,122

14.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.87 $14.87

$12.45 VUV 1,460

19.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.10 $2.10

$2.94 VUV 344

-28.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.62 $3.62

$2.99 VUV 351

21.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.29 VUV 151

90.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$65.7 $65.7

$67.7 VUV 7,943

-2.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.58 $3.58

$2.51 VUV 295

42.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 $1.90

$0.81 VUV 95.4

134.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.51 $29.51

$5.00 VUV 587

490.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.84 VUV 216

-44.57%

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

$28.3K $28.3K

$23.0K VUV 2.7M

22.81%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$37.3K VUV 4.4M

-30.44%

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

$221 $221

$624 VUV 73.2K

-64.64%

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

$61.3 $61.3

$22.95 VUV 2,692

167.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.3 $73.3

$360 VUV 42.2K

-79.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.89 $44.89

$67.9 VUV 7,963

-33.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.65 $22.65

$16.80 VUV 1,971

34.82%

Cinema Ticket

$15.16 $15.16

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

$1,471 $1,471

$632 VUV 74.1K

132.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.0K $25.0K

$6,850 VUV 803.5K

265.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.5 $53.5

$40.81 VUV 4,787

31.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.76 $43.76

$66.5 VUV 7,797

-34.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.0 $92.0

$85.2 VUV 9,991

8.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 $114

$103 VUV 12.1K

10.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,654 $1,654

$1,566 VUV 183.7K

5.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,332 $1,332

$1,198 VUV 140.6K

11.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,669 $2,669

$3,359 VUV 394.0K

-20.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,207 $2,207

$1,897 VUV 222.5K

16.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,054 $3,054

$6,080 VUV 713.1K

-49.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,522 $2,522

$2,184 VUV 256.2K

15.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,391 $4,391

$345 VUV 40.4K

1173.60%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.55

6.18

5.99%

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

Last update for the United States: October 18, 2026

Last update for Vanuatu: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

United States

$1.3K 48.9%

Vanuatu

$1.2K 37.3% 10% $134

Groceries & Markets

United States

$413 15.1%

Vanuatu

$482 15% 16.8% $70

Monthly Utilities & Internet

United States

$355 13%

Vanuatu

$1K 31.3% 184% $652

Eating Out

United States

$326 12%

Vanuatu

$248 7.7% 24% $78

Clothing & Footwear

United States

$137 5%

Vanuatu

$133 4.1% 2.6% $3.6

Getting Around

United States

$89 3.3%

Vanuatu

$79 2.5% 10.3% $9.2

Sport & Entertainment

United States

$75 2.8%

Vanuatu

$68 * 2.1% 9.7% $7.3

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,612 in the United States vs $794 in Vanuatu. For reference, capital cities sit at $2,743 in Washington, DC and $1,587 in Port Vila.

Average salary: $4,548 in the United States vs $488 in Vanuatu. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 103% higher in the United States.

Dining out costs 168% more in the United States.

Public transport is 22% more expensive in Vanuatu.

Salaries are 832% higher in the United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in the United States.

Good to know

🇺🇸 United States

🇻🇺 Vanuatu

🕒 Local time

10:10 10:10 AM

01:10 1:10 AM

15 h ahead of the United States

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

340,110,988

300,019

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

Vanuatu Vatu VUV Vt

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

1,000 VUV = 8.53 USD

1,000 VUV = 7.58 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

VUV, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

🇻🇺 Vanuatu Vatu (Vt)

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 23, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Vanuatu Vatu exchange rates as of October 23, 2026: 1 USD = 117 VUV (1,000 VUV = 8.53 USD). 1 EUR = 132 VUV (1,000 VUV = 7.58 EUR).

VUV to USD in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

United States Vanuatu 12,440 km ≈ 16 h nonstop flight

From you

United States
Vanuatu

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

The United States is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 18% lower on average.

Not necessarily. Overall, Vanuatu costs about 18% more, but the gap varies by category, and some expenses can be lower in Vanuatu. Compare the categories that matter most for your budget.

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

The 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.