Cost of Living Comparison Between Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea Cost of Living Comparison Between Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea

😐 Solo nomad: Vanuatu is 24.4% more expensive than Papua New Guinea without rent, and 122.9% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Vanuatu is 26.9% more expensive than Papua New Guinea without rent, and 83.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Vanuatu
Papua New Guinea
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.38 VUV 1,338
$7.74 PGK 31.61
47.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.9 VUV 7,634
$48.51 PGK 198
33.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.65 VUV 1,135
$5.95 PGK 24.28
62.18%
Cappuccino
$5.31 VUV 624
$2.41 PGK 9.85
120.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 VUV 251
$0.92 PGK 3.77
131.52%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 VUV 197
$0.74 PGK 3.02
127.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.61 VUV 541
$2.85 PGK 11.64
61.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.14 VUV 487
$4.48 PGK 18.27
-7.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vanuatu
Papua New Guinea
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.48 VUV 291
$1.92 PGK 7.82
29.17%
White Bread (500g)
$2.77 VUV 325
$1.6 PGK 6.55
73.13%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.78 VUV 445
$1.46 PGK 5.96
158.90%
Eggs
$5.15 VUV 606
$3.84 PGK 15.67
34.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$20.51 VUV 2,411
$6 PGK 24.49
241.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.81 VUV 1,976
$6.48 PGK 26.44
159.41%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.11 VUV 2,011
$8.82 PGK 36.01
93.99%
Apples (1kg)
$4.72 VUV 554
$4.03 PGK 16.44
17.12%
Banana (1kg)
$2.87 VUV 337
$2.86 PGK 11.66
0.35%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.59 VUV 658
$4.77 PGK 19.47
17.19%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.31 VUV 389
$3.94 PGK 16.1
-15.99%
Potato (1kg)
$5.25 VUV 617
$3.43 PGK 14.02
53.06%
Onion (1kg)
$2.83 VUV 332
$2.43 PGK 9.93
16.46%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.47 VUV 291
$2.86 PGK 11.69
-13.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.35 VUV 159
$1.06 PGK 4.33
27.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.71 VUV 1,142
$6.47 PGK 26.4
50.08%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.21 VUV 1,906
$11.51 PGK 46.99
40.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.2 VUV 377
$2.55 PGK 10.42
25.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.9 VUV 340
$3.49 PGK 14.25
-16.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Vanuatu
Papua New Guinea
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.64 VUV 193
$0.5 PGK 2.03
228.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$67.5 VUV 7,931
$28.44 PGK 116
137.24%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.05 VUV 241
$5.29 PGK 21.61
-61.25%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.87 VUV 102
$2.47 PGK 10.09
-64.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.91 VUV 577
$16.57 PGK 67.6
-70.37%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.85 VUV 217
$1.08 PGK 4.41
71.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.2K VUV 2.7M
$24.4K PGK 99.5K
-5.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.1K VUV 4.5M
$31.1K PGK 127.1K
22.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vanuatu
Papua New Guinea
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$530 VUV 62.3K
$104 PGK 425
409.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.84 VUV 2,920
$49.18 PGK 201
-49.49%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$233 VUV 27.4K
$214 PGK 874
9.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vanuatu
Papua New Guinea
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$63.9 PGK 261
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.52 VUV 1,942
$12.47 PGK 50.9
32.48%
Cinema Ticket
$12.65 VUV 1,487
$9.64 PGK 39.34
31.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vanuatu
Papua New Guinea
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$620 VUV 72.9K
$443 PGK 1,809
39.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,942 VUV 816.1K
$4,146 PGK 16.9K
67.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vanuatu
Papua New Guinea
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.73 VUV 5,493
$35.37 PGK 144
32.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$67.7 VUV 7,953
$35.57 PGK 145
90.19%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$67.9 PGK 277
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$65.3 PGK 267
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vanuatu
Papua New Guinea
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,830 VUV 215.1K
$3,032 PGK 12.4K
-39.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,817 VUV 213.6K
$487 PGK 1,990
272.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,399 VUV 399.6K
$3,232 PGK 13.2K
5.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,091 VUV 245.8K
$732 PGK 2,986
185.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,725 VUV 437.9K
$1,592 PGK 6,498
134.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,267 VUV 266.5K
$4,419 PGK 18K
-48.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vanuatu
Papua New Guinea
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$310 VUV 36.4K
$396 PGK 1,616
-21.71%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7
12.75
-45.10%

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

Last update for Vanuatu: October 29, 2025

Last update for Papua New Guinea: October 29, 2025

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