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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,227 per month in Vanuatu vs $503 in Fiji, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,156 per month in Vanuatu vs $861 in Fiji, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,085 per month in Vanuatu vs $1,219 in Fiji, rent included.

Vanuatu costs about 542% 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.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Vanuatu
Fiji
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.00 VUV 1,270
$4.37 FJD 9.63
151.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.7 VUV 7,350
$44.11 FJD 97.2
44.39%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.42 VUV 1,087
$7.27 FJD 16.03
29.57%
Cappuccino
$5.04 VUV 582
$2.84 FJD 6.27
77.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22 VUV 256
$1.27 FJD 2.80
74.80%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 VUV 202
$0.93 FJD 2.06
88.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.45 VUV 513
$2.86 FJD 6.30
55.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.25 VUV 490
$3.46 FJD 7.63
22.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vanuatu
Fiji
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.40 VUV 277
$1.29 FJD 2.85
86.05%
White Bread (500g)
$2.73 VUV 315
$0.56 FJD 1.23
387.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.83 VUV 442
$1.11 FJD 2.44
245.05%
Eggs
$5.25 VUV 606
$3.21 FJD 7.09
63.55%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$20.37 VUV 2,351
$8.32 FJD 18.35
144.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.76 VUV 1,934
$7.59 FJD 16.72
120.82%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.78 VUV 1,937
$7.34 FJD 16.19
128.61%
Apples (1kg)
$4.79 VUV 553
$2.44 FJD 5.38
96.31%
Banana (1kg)
$2.79 VUV 322
$2.51 FJD 5.53
11.16%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.47 VUV 631
$3.29 FJD 7.26
66.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.45 VUV 398
$2.64 FJD 5.82
30.68%
Potato (1kg)
$5.12 VUV 591
$1.37 FJD 3.02
273.72%
Onion (1kg)
$2.86 VUV 330
$1.21 FJD 2.66
136.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.46 VUV 283
$1.03 FJD 2.28
138.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 VUV 154
$0.90 FJD 1.98
47.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.46 VUV 1,092
$9.95 FJD 21.93
-4.92%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.39 VUV 1,661
$8.44 FJD 18.60
70.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.16 VUV 364
$2.18 FJD 4.82
44.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94 VUV 339
$3.33 FJD 7.35
-11.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Vanuatu
Fiji
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.73 VUV 199
$0.70 FJD 1.54
147.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$68.0 VUV 7,843
$22.27 FJD 49.10
205.16%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.05 VUV 236
$0.85 FJD 1.87
141.18%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.87 VUV 101
$0.45 FJD 0.99
93.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.12 VUV 591
$4.87 FJD 10.74
5.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.87 VUV 215
$1.34 FJD 2.96
39.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.2K VUV 2.7M
$23.7K FJD 52.3K
-2.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.1K VUV 4.4M
$22.6K FJD 49.8K
68.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vanuatu
Fiji
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$544 VUV 62.8K
$53.2 FJD 117
923.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.63 VUV 2,958
$13.10 FJD 28.88
95.65%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$228 VUV 26.3K
$23.29 FJD 51.3
877.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vanuatu
Fiji
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$31.45 FJD 69.3
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.78 VUV 1,936
$6.74 FJD 14.86
148.96%
Cinema Ticket
$12.41 VUV 1,432
$4.56 FJD 10.05
172.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vanuatu
Fiji
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$611 VUV 70.5K
$172 FJD 379
255.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,863 VUV 792.1K
$11.6K FJD 25.6K
-40.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vanuatu
Fiji
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.56 VUV 5,373
$24.87 FJD 54.8
87.21%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$67.5 VUV 7,788
$30.44 FJD 67.1
121.68%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$67.4 FJD 148
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$74.4 FJD 164
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vanuatu
Fiji
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,845 VUV 212.9K
$617 FJD 1,361
198.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,758 VUV 202.8K
$333 FJD 735
427.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,380 VUV 390.1K
$1,587 FJD 3,499
112.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,037 VUV 235.1K
$955 FJD 2,105
113.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,133 VUV 707.8K
$1,248 FJD 2,750
391.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,231 VUV 257.4K
$841 FJD 1,854
165.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vanuatu
Fiji
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$338 VUV 39.1K
$881 FJD 1,942
-61.59%
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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Fiji: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $941 in Vanuatu vs $276 in Fiji. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,882 in Port Vila and $582 in Suva.

Average salary: $496 in Vanuatu vs $751 in Fiji. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 241% higher in Vanuatu.

Dining out costs 27% more in Vanuatu.

Public transport is 386% more expensive in Vanuatu.

Salaries are 51% 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 508% 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 508% 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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