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Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Vanuatu and India
For one person, living is cheaper in India: $395 a month against $3,216 in Vanuatu, rent and utilities included – about $33,900 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 India actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,216 in Vanuatu versus $395 in India.
Vanuatu $3,216
India $395
Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,324 in Vanuatu versus $628 in India.
Vanuatu $4,324
India $628
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,432 in Vanuatu versus $861 in India.
Vanuatu $5,432
India $861
📏
Internal cost variation is higher in India: monthly costs span $229 to $828, compared to $3,155–$3,454 in Vanuatu. City choice carries more weight in India.
🌍
Living in Vanuatu is roughly 713% more expensive than in India on average.
📊
Vanuatu (137% above) and India (71% below) straddle the global median.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Vanuatu
India
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.42VUV 1,457
$2.14₹203
480.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$55.9VUV 6,553
$10.57₹1,004
428.48%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.15VUV 1,660
$3.77₹358
275.33%
Cappuccino
$3.97VUV 466
$1.76₹167
125.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30VUV 270
$0.42₹39.67
447.62%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33VUV 274
$0.14₹13.45
1564.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.03VUV 590
$1.95₹186
157.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.35VUV 863
$3.11₹295
136.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vanuatu
India
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$3.13VUV 367
$0.63₹59.6
396.83%
White Bread(500g)
$2.50VUV 293
$0.46₹43.45
443.48%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.86VUV 452
$0.68₹64.3
467.65%
Eggs
$6.21VUV 728
$0.93₹88.4
567.74%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.29VUV 1,911
$4.83₹458
237.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.00VUV 1,876
$2.91₹276
449.83%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.25VUV 1,554
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$6.57VUV 771
$2.00₹190
228.50%
Banana(1kg)
$2.07VUV 243
$0.63₹59.6
228.57%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.91VUV 459
$0.98₹92.8
298.98%
Tomato(1kg)
$10.09VUV 1,184
$0.51₹48.04
1878.43%
Potato(1kg)
$8.96VUV 1,052
$0.36₹34.28
2388.89%
Onion(1kg)
$4.34VUV 510
$0.39₹36.72
1012.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.60VUV 305
$0.43₹41.31
504.65%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16VUV 137
$0.29₹27.53
300.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.57VUV 1,122
$5.14₹488
86.19%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.45VUV 1,460
$7.33₹696
69.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.94VUV 344
$1.65₹157
78.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99VUV 351
$2.73₹259
9.52%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$5.08₹483
-
🚌 Getting Around
Vanuatu
India
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.29VUV 151
$0.25₹23.70
416.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$67.7VUV 7,943
$8.49₹806
697.64%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.51VUV 295
$1.03₹97.9
143.69%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81VUV 95.4
$0.25₹23.69
224.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.00VUV 587
$1.61₹153
210.56%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.84VUV 216
$1.07₹101
71.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.0KVUV 2.7M
$11.3K₹1.1M
103.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.3KVUV 4.4M
$20.1K₹1.9M
85.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vanuatu
India
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$624VUV 73.2K
$37.73₹3,583
1554.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.95VUV 2,692
$3.58₹340
541.06%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$360VUV 42.2K
$6.89₹655
5123.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vanuatu
India
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.9VUV 7,963
$14.63₹1,390
364.05%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80VUV 1,971
$7.25₹688
131.72%
Cinema Ticket
-
$3.17₹301
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vanuatu
India
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$632VUV 74.1K
$56.5₹5,369
1017.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,850VUV 803.5K
$1,646₹156.3K
316.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vanuatu
India
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$40.81VUV 4,787
$22.73₹2,158
79.54%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$66.5VUV 7,797
$24.04₹2,283
176.50%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.2VUV 9,991
$41.04₹3,898
107.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103VUV 12.1K
$30.60₹2,906
236.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vanuatu
India
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,566VUV 183.7K
$144₹13.6K
990.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,198VUV 140.6K
$91.5₹8,691
1209.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,359VUV 394.0K
$324₹30.8K
935.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,897VUV 222.5K
$214₹20.3K
787.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,080VUV 713.1K
$1,200₹114.0K
406.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,184VUV 256.2K
$619₹58.8K
252.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vanuatu
India
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$345VUV 40.4K
$440₹41.8K
-21.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.18
8.92
-30.72%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Vanuatu: October 20, 2026
Last update for India: 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%
India
$92 23.1% ↓ 92.4%$1.1K
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vanuatu
$1K 31.3%
India
$48 12.2% ↓ 95.2%$959
🛒Groceries & Markets
Vanuatu
$482 15%
India
$102 25.8% ↓ 78.8%$380
🍽Eating Out
Vanuatu
$248 7.7%
India
$68 17.1% ↓ 72.7%$180
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Vanuatu
$133 4.1%
India
$53 13.5% ↓ 59.9%$80
🚌Getting Around
Vanuatu
$79 2.5%
India
$12 3% ↓ 85.2%$68
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Vanuatu
$68 * 2.1%
India
$21 5.3% ↓ 69.1%$47
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Vanuatu
$1.9K 34.9%
India
$214 24.8% ↓ 88.7%$1.7K
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vanuatu
$1K 19%
India
$52 6% ↓ 95%$978
🛒Groceries & Markets
Vanuatu
$1.1K 20.8%
India
$220 25.5% ↓ 80.5%$910
🍽Eating Out
Vanuatu
$766 14.1%
India
$184 21.4% ↓ 76%$583
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Vanuatu
$296 5.4%
India
$118 13.8% ↓ 59.9%$177
🚌Getting Around
Vanuatu
$161 3%
India
$24 2.8% ↓ 85.1%$137
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Vanuatu
$153 * 2.8%
India
$49 5.7% ↓ 67.8%$103
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $794 in Vanuatu, $119 in India. Capital cities: $1,587 in Port Vila vs $271 in Delhi.
💰National salary averages: $488 in Vanuatu, $413 in India. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 567% higher in Vanuatu.
⭐Dining out costs 180% more in Vanuatu.
⭐Public transport is 371% more expensive in Vanuatu.
⭐Salaries are 18% higher in Vanuatu, and purchasing power comes out stronger in India.
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 India: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between India and Vanuatu?
At $395 per month in India and $3,216 in Vanuatu, there's a 713% 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?
Day-to-day life is cheaper in India: 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.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Rent for a central one-bedroom averages $794 in Vanuatu and $119 in India. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget in India or in Vanuatu?
In India, $1,000 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.
Should I move to India or to 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.