Cost of Living Comparison Between Vanuatu and Canada Cost of Living Comparison Between Vanuatu and Canada

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,223 per month in Vanuatu vs $2,322 in Canada, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,121 per month in Vanuatu vs $3,376 in Canada, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,019 per month in Vanuatu vs $4,430 in Canada, rent included.

Vanuatu costs about 39% more than Canada on average โ€” the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Both Vanuatu and Canada are pricier than the global median โ€“ Vanuatu by 141%, Canada by 73%.

Canada has a wider regional cost range ($1,331โ€“$3,130) than Vanuatu ($3,025โ€“$3,420), so location matters more when choosing where to live in Canada.

Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Vanuatu
Canada
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.22 VUVย 1,323
$18.54 CA$25.41
-39.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$65.6 VUVย 7,732
$72.6 CA$99.4
-9.59%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.39 VUVย 1,107
$11.14 CA$15.26
-15.71%
Cappuccino
$5.03 VUVย 592
$3.78 CA$5.18
33.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 VUVย 250
$2.09 CA$2.86
1.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73 VUVย 204
$1.70 CA$2.33
1.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.58 VUVย 540
$5.78 CA$7.91
-20.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.14 VUVย 488
$6.05 CA$8.29
-31.57%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Vanuatu
Canada
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.37 VUVย 279
$2.32 CA$3.18
2.16%
White Bread (500g)
$2.87 VUVย 339
$2.72 CA$3.72
5.51%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.80 VUVย 448
$3.79 CA$5.19
0.26%
Eggs
$5.27 VUVย 621
$3.58 CA$4.91
47.21%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$20.27 VUVย 2,389
$11.69 CA$16.02
73.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.62 VUVย 1,958
$12.11 CA$16.59
37.24%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.83 VUVย 1,983
$15.21 CA$20.84
10.65%
Apples (1kg)
$4.89 VUVย 576
$4.26 CA$5.84
14.79%
Banana (1kg)
$2.87 VUVย 339
$1.50 CA$2.05
91.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.32 VUVย 626
$3.84 CA$5.26
38.54%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.41 VUVย 402
$4.10 CA$5.62
-16.83%
Potato (1kg)
$5.09 VUVย 599
$2.66 CA$3.65
91.35%
Onion (1kg)
$2.83 VUVย 333
$2.68 CA$3.67
5.60%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.47 VUVย 292
$2.66 CA$3.65
-7.14%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.35 VUVย 159
$1.83 CA$2.50
-26.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.42 VUVย 1,110
$14.89 CA$20.41
-36.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.47 VUVย 1,941
$13.26 CA$18.16
24.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.16 VUVย 372
$2.94 CA$4.03
7.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91 VUVย 342
$3.31 CA$4.53
-12.08%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Vanuatu
Canada
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.71 VUVย 202
$2.64 CA$3.61
-35.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$67.9 VUVย 7,996
$76.8 CA$105
-11.66%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.13 VUVย 252
$3.36 CA$4.61
-36.61%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 VUVย 96.2
$1.52 CA$2.08
-46.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.15 VUVย 607
$28.96 CA$39.67
-82.22%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.88 VUVย 222
$1.16 CA$1.58
62.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.6K VUVย 2.8M
$25.5K CA$34.9K
-7.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.7K VUVย 4.4M
$21.1K CA$28.9K
78.91%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vanuatu
Canada
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$531 VUVย 62.5K
$155 CA$212
242.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.34 VUVย 2,986
$46.72 CA$64.0
-45.76%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$225 VUVย 26.5K
$63.8 CA$87.5
252.33%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Vanuatu
Canada
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$42.41 CA$58.1
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.06 VUVย 2,010
$17.90 CA$24.52
-4.69%
Cinema Ticket
$12.80 VUVย 1,508
$11.50 CA$15.75
11.30%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Vanuatu
Canada
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$622 VUVย 73.3K
$822 CA$1,126
-24.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,923 VUVย 815.7K
$12.0K CA$16.4K
-42.19%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Vanuatu
Canada
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.46 VUVย 5,474
$56.9 CA$77.9
-18.29%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$66.8 VUVย 7,868
$41.82 CA$57.3
59.66%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$90.1 CA$123
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$110 CA$151
-
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Vanuatu
Canada
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,864 VUVย 219.7K
$1,380 CA$1,890
35.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,762 VUVย 207.6K
$1,207 CA$1,654
45.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,343 VUVย 393.9K
$2,195 CA$3,007
52.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,035 VUVย 239.8K
$1,828 CA$2,504
11.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,456 VUVย 996.3K
$4,856 CA$6,653
74.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,346 VUVย 394.2K
$3,967 CA$5,435
-15.67%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Vanuatu
Canada
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$456 VUVย 53.8K
$3,011 CA$4,124
-84.84%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7
6.33
10.58%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Vanuatu: April 20, 2026

Last update for Canada: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $940 in Vanuatu vs $1,281 in Canada. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,879 in Port Vila and $1,479 in Ottawa.

Average salary: $578 in Vanuatu vs $2,997 in Canada. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 36% higher in Canada.

Dining out costs 106% more in Canada.

Public transport is 94% more expensive in Canada.

Salaries are 419% higher in Canada, giving Canada stronger purchasing power.

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 โ€“ living costs run roughly 44% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in Vanuatu, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Vanuatu consistently has higher rents.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Canada, contributing to the overall 44% price gap. The savings show up everywhere โ€“ from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget in Canada or 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 Vanuatu?
Canada is the budget-friendly choice for expats โ€“ lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.

Vanuatu vs other spots: cost of living compared

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