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: $3,227 in Vanuatu versus $1,717 in Italy.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,156 in Vanuatu versus $2,624 in Italy.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,085 in Vanuatu versus $3,530 in Italy.

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

Both countries sit above the global median: Vanuatu 141% above, Italy 28% above.

Internal cost variation is higher in Italy: monthly costs span $1,170 to $2,508, compared to $2,983$3,471 in Vanuatu. City choice carries more weight in Italy.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Vanuatu
Italy
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.00 VUV 1,270
$17.44 €15.13
-36.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.7 VUV 7,350
$79.5 €68.9
-19.86%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.42 VUV 1,087
$11.76 €10.20
-19.90%
Cappuccino
$5.04 VUV 582
$2.00 €1.73
152.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22 VUV 256
$3.00 €2.61
-26.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 VUV 202
$1.35 €1.17
29.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.45 VUV 513
$5.94 €5.15
-25.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.25 VUV 490
$5.36 €4.65
-20.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vanuatu
Italy
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.40 VUV 277
$1.64 €1.42
46.34%
White Bread (500g)
$2.73 VUV 315
$2.41 €2.09
13.28%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.83 VUV 442
$2.99 €2.60
28.09%
Eggs
$5.25 VUV 606
$3.96 €3.44
32.58%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$20.37 VUV 2,351
$16.84 €14.61
20.96%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.76 VUV 1,934
$12.43 €10.78
34.84%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.78 VUV 1,937
$20.29 €17.60
-17.30%
Apples (1kg)
$4.79 VUV 553
$2.47 €2.15
93.93%
Banana (1kg)
$2.79 VUV 322
$2.15 €1.87
29.77%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.47 VUV 631
$2.65 €2.30
106.42%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.45 VUV 398
$3.40 €2.95
1.47%
Potato (1kg)
$5.12 VUV 591
$1.92 €1.67
166.67%
Onion (1kg)
$2.86 VUV 330
$1.81 €1.57
58.01%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.46 VUV 283
$1.55 €1.34
58.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 VUV 154
$0.54 €0.47
146.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.46 VUV 1,092
$6.79 €5.89
39.32%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.39 VUV 1,661
$7.18 €6.23
100.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.16 VUV 364
$1.80 €1.56
75.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94 VUV 339
$2.42 €2.10
21.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Vanuatu
Italy
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.73 VUV 199
$2.00 €1.73
-13.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$68.0 VUV 7,843
$42.35 €36.73
60.47%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.05 VUV 236
$5.94 €5.16
-65.49%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.87 VUV 101
$1.51 €1.31
-42.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.12 VUV 591
$34.04 €29.53
-84.96%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.87 VUV 215
$2.05 €1.78
-8.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.2K VUV 2.7M
$32.8K €28.5K
-29.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.1K VUV 4.4M
$33.7K €29.2K
13.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vanuatu
Italy
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$544 VUV 62.8K
$225 €196
141.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.63 VUV 2,958
$13.25 €11.49
93.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$228 VUV 26.3K
$30.95 €26.85
635.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vanuatu
Italy
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$55.7 €48.36
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.78 VUV 1,936
$25.15 €21.82
-33.28%
Cinema Ticket
$12.41 VUV 1,432
$10.25 €8.89
21.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vanuatu
Italy
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$611 VUV 70.5K
$576 €500
6.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,863 VUV 792.1K
$10.5K €9,074
-34.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vanuatu
Italy
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.56 VUV 5,373
$91.8 €79.7
-49.29%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$67.5 VUV 7,788
$40.72 €35.32
65.72%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$98.0 €85.0
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$131 €113
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vanuatu
Italy
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,845 VUV 212.9K
$860 €746
114.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,758 VUV 202.8K
$667 €578
163.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,380 VUV 390.1K
$1,475 €1,280
129.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,037 VUV 235.1K
$1,087 €943
87.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,133 VUV 707.8K
$3,850 €3,340
59.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,231 VUV 257.4K
$2,359 €2,046
-5.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vanuatu
Italy
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$338 VUV 39.1K
$1,933 €1,677
-82.50%
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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Italy: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $941 in Vanuatu, $743 in Italy. Capital cities: $1,882 in Port Vila vs $1,325 in Rome.

National salary averages: $496 in Vanuatu, $1,949 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 124% more in Italy.

Public transport is 29% more expensive in Italy.

Salaries are 293% higher in Italy, giving Italy 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 Italy: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Italy and Vanuatu?
At $1,839 per month in Italy and $3,227 in Vanuatu, there's a 75% 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?
Italy 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 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 Vanuatu?
In Italy, $2,500 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 Italy or 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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