Cost of Living Comparison Between Vanuatu and Fiji Cost of Living Comparison Between Vanuatu and Fiji

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,223 per month in Vanuatu vs $504 in Fiji, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,121 per month in Vanuatu vs $858 in Fiji, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,019 per month in Vanuatu vs $1,212 in Fiji, rent included.

Vanuatu costs about 539% more than Fiji on average — the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Vanuatu sits 141% above the global median, while Fiji is 62% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Fiji has a wider regional cost range ($0$1,066) than Vanuatu ($3,025$3,420), so location matters more when choosing where to live in Fiji.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Vanuatu
Fiji
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.22 VUV 1,323
$4.33 FJD 9.66
159.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$65.6 VUV 7,732
$44.25 FJD 98.7
48.29%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.39 VUV 1,107
$6.93 FJD 15.45
35.50%
Cappuccino
$5.03 VUV 592
$2.98 FJD 6.64
68.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 VUV 250
$1.29 FJD 2.87
64.34%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73 VUV 204
$0.95 FJD 2.13
82.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.58 VUV 540
$2.72 FJD 6.06
68.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.14 VUV 488
$3.56 FJD 7.94
16.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vanuatu
Fiji
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.37 VUV 279
$1.33 FJD 2.97
78.20%
White Bread (500g)
$2.87 VUV 339
$0.57 FJD 1.26
403.51%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.80 VUV 448
$1.05 FJD 2.35
261.90%
Eggs
$5.27 VUV 621
$3.26 FJD 7.27
61.66%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$20.27 VUV 2,389
$8.45 FJD 18.85
139.88%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.62 VUV 1,958
$7.63 FJD 17.01
117.82%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.83 VUV 1,983
$7.59 FJD 16.93
121.74%
Apples (1kg)
$4.89 VUV 576
$2.55 FJD 5.69
91.76%
Banana (1kg)
$2.87 VUV 339
$2.58 FJD 5.75
11.24%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.32 VUV 626
$3.16 FJD 7.05
68.35%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.41 VUV 402
$2.66 FJD 5.94
28.20%
Potato (1kg)
$5.09 VUV 599
$1.42 FJD 3.17
258.45%
Onion (1kg)
$2.83 VUV 333
$1.19 FJD 2.66
137.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.47 VUV 292
$1.06 FJD 2.37
133.02%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.35 VUV 159
$0.82 FJD 1.83
64.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.42 VUV 1,110
$9.60 FJD 21.41
-1.87%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.47 VUV 1,941
$8.26 FJD 18.42
99.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.16 VUV 372
$2.21 FJD 4.94
42.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91 VUV 342
$3.38 FJD 7.53
-13.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Vanuatu
Fiji
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.71 VUV 202
$0.73 FJD 1.63
134.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$67.9 VUV 7,996
$22.38 FJD 49.90
203.22%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.13 VUV 252
$0.91 FJD 2.03
134.07%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 VUV 96.2
$0.42 FJD 0.93
95.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.15 VUV 607
$4.83 FJD 10.77
6.63%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.88 VUV 222
$1.35 FJD 3.02
39.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.6K VUV 2.8M
$23.4K FJD 52.2K
0.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.7K VUV 4.4M
$22.8K FJD 50.8K
65.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vanuatu
Fiji
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$531 VUV 62.5K
$54.4 FJD 121
875.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.34 VUV 2,986
$13.62 FJD 30.36
86.05%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$225 VUV 26.5K
$22.70 FJD 50.6
890.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vanuatu
Fiji
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$31.77 FJD 70.9
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.06 VUV 2,010
$6.76 FJD 15.08
152.37%
Cinema Ticket
$12.80 VUV 1,508
$4.38 FJD 9.76
192.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vanuatu
Fiji
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$622 VUV 73.3K
$173 FJD 385
260.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,923 VUV 815.7K
$11.8K FJD 26.4K
-41.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vanuatu
Fiji
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.46 VUV 5,474
$25.30 FJD 56.4
83.64%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$66.8 VUV 7,868
$30.49 FJD 68.0
118.99%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$67.1 FJD 150
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$72.5 FJD 162
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vanuatu
Fiji
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,864 VUV 219.7K
$615 FJD 1,371
203.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,762 VUV 207.6K
$342 FJD 762
415.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,343 VUV 393.9K
$1,554 FJD 3,464
115.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,035 VUV 239.8K
$934 FJD 2,082
117.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,456 VUV 996.3K
$1,253 FJD 2,795
574.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,346 VUV 394.2K
$815 FJD 1,818
310.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vanuatu
Fiji
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$456 VUV 53.8K
$860 FJD 1,917
-46.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7
6.5
7.69%

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

Last update for Vanuatu: April 20, 2026

Last update for Fiji: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $940 in Vanuatu vs $279 in Fiji. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,879 in Port Vila and $603 in Suva.

Average salary: $578 in Vanuatu vs $728 in Fiji. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 237% higher in Vanuatu.

Dining out costs 27% more in Vanuatu.

Public transport is 386% more expensive in Vanuatu.

Salaries are 26% higher in Fiji, giving Fiji 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 Fiji: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fiji more expensive than Vanuatu?
Fiji is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 505% 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 Fiji, contributing to the overall 505% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget in Fiji or Vanuatu?
$1,500 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Fiji, but in Vanuatu it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Fiji or Vanuatu?
Fiji 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

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