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

Name: United States
Address: US

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,224 per month in Vanuatu vs $2,643 in United States, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,154 per month in Vanuatu vs $3,857 in United States, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,083 per month in Vanuatu vs $5,071 in United States, rent included.

The cost of living in Vanuatu is about 22% higher than in United States on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Both Vanuatu and United States are pricier than the global median – Vanuatu by 141%, United States by 98%.

The regional cost range is wider in United States ($1,341–$5,102) than in Vanuatu ($3,042–$3,406), so city choice matters more there.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.39 VUV 1,325

$20.02 $20.02

-43.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.3 VUV 7,490

$74.7 $74.7

-13.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.58 VUV 1,115

$11.67 $11.67

-17.91%

Cappuccino

$5.10 VUV 594

$5.30 $5.30

-3.77%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 VUV 248

$2.48 $2.48

-14.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.71 VUV 199

$2.11 $2.11

-18.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.51 VUV 525

$5.82 $5.82

-22.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.11 VUV 478

$6.92 $6.92

-40.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.45 VUV 285

$1.07 $1.07

128.97%

White Bread (500g)

$2.73 VUV 318

$3.62 $3.62

-24.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.73 VUV 435

$4.68 $4.68

-20.30%

Eggs

$5.14 VUV 598

$4.23 $4.23

21.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$20.00 VUV 2,329

$13.07 $13.07

53.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.59 VUV 1,932

$12.42 $12.42

33.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.76 VUV 1,951

$16.12 $16.12

3.97%

Apples (1kg)

$4.71 VUV 549

$5.27 $5.27

-10.63%

Banana (1kg)

$2.78 VUV 323

$1.66 $1.66

67.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.50 VUV 641

$4.51 $4.51

21.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.33 VUV 388

$5.02 $5.02

-33.67%

Potato (1kg)

$5.17 VUV 602

$2.97 $2.97

74.07%

Onion (1kg)

$2.82 VUV 328

$3.16 $3.16

-10.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.51 VUV 292

$2.18 $2.18

15.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 VUV 154

$2.28 $2.28

-42.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.56 VUV 1,113

$10.07 $10.07

-5.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.82 VUV 1,725

$15.27 $15.27

-2.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.28 VUV 382

$1.94 $1.94

69.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 VUV 341

$3.55 $3.55

-17.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.71 VUV 199

$2.45 $2.45

-30.20%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$68.1 VUV 7,929

$65.0 $65.0

4.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.15 VUV 250

$3.84 $3.84

-44.01%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.81 VUV 94.9

$1.71 $1.71

-52.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.99 VUV 581

$30.30 $30.30

-83.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.94 VUV 226

$0.88 $0.88

120.45%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$23.0K VUV 2.7M

$29.7K $29.7K

-22.45%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$38.5K VUV 4.5M

$26.5K $26.5K

45.49%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$545 VUV 63.5K

$204 $204

166.89%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$25.05 VUV 2,916

$57.4 $57.4

-56.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$232 VUV 27.0K

$70.5 $70.5

229.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.43 $45.43

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.11 VUV 1,992

$22.15 $22.15

-22.75%

Cinema Ticket

$12.77 VUV 1,486

$14.14 $14.14

-9.69%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$626 VUV 72.8K

$1,373 $1,373

-54.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,974 VUV 811.8K

$23.0K $23.0K

-69.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.39 VUV 5,400

$51.5 $51.5

-9.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$68.0 VUV 7,910

$43.10 $43.10

57.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.1 $90.1

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 $115

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,896 VUV 220.7K

$1,703 $1,703

11.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,808 VUV 210.4K

$1,451 $1,451

24.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,414 VUV 397.4K

$2,834 $2,834

20.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,096 VUV 244.0K

$2,365 $2,365

-11.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,075 VUV 707.2K

$3,338 $3,338

81.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,207 VUV 256.9K

$2,570 $2,570

-14.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$336 VUV 39.1K

$4,326 $4,326

-92.23%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

7.53%

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

Last update for Vanuatu: July 20, 2026

Last update for United States: July 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $942 in Vanuatu vs $1,635 in United States. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,885 in Port Vila and $1,604 in Washington, MI.

Average salary: $490 in Vanuatu vs $4,500 in United States. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 74% higher in United States.

Dining out costs 128% more in United States.

Public transport is 32% more expensive in Vanuatu.

Salaries are 818% higher in United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in United States.

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 States: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Housing costs more in Vanuatu, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Vanuatu consistently has higher rents.

$4,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in United States, but in Vanuatu it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.

United States is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.