Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Vanuatu and French Polynesia

Name: French Polynesia
Address: PF

For one person, living is cheaper in French Polynesia: $2,339 a month against $3,216 in Vanuatu, rent and utilities included – about $10,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

156

Cost of Living Index in Vanuatu
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Vanuatu Living Index
113

Cost of Living Index in French Polynesia
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French Polynesia Living Index

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🇻🇺 Vanuatu

$3,216

/mo nomad

🇵🇫 French Polynesia

$2,339

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Vanuatu and in French Polynesia

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 French Polynesia actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,216 in Vanuatu versus $2,339 in French Polynesia.

Vanuatu $3,216
French Polynesia $2,339

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,324 in Vanuatu versus $3,508 in French Polynesia.

Vanuatu $4,324
French Polynesia $3,508

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,432 in Vanuatu versus $4,677 in French Polynesia.

Vanuatu $5,432
French Polynesia $4,677

Living in Vanuatu is roughly 37% more expensive than in French Polynesia on average.

Both countries sit above the global median: Vanuatu 137% above, French Polynesia 73% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.42 VUV 1,457

$17.10 CFPF 1,809

-27.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$55.9 VUV 6,553

$75.8 CFPF 8,021

-26.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.15 VUV 1,660

$14.23 CFPF 1,505

-0.56%

Cappuccino

$3.97 VUV 466

$4.20 CFPF 444

-5.48%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.30 VUV 270

$2.55 CFPF 270

-9.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 VUV 274

$2.53 CFPF 268

-7.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.03 VUV 590

$4.68 CFPF 496

7.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.35 VUV 863

$5.59 CFPF 591

31.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.13 VUV 367

$1.44 CFPF 152

117.36%

White Bread (500g)

$2.50 VUV 293

$4.23 CFPF 447

-40.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.86 VUV 452

$1.64 CFPF 173

135.37%

Eggs

$6.21 VUV 728

$6.91 CFPF 731

-10.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.29 VUV 1,911

$34.89 CFPF 3,692

-53.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.00 VUV 1,876

$15.64 CFPF 1,654

2.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.25 VUV 1,554

$24.52 CFPF 2,594

-45.96%

Apples (1kg)

$6.57 VUV 771

$5.06 CFPF 535

29.84%

Banana (1kg)

$2.07 VUV 243

$2.85 CFPF 302

-27.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.91 VUV 459

$6.53 CFPF 691

-40.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$10.09 VUV 1,184

$7.63 CFPF 807

32.24%

Potato (1kg)

$8.96 VUV 1,052

$3.03 CFPF 321

195.71%

Onion (1kg)

