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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,227 per month in Vanuatu vs $2,316 in Canada, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,156 per month in Vanuatu vs $3,376 in Canada, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,085 per month in Vanuatu vs $4,436 in Canada, rent included.

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

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

Canada has a wider regional cost range ($1,310$3,100) than Vanuatu ($2,983$3,471), so location matters more when choosing where to live in Canada.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Vanuatu
Canada
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.00 VUV 1,270
$18.44 CA$25.69
-40.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.7 VUV 7,350
$74.5 CA$104
-14.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.42 VUV 1,087
$10.88 CA$15.16
-13.42%
Cappuccino
$5.04 VUV 582
$3.90 CA$5.43
29.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22 VUV 256
$2.16 CA$3.01
2.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 VUV 202
$1.73 CA$2.42
1.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.45 VUV 513
$5.74 CA$7.99
-22.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.25 VUV 490
$6.05 CA$8.43
-29.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vanuatu
Canada
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.40 VUV 277
$2.20 CA$3.07
9.09%
White Bread (500g)
$2.73 VUV 315
$2.75 CA$3.84
-0.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.83 VUV 442
$3.66 CA$5.10
4.64%
Eggs
$5.25 VUV 606
$3.63 CA$5.06
44.63%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$20.37 VUV 2,351
$11.72 CA$16.32
73.81%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.76 VUV 1,934
$12.28 CA$17.11
36.48%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.78 VUV 1,937
$14.88 CA$20.73
12.77%
Apples (1kg)
$4.79 VUV 553
$4.14 CA$5.76
15.70%
Banana (1kg)
$2.79 VUV 322
$1.45 CA$2.03
92.41%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.47 VUV 631
$3.79 CA$5.28
44.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.45 VUV 398
$4.09 CA$5.69
-15.65%
Potato (1kg)
$5.12 VUV 591
$2.73 CA$3.81
87.55%
Onion (1kg)
$2.86 VUV 330
$2.77 CA$3.85
3.25%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.46 VUV 283
$2.62 CA$3.64
-6.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 VUV 154
$1.87 CA$2.60
-28.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.46 VUV 1,092
$14.79 CA$20.61
-36.04%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.39 VUV 1,661
$13.08 CA$18.22
10.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.16 VUV 364
$3.03 CA$4.22
4.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94 VUV 339
$3.41 CA$4.75
-13.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Vanuatu
Canada
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.73 VUV 199
$2.52 CA$3.51
-31.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$68.0 VUV 7,843
$77.9 CA$108
-12.72%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.05 VUV 236
$3.49 CA$4.86
-41.26%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.87 VUV 101
$1.48 CA$2.06
-41.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.12 VUV 591
$28.25 CA$39.36
-81.88%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.87 VUV 215
$1.15 CA$1.60
62.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.2K VUV 2.7M
$25.4K CA$35.4K
-8.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.1K VUV 4.4M
$20.6K CA$28.7K
84.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vanuatu
Canada
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$544 VUV 62.8K
$155 CA$216
251.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.63 VUV 2,958
$45.76 CA$63.8
-43.99%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$228 VUV 26.3K
$62.2 CA$86.6
266.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vanuatu
Canada
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$43.67 CA$60.8
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.78 VUV 1,936
$18.14 CA$25.27
-7.50%
Cinema Ticket
$12.41 VUV 1,432
$11.38 CA$15.86
9.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vanuatu
Canada
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$611 VUV 70.5K
$798 CA$1,111
-23.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,863 VUV 792.1K
$12.1K CA$16.9K
-43.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vanuatu
Canada
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.56 VUV 5,373
$56.8 CA$79.2
-18.04%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$67.5 VUV 7,788
$42.19 CA$58.8
59.94%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$87.9 CA$122
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$106 CA$148
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vanuatu
Canada
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,845 VUV 212.9K
$1,359 CA$1,894
35.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,758 VUV 202.8K
$1,204 CA$1,677
46.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,380 VUV 390.1K
$2,136 CA$2,976
58.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,037 VUV 235.1K
$1,860 CA$2,591
9.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,133 VUV 707.8K
$4,642 CA$6,467
32.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,231 VUV 257.4K
$3,852 CA$5,367
-42.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vanuatu
Canada
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$338 VUV 39.1K
$3,029 CA$4,220
-88.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7
6.33
10.58%

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

Last update for Vanuatu: June 1, 2026

Last update for Canada: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $941 in Vanuatu vs $1,281 in Canada. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,882 in Port Vila and $1,500 in Ottawa.

Average salary: $496 in Vanuatu vs $2,972 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 91% more expensive in Canada.

Salaries are 499% 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 – living costs run roughly 46% 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 46% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – 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 – 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

Similar countries