Cost of Living Comparison Between Vanuatu and Italy Cost of Living Comparison Between Vanuatu and Italy

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,224 in Vanuatu versus $1,718 in Italy.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,154 in Vanuatu versus $2,623 in Italy.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,083 in Vanuatu versus $3,528 in Italy.

Living in Vanuatu is roughly 88% more expensive than in Italy on average.

Both countries sit above the global median: Vanuatu 141% above, Italy 29% above.

Internal cost variation is higher in Italy: monthly costs span $1,180 to $2,494, compared to $3,042$3,406 in Vanuatu. City choice carries more weight in Italy.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Vanuatu
Italy
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.39 VUV 1,325
$17.21 €15.07
-33.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.3 VUV 7,490
$80.1 €70.2
-19.65%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.58 VUV 1,115
$11.79 €10.33
-18.74%
Cappuccino
$5.10 VUV 594
$1.98 €1.74
157.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 VUV 248
$2.88 €2.52
-26.04%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71 VUV 199
$1.37 €1.20
24.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.51 VUV 525
$5.83 €5.11
-22.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.11 VUV 478
$5.13 €4.50
-19.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vanuatu
Italy
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.45 VUV 285
$1.68 €1.47
45.83%
White Bread (500g)
$2.73 VUV 318
$2.32 €2.03
17.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.73 VUV 435
$2.91 €2.55
28.18%
Eggs
$5.14 VUV 598
$4.06 €3.56
26.60%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$20.00 VUV 2,329
$16.45 €14.41
21.58%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.59 VUV 1,932
$12.56 €11.00
32.09%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.76 VUV 1,951
$20.18 €17.68
-16.95%
Apples (1kg)
$4.71 VUV 549
$2.49 €2.18
89.16%
Banana (1kg)
$2.78 VUV 323
$2.15 €1.88
29.30%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.50 VUV 641
$2.63 €2.30
109.13%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.33 VUV 388
$3.23 €2.83
3.10%
Potato (1kg)
$5.17 VUV 602
$2.04 €1.79
153.43%
Onion (1kg)
$2.82 VUV 328
$1.81 €1.58
55.80%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.51 VUV 292
$1.52 €1.33
65.13%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.32 VUV 154
$0.53 €0.47
149.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.56 VUV 1,113
$6.97 €6.11
37.16%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.82 VUV 1,725
$7.27 €6.36
103.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.28 VUV 382
$1.81 €1.59
81.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93 VUV 341
$2.52 €2.21
16.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Vanuatu
Italy
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.71 VUV 199
$1.93 €1.69
-11.40%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$68.1 VUV 7,929
$42.56 €37.29
60.03%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.15 VUV 250
$5.75 €5.04
-62.61%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.81 VUV 94.9
$1.58 €1.39
-48.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.99 VUV 581
$35.03 €30.69
-85.76%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.94 VUV 226
$2.02 €1.77
-3.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.0K VUV 2.7M
$32.3K €28.3K
-28.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5K VUV 4.5M
$33.3K €29.2K
15.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vanuatu
Italy
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$545 VUV 63.5K
$219 €192
149.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.05 VUV 2,916
$13.33 €11.68
87.92%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$232 VUV 27.0K
$31.02 €27.18
648.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vanuatu
Italy
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$57.0 €49.96
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.11 VUV 1,992
$25.78 €22.58
-33.63%
Cinema Ticket
$12.77 VUV 1,486
$10.25 €8.98
24.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vanuatu
Italy
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$626 VUV 72.8K
$566 €496
10.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,974 VUV 811.8K
$10.3K €9,064
-32.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vanuatu
Italy
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.39 VUV 5,400
$91.8 €80.4
-49.44%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$68.0 VUV 7,910
$40.92 €35.85
66.06%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$99.5 €87.1
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$132 €115
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vanuatu
Italy
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,896 VUV 220.7K
$857 €751
121.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,808 VUV 210.4K
$671 €588
169.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,414 VUV 397.4K
$1,474 €1,292
131.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,096 VUV 244.0K
$1,089 €954
92.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,075 VUV 707.2K
$3,667 €3,213
65.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,207 VUV 256.9K
$2,348 €2,057
-6.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vanuatu
Italy
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$336 VUV 39.1K
$1,961 €1,718
-82.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7
4.41
58.73%

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

Last update for Vanuatu: July 20, 2026

Last update for Italy: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $942 in Vanuatu, $742 in Italy. Capital cities: $1,885 in Port Vila vs $1,354 in Rome.

National salary averages: $490 in Vanuatu, $1,917 in Italy. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 27% higher in Vanuatu.

Dining out costs 131% more in Italy.

Public transport is 33% more expensive in Italy.

Salaries are 291% higher in Italy, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Italy.

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 $1,837 per month in Italy and $3,224 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 is cheaper for everyday spending?
Day-to-day life is simply cheaper in Italy: 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 Italy across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
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.

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