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: $3,224 in Vanuatu versus $388 in India.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,154 in Vanuatu versus $617 in India.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,083 in Vanuatu versus $845 in India.

Living in Vanuatu is roughly 731% more expensive than in India on average.

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

Internal cost variation is higher in India: monthly costs span $267 to $900, compared to $3,042$3,406 in Vanuatu. City choice carries more weight in India.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Vanuatu
India
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.39 VUV 1,325
$2.61 ₹252
336.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.3 VUV 7,490
$13.92 ₹1,344
362.21%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.58 VUV 1,115
$3.99 ₹386
140.10%
Cappuccino
$5.10 VUV 594
$1.89 ₹183
169.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 VUV 248
$0.44 ₹42.27
384.09%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71 VUV 199
$0.16 ₹15.37
968.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.51 VUV 525
$1.96 ₹189
130.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.11 VUV 478
$3.39 ₹327
21.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vanuatu
India
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.45 VUV 285
$0.68 ₹66.1
260.29%
White Bread (500g)
$2.73 VUV 318
$0.52 ₹49.77
425.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.73 VUV 435
$0.72 ₹69.7
418.06%
Eggs
$5.14 VUV 598
$0.91 ₹88.2
464.84%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$20.00 VUV 2,329
$5.22 ₹504
283.14%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.59 VUV 1,932
$3.09 ₹298
436.89%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.76 VUV 1,951
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$4.71 VUV 549
$2.21 ₹213
113.12%
Banana (1kg)
$2.78 VUV 323
$0.70 ₹67.5
297.14%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.50 VUV 641
$1.04 ₹100
428.85%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.33 VUV 388
$0.53 ₹50.9
528.30%
Potato (1kg)
$5.17 VUV 602
$0.39 ₹37.78
1225.64%
Onion (1kg)
$2.82 VUV 328
$0.45 ₹43.49
526.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.51 VUV 292
$0.55 ₹53.1
356.36%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.32 VUV 154
$0.35 ₹33.94
277.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.56 VUV 1,113
$4.06 ₹392
135.47%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.82 VUV 1,725
$7.49 ₹723
97.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.28 VUV 382
$1.91 ₹184
71.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93 VUV 341
$2.99 ₹288
-2.01%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$5.78 ₹558
-
🚌 Getting Around
Vanuatu
India
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.71 VUV 199
$0.34 ₹32.39
402.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$68.1 VUV 7,929
$9.75 ₹941
598.56%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.15 VUV 250
$0.98 ₹94.3
119.39%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.81 VUV 94.9
$0.28 ₹26.92
189.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.99 VUV 581
$1.78 ₹171
180.34%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.94 VUV 226
$1.17 ₹113
65.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.0K VUV 2.7M
$14.1K ₹1.4M
63.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5K VUV 4.5M
$22.7K ₹2.2M
69.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vanuatu
India
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$545 VUV 63.5K
$41.03 ₹3,962
1229.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.05 VUV 2,916
$3.77 ₹364
564.46%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$232 VUV 27.0K
$7.68 ₹742
2923.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vanuatu
India
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$16.49 ₹1,592
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.11 VUV 1,992
$7.63 ₹737
124.25%
Cinema Ticket
$12.77 VUV 1,486
$3.43 ₹331
272.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vanuatu
India
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$626 VUV 72.8K
$70.0 ₹6,756
794.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,974 VUV 811.8K
$1,851 ₹178.7K
276.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vanuatu
India
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.39 VUV 5,400
$24.90 ₹2,405
86.31%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$68.0 VUV 7,910
$26.83 ₹2,591
153.26%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$45.28 ₹4,372
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$33.56 ₹3,241
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vanuatu
India
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,896 VUV 220.7K
$173 ₹16.7K
998.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,808 VUV 210.4K
$115 ₹11.1K
1476.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,414 VUV 397.4K
$407 ₹39.3K
738.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,096 VUV 244.0K
$264 ₹25.5K
694.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,075 VUV 707.2K
$1,229 ₹118.7K
394.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,207 VUV 256.9K
$633 ₹61.1K
248.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vanuatu
India
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$336 VUV 39.1K
$425 ₹41.1K
-20.95%
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: July 20, 2026

Last update for India: July 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $942 in Vanuatu, $127 in India. Capital cities: $1,885 in Port Vila vs $235 in Delhi.

National salary averages: $490 in Vanuatu, $396 in India. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 642% higher in Vanuatu.

Dining out costs 191% more in Vanuatu.

Public transport is 267% more expensive in Vanuatu.

Salaries are 24% higher in Vanuatu, and purchasing power comes out stronger in India.

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 $584 per month in India and $3,224 in Vanuatu, there's a 453% 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 simply cheaper in India: 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 is consistently higher than in 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 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.

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