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Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Vanuatu and Italy
For one person, living is cheaper in Italy: $1,825 a month against $3,216 in Vanuatu, rent and utilities included – about $16,700 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 Italy actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,216 in Vanuatu versus $1,825 in Italy.
Vanuatu $3,216
Italy $1,825
Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,324 in Vanuatu versus $2,790 in Italy.
Vanuatu $4,324
Italy $2,790
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,432 in Vanuatu versus $3,756 in Italy.
Vanuatu $5,432
Italy $3,756
📏
Internal cost variation is higher in Italy: monthly costs span $1,044 to $2,560, compared to $3,155–$3,454 in Vanuatu. City choice carries more weight in Italy.
🌍
Living in Vanuatu is roughly 76% more expensive than in Italy on average.
📊
Both countries sit above the global median: Vanuatu 137% above, Italy 35% above.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Vanuatu
Italy
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.42VUV 1,457
$19.90€17.70
-37.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$55.9VUV 6,553
$77.1€68.6
-27.56%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.15VUV 1,660
$11.41€10.15
24.01%
Cappuccino
$3.97VUV 466
$2.01€1.78
97.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30VUV 270
$3.13€2.78
-26.52%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33VUV 274
$1.40€1.24
66.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.03VUV 590
$5.76€5.12
-12.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.35VUV 863
$5.73€5.10
28.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vanuatu
Italy
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$3.13VUV 367
$1.62€1.44
93.21%
White Bread(500g)
$2.50VUV 293
$2.38€2.12
5.04%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.86VUV 452
$2.92€2.60
32.19%
Eggs
$6.21VUV 728
$4.17€3.70
48.92%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.29VUV 1,911
$17.28€15.37
-5.73%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.00VUV 1,876
$12.73€11.32
25.69%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.25VUV 1,554
$20.39€18.13
-35.02%
Apples(1kg)
$6.57VUV 771
$2.61€2.32
151.72%
Banana(1kg)
$2.07VUV 243
$2.12€1.88
-2.36%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.91VUV 459
$2.63€2.34
48.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$10.09VUV 1,184
$3.34€2.97
202.10%
Potato(1kg)
$8.96VUV 1,052
$2.02€1.79
343.56%
Onion(1kg)
$4.34VUV 510
$1.89€1.69
129.63%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.60VUV 305
$1.56€1.39
66.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16VUV 137
$0.55€0.49
110.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.57VUV 1,122
$6.84€6.08
39.91%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.45VUV 1,460
$7.64€6.80
62.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.94VUV 344
$1.80€1.61
63.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99VUV 351
$2.40€2.14
24.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Vanuatu
Italy
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.29VUV 151
$1.86€1.65
-30.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$67.7VUV 7,943
$43.27€38.49
56.51%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.51VUV 295
$5.64€5.01
-55.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81VUV 95.4
$1.71€1.52
-52.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.00VUV 587
$33.04€29.39
-84.87%
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
$35.8K€31.8K
-35.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.3KVUV 4.4M
$37.4K€33.3K
-0.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vanuatu
Italy
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$624VUV 73.2K
$230€204
171.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.95VUV 2,692
$11.60€10.32
97.84%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$360VUV 42.2K
$30.40€27.04
1083.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vanuatu
Italy
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.9VUV 7,963
$53.9€47.96
25.91%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80VUV 1,971
$24.24€21.56
-30.69%
Cinema Ticket
-
$10.58€9.41
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vanuatu
Italy
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$632VUV 74.1K
$545€485
15.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,850VUV 803.5K
$11.5K€10.3K
-40.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vanuatu
Italy
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$40.81VUV 4,787
$88.4€78.7
-53.85%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$66.5VUV 7,797
$39.60€35.22
67.85%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.2VUV 9,991
$101€89.8
-15.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103VUV 12.1K
$133€118
-22.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vanuatu
Italy
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,566VUV 183.7K
$799€711
96.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,198VUV 140.6K
$624€555
91.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,359VUV 394.0K
$1,423€1,266
135.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,897VUV 222.5K
$1,030€916
84.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,080VUV 713.1K
$3,601€3,203
68.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,184VUV 256.2K
$2,270€2,019
-3.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vanuatu
Italy
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$345VUV 40.4K
$1,893€1,684
-81.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.18
3.56
73.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Vanuatu: October 20, 2026
Last update for Italy: October 18, 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%
Italy
$624 34.2% ↓ 47.9%$574
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vanuatu
$1K 31.3%
Italy
$272 14.9% ↓ 73%$736
🛒Groceries & Markets
Vanuatu
$482 15%
Italy
$350 19.2% ↓ 27.5%$132
🍽Eating Out
Vanuatu
$248 7.7%
Italy
$276 15.1% ↑ 11.3%$28
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Vanuatu
$133 4.1%
Italy
$163 8.9% ↑ 22.5%$30
🚌Getting Around
Vanuatu
$79 2.5%
Italy
$65 3.6% ↓ 18.3%$15
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Vanuatu
$68 * 2.1%
Italy
$75 4.1% ↑ 10.6%$7.2
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Vanuatu
$1.9K 34.9%
Italy
$1K 27.4% ↓ 45.7%$867
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vanuatu
$1K 19%
Italy
$283 7.5% ↓ 72.5%$747
🛒Groceries & Markets
Vanuatu
$1.1K 20.8%
Italy
$828 22.1% ↓ 26.7%$302
🍽Eating Out
Vanuatu
$766 14.1%
Italy
$945 25.2% ↑ 23.3%$179
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Vanuatu
$296 5.4%
Italy
$362 9.6% ↑ 22.5%$67
🚌Getting Around
Vanuatu
$161 3%
Italy
$134 3.6% ↓ 17.3%$28
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Vanuatu
$153 * 2.8%
Italy
$174 4.6% ↑ 14.3%$22
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $794 in Vanuatu, $724 in Italy. Capital cities: $1,587 in Port Vila vs $1,191 in Rome.
💰National salary averages: $488 in Vanuatu, $1,892 in Italy. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 10% higher in Vanuatu.
⭐Dining out costs 161% more in Italy.
⭐Public transport is 24% more expensive in Italy.
⭐Salaries are 288% higher in Italy, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Italy.
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 Italy: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Italy and Vanuatu?
At $1,825 per month in Italy and $3,216 in Vanuatu, there's a 76% 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 has higher housing costs?
Rent for a central one-bedroom averages $794 in Vanuatu and $724 in Italy. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget in Italy or in Vanuatu?
In Italy, $2,500 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 Italy or to Vanuatu?
It depends on what you're after: Italy wins on affordability; Vanuatu may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.