Cost of Living Comparison Between Vanuatu and India Cost of Living Comparison Between Vanuatu and India

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,227 in Vanuatu versus $388 in India.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,156 in Vanuatu versus $617 in India.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,085 in Vanuatu versus $846 in India.

Living in Vanuatu is roughly 732% more expensive than India on average.

Vanuatu (141% above) and India (71% below) straddle the global median.

Vanuatu ($2,983$3,471) and India ($264$888) have similar cost spreads. Where you settle within each country has roughly equal impact on the budget.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Vanuatu
India
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.00 VUV 1,270
$2.49 ₹236
341.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.7 VUV 7,350
$14.20 ₹1,349
348.52%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.42 VUV 1,087
$3.98 ₹378
136.68%
Cappuccino
$5.04 VUV 582
$1.88 ₹178
168.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22 VUV 256
$0.44 ₹41.85
404.55%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 VUV 202
$0.19 ₹18.51
821.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.45 VUV 513
$2.02 ₹192
120.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.25 VUV 490
$3.45 ₹328
23.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vanuatu
India
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.40 VUV 277
$0.72 ₹68.1
233.33%
White Bread (500g)
$2.73 VUV 315
$0.52 ₹49.10
425.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.83 VUV 442
$0.72 ₹68.5
431.94%
Eggs
$5.25 VUV 606
$0.93 ₹88.5
464.52%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$20.37 VUV 2,351
$5.24 ₹498
288.74%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.76 VUV 1,934
$3.07 ₹291
445.93%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.78 VUV 1,937
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$4.79 VUV 553
$2.17 ₹206
120.74%
Banana (1kg)
$2.79 VUV 322
$0.76 ₹71.9
267.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.47 VUV 631
$1.05 ₹99.7
420.95%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.45 VUV 398
$0.53 ₹50.5
550.94%
Potato (1kg)
$5.12 VUV 591
$0.39 ₹37.41
1212.82%
Onion (1kg)
$2.86 VUV 330
$0.49 ₹46.66
483.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.46 VUV 283
$0.52 ₹49.19
373.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 VUV 154
$0.33 ₹31.03
303.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.46 VUV 1,092
$4.05 ₹385
133.58%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.39 VUV 1,661
$7.39 ₹702
94.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.16 VUV 364
$1.84 ₹175
71.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94 VUV 339
$2.90 ₹276
1.38%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$5.65 ₹536
-
🚌 Getting Around
Vanuatu
India
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.73 VUV 199
$0.36 ₹34.48
380.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$68.0 VUV 7,843
$9.74 ₹925
597.74%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.05 VUV 236
$0.95 ₹90.3
115.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.87 VUV 101
$0.30 ₹28.55
190.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.12 VUV 591
$1.73 ₹164
195.95%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.87 VUV 215
$1.23 ₹116
52.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.2K VUV 2.7M
$13.9K ₹1.3M
67.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.1K VUV 4.4M
$22.6K ₹2.1M
68.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vanuatu
India
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$544 VUV 62.8K
$40.88 ₹3,881
1231.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.63 VUV 2,958
$3.91 ₹371
555.50%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$228 VUV 26.3K
$7.81 ₹741
2814.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vanuatu
India
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$16.15 ₹1,533
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.78 VUV 1,936
$7.49 ₹711
124.03%
Cinema Ticket
$12.41 VUV 1,432
$3.42 ₹325
262.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vanuatu
India
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$611 VUV 70.5K
$69.9 ₹6,639
774.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,863 VUV 792.1K
$1,793 ₹170.2K
282.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vanuatu
India
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.56 VUV 5,373
$25.83 ₹2,452
80.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$67.5 VUV 7,788
$26.61 ₹2,527
153.59%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$45.24 ₹4,295
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$33.68 ₹3,198
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vanuatu
India
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,845 VUV 212.9K
$178 ₹16.9K
935.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,758 VUV 202.8K
$115 ₹10.9K
1432.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,380 VUV 390.1K
$407 ₹38.6K
730.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,037 VUV 235.1K
$264 ₹25.0K
673.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,133 VUV 707.8K
$1,240 ₹117.7K
394.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,231 VUV 257.4K
$631 ₹59.9K
253.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vanuatu
India
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$338 VUV 39.1K
$432 ₹41.0K
-21.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7
9.02
-22.39%

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

Last update for Vanuatu: June 1, 2026

Last update for India: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $941 in Vanuatu, $127 in India. Capital cities: $1,882 in Port Vila vs $239 in Delhi.

National salary averages: $496 in Vanuatu, $398 in India. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 641% higher in Vanuatu.

Dining out costs 200% more in Vanuatu.

Public transport is 278% more expensive in Vanuatu.

Salaries are 25% higher in Vanuatu, giving India 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 India: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between India and Vanuatu?
At $576 per month in India and $3,227 in Vanuatu, there's a 460% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
India is simply cheaper day-to-day: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Rent in Vanuatu beats India across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget in India or Vanuatu?
In India, $1,000 covers most cities easily. In Vanuatu, it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to India or Vanuatu?
It depends on what you're after. India wins on affordability; Vanuatu may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

Vanuatu vs other spots: cost of living compared

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