Cost of Living Comparison Between Vanuatu and United Kingdom Cost of Living Comparison Between Vanuatu and United Kingdom

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,223 in Vanuatu versus $2,363 in United Kingdom.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,121 in Vanuatu versus $3,473 in United Kingdom.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,019 in Vanuatu versus $4,583 in United Kingdom.

Living in Vanuatu is roughly 36% more expensive than United Kingdom on average.

Both countries sit above the global median: Vanuatu 141% above, United Kingdom 76% above.

Internal cost variation is higher in United Kingdom: monthly costs span $1,682 to $4,026, compared to $3,025$3,420 in Vanuatu. City choice carries more weight in United Kingdom.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Vanuatu
United Kingdom
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.22 VUV 1,323
$20.74 £15.33
-45.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$65.6 VUV 7,732
$87.2 £64.4
-24.73%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.39 VUV 1,107
$10.05 £7.43
-6.57%
Cappuccino
$5.03 VUV 592
$4.67 £3.45
7.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 VUV 250
$2.39 £1.77
-11.30%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73 VUV 204
$1.71 £1.26
1.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.58 VUV 540
$6.66 £4.92
-31.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.14 VUV 488
$6.37 £4.71
-35.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vanuatu
United Kingdom
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.37 VUV 279
$1.71 £1.26
38.60%
White Bread (500g)
$2.87 VUV 339
$1.63 £1.21
76.07%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.80 VUV 448
$2.18 £1.61
74.31%
Eggs
$5.27 VUV 621
$4.09 £3.02
28.85%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$20.27 VUV 2,389
$9.99 £7.39
102.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.62 VUV 1,958
$8.70 £6.43
91.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.83 VUV 1,983
$13.97 £10.32
20.47%
Apples (1kg)
$4.89 VUV 576
$2.97 £2.20
64.65%
Banana (1kg)
$2.87 VUV 339
$1.69 £1.25
69.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.32 VUV 626
$2.91 £2.15
82.82%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.41 VUV 402
$3.55 £2.62
-3.94%
Potato (1kg)
$5.09 VUV 599
$1.64 £1.21
210.37%
Onion (1kg)
$2.83 VUV 333
$1.60 £1.18
76.88%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.47 VUV 292
$1.13 £0.83
118.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.35 VUV 159
$1.52 £1.12
-11.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.42 VUV 1,110
$20.51 £15.16
-54.07%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.47 VUV 1,941
$10.88 £8.04
51.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.16 VUV 372
$2.78 £2.06
13.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91 VUV 342
$3.37 £2.49
-13.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Vanuatu
United Kingdom
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.71 VUV 202
$3.33 £2.46
-48.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$67.9 VUV 7,996
$96.7 £71.4
-29.80%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.13 VUV 252
$5.34 £3.94
-60.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 VUV 96.2
$1.53 £1.13
-46.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.15 VUV 607
$26.88 £19.87
-80.84%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.88 VUV 222
$1.99 £1.47
-5.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.6K VUV 2.8M
$38.7K £28.6K
-38.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.7K VUV 4.4M
$41.0K £30.3K
-8.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vanuatu
United Kingdom
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$531 VUV 62.5K
$327 £242
62.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.34 VUV 2,986
$17.71 £13.09
43.08%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$225 VUV 26.5K
$43.17 £31.90
420.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vanuatu
United Kingdom
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$46.96 £34.70
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.06 VUV 2,010
$15.91 £11.76
7.23%
Cinema Ticket
$12.80 VUV 1,508
$13.79 £10.19
-7.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vanuatu
United Kingdom
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$622 VUV 73.3K
$1,751 £1,294
-64.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,923 VUV 815.7K
$21.0K £15.5K
-67.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vanuatu
United Kingdom
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.46 VUV 5,474
$92.6 £68.5
-49.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$66.8 VUV 7,868
$45.06 £33.30
48.18%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$101 £74.3
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$104 £77.0
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vanuatu
United Kingdom
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,864 VUV 219.7K
$1,374 £1,015
35.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,762 VUV 207.6K
$1,151 £851
53.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,343 VUV 393.9K
$2,335 £1,726
43.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,035 VUV 239.8K
$1,854 £1,370
9.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,456 VUV 996.3K
$5,933 £4,385
42.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,346 VUV 394.2K
$4,638 £3,428
-27.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vanuatu
United Kingdom
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$456 VUV 53.8K
$3,384 £2,501
-86.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7
5.75
21.74%

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

Last update for Vanuatu: April 20, 2026

Last update for United Kingdom: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $940 in Vanuatu, $1,266 in United Kingdom. Capital cities: $1,879 in Port Vila vs $3,031 in London.

National salary averages: $578 in Vanuatu, $3,202 in United Kingdom. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 35% higher in United Kingdom.

Dining out costs 155% more in United Kingdom.

Public transport is 174% more expensive in United Kingdom.

Salaries are 454% higher in United Kingdom, giving United Kingdom 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 United Kingdom: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between United Kingdom and Vanuatu?
At $2,854 per month in United Kingdom and $3,223 in Vanuatu, there's a 13% 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?
United Kingdom 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 United Kingdom across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $4,000 a realistic budget in United Kingdom or Vanuatu?
In United Kingdom, $4,000 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 United Kingdom or Vanuatu?
It depends on what you're after. United Kingdom 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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