For one person, living is cheaper in Germany: $2,065 a month against $3,216 in Vanuatu, rent and utilities included – about $13,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
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 Germany actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,216 in Vanuatu versus $2,065 in Germany.
Vanuatu $3,216
Germany $2,065
Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,324 in Vanuatu versus $3,136 in Germany.
Vanuatu $4,324
Germany $3,136
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,432 in Vanuatu versus $4,208 in Germany.
Vanuatu $5,432
Germany $4,208
📏
Internal cost variation is higher in Germany: monthly costs span $1,345 to $2,663, compared to $3,155–$3,454 in Vanuatu. City choice carries more weight in Germany.
🌍
Living in Vanuatu is roughly 56% more expensive than in Germany on average.
📊
Both countries sit above the global median: Vanuatu 137% above, Germany 52% above.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Vanuatu
Germany
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.42VUV 1,457
$16.61€14.77
-25.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$55.9VUV 6,553
$72.4€64.4
-22.88%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.15VUV 1,660
$12.15€10.81
16.46%
Cappuccino
$3.97VUV 466
$3.96€3.52
0.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30VUV 270
$3.45€3.07
-33.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33VUV 274
$3.06€2.72
-23.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.03VUV 590
$5.19€4.62
-3.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.35VUV 863
$4.59€4.08
60.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vanuatu
Germany
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$3.13VUV 367
$1.27€1.13
146.46%
White Bread(500g)
$2.50VUV 293
$2.13€1.90
17.37%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.86VUV 452
$3.56€3.17
8.43%
Eggs
$6.21VUV 728
$3.79€3.37
63.85%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.29VUV 1,911
$14.65€13.03
11.19%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.00VUV 1,876
$11.78€10.48
35.82%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.25VUV 1,554
$20.78€18.48
-36.24%
Apples(1kg)
$6.57VUV 771
$3.17€2.82
107.26%
Banana(1kg)
$2.07VUV 243
$1.98€1.76
4.55%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.91VUV 459
$2.21€1.96
76.92%
Tomato(1kg)
$10.09VUV 1,184
$4.28€3.81
135.75%
Potato(1kg)
$8.96VUV 1,052
$1.45€1.29
517.93%
Onion(1kg)
$4.34VUV 510
$1.49€1.33
191.28%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.60VUV 305
$1.67€1.49
55.69%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16VUV 137
$1.07€0.95
8.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.57VUV 1,122
$9.90€8.81
-3.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.45VUV 1,460
$6.56€5.83
89.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.94VUV 344
$1.09€0.97
169.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99VUV 351
$1.60€1.43
86.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Vanuatu
Germany
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.29VUV 151
$3.84€3.42
-66.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$67.7VUV 7,943
$70.9€63.1
-4.47%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.51VUV 295
$5.52€4.91
-54.53%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81VUV 95.4
$2.74€2.44
-70.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.00VUV 587
$38.54€34.28
-87.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.84VUV 216
$2.11€1.87
-12.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.0KVUV 2.7M
$33.0K€29.3K
-30.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.3KVUV 4.4M
$38.7K€34.4K
-3.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vanuatu
Germany
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$624VUV 73.2K
$338€301
84.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.95VUV 2,692
$24.76€22.02
-7.31%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$360VUV 42.2K
$47.37€42.13
659.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vanuatu
Germany
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.9VUV 7,963
$41.14€36.59
65.02%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80VUV 1,971
$27.41€24.38
-38.71%
Cinema Ticket
-
$14.31€12.73
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vanuatu
Germany
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$632VUV 74.1K
$573€510
10.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,850VUV 803.5K
$17.6K€15.6K
-61.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vanuatu
Germany
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$40.81VUV 4,787
$89.1€79.3
-54.21%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$66.5VUV 7,797
$42.77€38.04
55.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.2VUV 9,991
$99.5€88.5
-14.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103VUV 12.1K
$132€117
-21.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vanuatu
Germany
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,566VUV 183.7K
$896€797
74.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,198VUV 140.6K
$703€625
70.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,359VUV 394.0K
$1,675€1,490
100.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,897VUV 222.5K
$1,314€1,169
44.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,080VUV 713.1K
$6,163€5,482
-1.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,184VUV 256.2K
$4,027€3,582
-45.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vanuatu
Germany
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$345VUV 40.4K
$3,219€2,864
-89.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.18
3.96
56.06%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Vanuatu: October 20, 2026
Last update for Germany: October 19, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Vanuatu
$1.2K 37.3%
Germany
$703 34% ↓ 41.4%$496
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vanuatu
$1K 31.3%
Germany
$410 19.9% ↓ 59.3%$597
🛒Groceries & Markets
Vanuatu
$482 15%
Germany
$335 16.2% ↓ 30.5%$147
🍽Eating Out
Vanuatu
$248 7.7%
Germany
$278 13.5% ↑ 12.2%$30
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Vanuatu
$133 4.1%
Germany
$163 7.9% ↑ 22.9%$30
🚌Getting Around
Vanuatu
$79 2.5%
Germany
$105 5.1% ↑ 32.8%$26
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Vanuatu
$68 * 2.1%
Germany
$70 3.4% ↑ 2.8%$1.9
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Vanuatu
$1.9K 34.9%
Germany
$1.3K 31.2% ↓ 30.7%$582
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vanuatu
$1K 19%
Germany
$435 10.3% ↓ 57.8%$595
🛒Groceries & Markets
Vanuatu
$1.1K 20.8%
Germany
$794 18.9% ↓ 29.7%$336
🍽Eating Out
Vanuatu
$766 14.1%
Germany
$916 21.8% ↑ 19.5%$149
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Vanuatu
$296 5.4%
Germany
$363 8.6% ↑ 22.9%$68
🚌Getting Around
Vanuatu
$161 3%
Germany
$219 5.2% ↑ 35.4%$57
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Vanuatu
$153 * 2.8%
Germany
$167 4% ↑ 9.4%$14
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $794 in Vanuatu, $800 in Germany. Capital cities: $1,587 in Port Vila vs $1,398 in Berlin.
💰National salary averages: $488 in Vanuatu, $3,119 in Germany. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Dining out costs 154% more in Germany.
⭐Public transport is 100% more expensive in Germany.
⭐Salaries are 539% higher in Germany, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Germany.
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 Germany: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is more expensive to live in: Germany or Vanuatu?
At $2,065 per month in Germany and $3,216 in Vanuatu, there's a 56% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Does the cost gap hold in every spending category?
Overall, Germany is the cheaper option, but not in every category: rent, groceries, transport, and eating out each follow their own pattern. Check the categories you spend the most on before deciding.
How far does $3,000 go in Germany compared to Vanuatu?
In Germany, $3,000 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.
How do I choose between living in Germany and in Vanuatu?
It depends on what you're after: Germany wins on affordability; Vanuatu may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.