Measurement units Temperature, distance and clock format
Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Vanuatu and Canada
For one person, living is cheaper in Canada: $2,317 a month against $3,216 in Vanuatu, rent and utilities included – about $10,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Vanuatu and in Canada actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $3,216 per month in Vanuatu vs $2,317 in Canada, rent included.
Vanuatu $3,216
Canada $2,317
A couple spends around $4,324 per month in Vanuatu vs $3,358 in Canada, rent included.
Vanuatu $4,324
Canada $3,358
A family of three spends $5,432 per month in Vanuatu vs $4,399 in Canada, rent included.
Vanuatu $5,432
Canada $4,399
📏
The regional cost range is wider in Canada ($884–$3,722) than in Vanuatu ($3,155–$3,454), so city choice matters more there.
🌍
The cost of living in Vanuatu is about 39% higher than in Canada on average.
📊
Both Vanuatu and Canada are pricier than the global median – Vanuatu by 137%, Canada by 71%.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Vanuatu
Canada
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.42VUV 1,457
$18.00CA$25.44
-31.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$55.9VUV 6,553
$70.6CA$99.8
-20.88%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.15VUV 1,660
$10.78CA$15.24
31.26%
Cappuccino
$3.97VUV 466
$3.74CA$5.29
6.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30VUV 270
$2.03CA$2.86
13.30%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33VUV 274
$1.71CA$2.42
36.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.03VUV 590
$5.56CA$7.87
-9.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.35VUV 863
$5.64CA$7.98
30.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vanuatu
Canada
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$3.13VUV 367
$2.26CA$3.19
38.50%
White Bread(500g)
$2.50VUV 293
$2.66CA$3.76
-6.02%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.86VUV 452
$3.50CA$4.94
10.29%
Eggs
$6.21VUV 728
$3.64CA$5.14
70.60%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.29VUV 1,911
$10.82CA$15.29
50.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.00VUV 1,876
$11.82CA$16.71
35.36%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.25VUV 1,554
$15.48CA$21.88
-14.41%
Apples(1kg)
$6.57VUV 771
$4.14CA$5.85
58.70%
Banana(1kg)
$2.07VUV 243
$1.43CA$2.02
44.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.91VUV 459
$3.84CA$5.43
1.82%
Tomato(1kg)
$10.09VUV 1,184
$4.11CA$5.81
145.50%
Potato(1kg)
$8.96VUV 1,052
$2.60CA$3.67
244.62%
Onion(1kg)
$4.34VUV 510
$2.44CA$3.45
77.87%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.60VUV 305
$2.54CA$3.60
2.36%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16VUV 137
$1.71CA$2.42
-32.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.57VUV 1,122
$14.03CA$19.83
-31.79%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.45VUV 1,460
$13.34CA$18.85
-6.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.94VUV 344
$2.92CA$4.13
0.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99VUV 351
$3.18CA$4.50
-5.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Vanuatu
Canada
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.29VUV 151
$2.42CA$3.43
-46.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$67.7VUV 7,943
$73.1CA$103
-7.35%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.51VUV 295
$3.17CA$4.49
-20.82%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81VUV 95.4
$1.45CA$2.05
-44.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.00VUV 587
$26.76CA$37.83
-81.32%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.84VUV 216
$1.23CA$1.74
49.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.0KVUV 2.7M
$27.5KCA$38.9K
-16.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.3KVUV 4.4M
$21.2KCA$29.9K
76.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vanuatu
Canada
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$624VUV 73.2K
$146CA$207
326.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.95VUV 2,692
$42.95CA$60.7
-46.57%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$360VUV 42.2K
$58.3CA$82.4
517.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vanuatu
Canada
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.9VUV 7,963
$40.50CA$57.3
67.63%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80VUV 1,971
$19.38CA$27.40
-13.31%
Cinema Ticket
-
$11.17CA$15.79
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vanuatu
Canada
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$632VUV 74.1K
$771CA$1,090
-18.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,850VUV 803.5K
$14.5KCA$20.5K
-52.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vanuatu
Canada
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$40.81VUV 4,787
$53.9CA$76.2
-24.31%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$66.5VUV 7,797
$38.89CA$55.0
70.92%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.2VUV 9,991
$88.3CA$125
-3.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103VUV 12.1K
$101CA$143
1.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vanuatu
Canada
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,566VUV 183.7K
$1,262CA$1,784
24.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,198VUV 140.6K
$1,139CA$1,610
5.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,359VUV 394.0K
$2,060CA$2,913
63.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,897VUV 222.5K
$1,730CA$2,445
9.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,080VUV 713.1K
$4,554CA$6,438
33.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,184VUV 256.2K
$3,933CA$5,560
-44.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vanuatu
Canada
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$345VUV 40.4K
$3,050CA$4,312
-88.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.18
4.87
26.90%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Vanuatu: October 20, 2026
Last update for Canada: October 20, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Vanuatu
$1.2K 37.3%
Canada
$1.1K 49.2% ↓ 4.9%$59
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vanuatu
$1K 31.3%
Canada
$248 10.7% ↓ 75.4%$760
🛒Groceries & Markets
Vanuatu
$482 15%
Canada
$372 16.1% ↓ 22.9%$110
🍽Eating Out
Vanuatu
$248 7.7%
Canada
$275 11.9% ↑ 11.1%$27
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Vanuatu
$133 4.1%
Canada
$127 5.5% ↓ 4.5%$6
🚌Getting Around
Vanuatu
$79 2.5%
Canada
$93 4% ↑ 17.3%$14
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Vanuatu
$68 * 2.1%
Canada
$63 2.7% ↓ 7.4%$5
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Vanuatu
$1.9K 34.9%
Canada
$1.7K 39.3% ↓ 8.8%$167
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vanuatu
$1K 19%
Canada
$290 6.6% ↓ 71.8%$740
🛒Groceries & Markets
Vanuatu
$1.1K 20.8%
Canada
$850 19.3% ↓ 24.8%$280
🍽Eating Out
Vanuatu
$766 14.1%
Canada
$910 20.7% ↑ 18.8%$144
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Vanuatu
$296 5.4%
Canada
$282 6.4% ↓ 4.5%$13
🚌Getting Around
Vanuatu
$161 3%
Canada
$191 4.4% ↑ 18.5%$30
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Vanuatu
$153 * 2.8%
Canada
$145 3.3% ↓ 4.9%$7.5
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $794 in Vanuatu vs $1,207 in Canada. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,587 in Port Vila and $1,437 in Ottawa.
💰Average salary: $488 in Vanuatu vs $2,936 in Canada. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 52% higher in Canada.
⭐Dining out costs 129% more in Canada.
⭐Public transport is 79% more expensive in Canada.
⭐Salaries are 502% higher in Canada, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Canada.
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
Vanuatu vs Canada: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Canada more expensive than Vanuatu?
Canada is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 39% lower on average.
Is everything cheaper in Canada?
Not necessarily. Overall, Vanuatu costs about 39% more, but the gap varies by category, and some expenses can be lower in Vanuatu. Compare the categories that matter most for your budget.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget in Canada or in Vanuatu?
$2,500 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Canada, but in Vanuatu it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Canada or to Vanuatu?
Canada 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.