$4.34 VUV 510

$2.45 CFPF 259

77.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.60 VUV 305

$3.60 CFPF 381

-27.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 VUV 137

$1.17 CFPF 124

-0.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.57 VUV 1,122

$13.05 CFPF 1,380

-26.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.45 VUV 1,460

$23.65 CFPF 2,503

-47.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.94 VUV 344

$2.83 CFPF 300

3.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.99 VUV 351

$3.66 CFPF 388

-18.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.29 VUV 151

$1.84 CFPF 195

-29.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$67.7 VUV 7,943

$14.22 CFPF 1,505

376.23%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.51 VUV 295

$9.44 CFPF 999

-73.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.81 VUV 95.4

$2.42 CFPF 256

-66.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.00 VUV 587

$23.23 CFPF 2,458

-78.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.84 VUV 216

$1.49 CFPF 158

23.49%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$23.0K VUV 2.7M

$18.2K CFPF 1.9M

26.64%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$37.3K VUV 4.4M

$30.6K CFPF 3.2M

22.14%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$624 VUV 73.2K

$172 CFPF 18.2K

262.22%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$22.95 VUV 2,692

$18.99 CFPF 2,009

20.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$360 VUV 42.2K

$72.2 CFPF 7,639

398.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.9 VUV 7,963

$74.8 CFPF 7,916

-9.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.80 VUV 1,971

Cinema Ticket

$14.36 CFPF 1,519

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$632 VUV 74.1K

$478 CFPF 50.6K

32.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,850 VUV 803.5K

$9,401 CFPF 994.6K

-27.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.81 VUV 4,787

$67.6 CFPF 7,150

-39.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$66.5 VUV 7,797

$71.3 CFPF 7,542

-6.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.2 VUV 9,991

$79.5 CFPF 8,409

7.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 VUV 12.1K

$90.7 CFPF 9,598

13.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,566 VUV 183.7K

$1,234 CFPF 130.6K

26.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,198 VUV 140.6K

$940 CFPF 99.4K

27.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,359 VUV 394.0K

$1,848 CFPF 195.5K

81.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,897 VUV 222.5K

$1,528 CFPF 161.7K

24.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,080 VUV 713.1K

$6,976 CFPF 738.1K

-12.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,184 VUV 256.2K

$8,993 CFPF 951.4K

-75.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$345 VUV 40.4K

$1,885 CFPF 199.4K

-81.71%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.18

4.6

34.35%

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

Last update for Vanuatu: October 20, 2026

Last update for French Polynesia: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Vanuatu

$1.2K 37.3%

French Polynesia

$940 40.2% 21.6% $259

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Vanuatu

$1K 31.3%

French Polynesia

$264 11.3% 73.8% $744

Groceries & Markets

Vanuatu

$482 15%

French Polynesia

$565 24.2% 17.2% $83

Eating Out

Vanuatu

$248 7.7%

French Polynesia

$285 12.2% 14.9% $37

Clothing & Footwear

Vanuatu

$133 4.1%

French Polynesia

$139 6% 4.6% $6.1

Getting Around

Vanuatu

$79 2.5%

French Polynesia

$43 1.8% 45.7% $36

Sport & Entertainment

Vanuatu

$68 * 2.1%

French Polynesia

$104 4.4% 52.5% $36

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $794 in Vanuatu, $341 in French Polynesia. Capital cities: $1,587 in Port Vila vs $1,360 in Papeete.

National salary averages: $488 in Vanuatu, $1,976 in French Polynesia. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 133% higher in Vanuatu.

Dining out costs 27% more in Vanuatu.

Public transport is 1550% more expensive in Vanuatu.

Salaries are 305% higher in French Polynesia, and purchasing power comes out stronger in French Polynesia.

Good to know

🇻🇺 Vanuatu

🇵🇫 French Polynesia

🕒 Local time

00:52 12:52 AM

03:52 3:52 AM

21 h behind Vanuatu

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

300,019

278,786

💱 Currency

Vanuatu Vatu VUV Vt

CFP Franc XPF Fr

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 VUV = 8.53 USD

1,000 VUV = 7.58 EUR

1,000 XPF = 9.45 USD

1,000 XPF = 8.41 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

XPF, USD, EUR to VUV – Vanuatu Vatu Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇻🇺 Vanuatu Vatu (Vt)

Vanuatu Vatu exchange rates as of October 23, 2026: 1 USD = 117 VUV (1,000 VUV = 8.53 USD). 1 EUR = 132 VUV (1,000 VUV = 7.58 EUR).

CFP Franc exchange rates as of October 23, 2026: 1 USD = 106 XPF (1,000 XPF = 9.45 USD). 1 EUR = 119 XPF (1,000 XPF = 8.41 EUR).

USD to VUV in detail →

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Vanuatu French Polynesia 4,450 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight

From you

Vanuatu
French Polynesia

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 French Polynesia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

At $2,339 per month in French Polynesia and $3,216 in Vanuatu, there's a 37% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.

Day-to-day life is cheaper in French Polynesia: lower grocery prices, cheaper commutes, and more affordable meals out. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.

Rent for a central one-bedroom averages $794 in Vanuatu and $341 in French Polynesia. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.

In French Polynesia, $2,000 covers most cities easily; in Vanuatu it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.

It depends on what you're after: French Polynesia wins on affordability; Vanuatu may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.