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 $3,227 per month in Vanuatu vs $2,643 in United States, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,156 per month in Vanuatu vs $3,857 in United States, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,085 per month in Vanuatu vs $5,070 in United States, rent included.

Vanuatu costs about 22% more than 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 97%.

United States has a wider regional cost range ($1,343–$5,081) than Vanuatu ($2,983–$3,471), so location matters more when choosing where to live in United States.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.00 VUV 1,270

$20.04 $20.04

-45.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.7 VUV 7,350

$76.0 $76.0

-16.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.42 VUV 1,087

$11.42 $11.42

-17.51%

Cappuccino

$5.04 VUV 582

$5.39 $5.39

-6.49%

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

$2.22 VUV 256

$2.55 $2.55

-12.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.75 VUV 202

$2.04 $2.04

-14.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.45 VUV 513

$6.14 $6.14

-27.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.25 VUV 490

$7.18 $7.18

-40.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.40 VUV 277

$1.04 $1.04

130.77%

White Bread (500g)

$2.73 VUV 315

$3.65 $3.65

-25.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.83 VUV 442

$4.73 $4.73

-19.03%

Eggs

$5.25 VUV 606

$4.38 $4.38

19.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$20.37 VUV 2,351

$12.76 $12.76

59.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.76 VUV 1,934

$12.42 $12.42

34.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.78 VUV 1,937

$16.41 $16.41

2.25%

Apples (1kg)

$4.79 VUV 553

$5.42 $5.42

-11.62%

Banana (1kg)

$2.79 VUV 322

$1.65 $1.65

69.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.47 VUV 631

$4.59 $4.59

19.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.45 VUV 398

$4.91 $4.91

-29.74%

Potato (1kg)

$5.12 VUV 591

$2.92 $2.92

75.34%

Onion (1kg)

$2.86 VUV 330

$3.13 $3.13

-8.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.46 VUV 283

$2.26 $2.26

8.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 VUV 154

$2.30 $2.30

-42.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.46 VUV 1,092

$9.89 $9.89

-4.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.39 VUV 1,661

$15.10 $15.10

-4.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.16 VUV 364

$1.91 $1.91

65.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 VUV 339

$3.66 $3.66

-19.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.73 VUV 199

$2.48 $2.48

-30.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$68.0 VUV 7,843

$64.8 $64.8

4.83%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.05 VUV 236

$3.84 $3.84

-46.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.87 VUV 101

$1.76 $1.76

-50.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.12 VUV 591

$30.58 $30.58

-83.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.87 VUV 215

$0.96 $0.96

94.79%

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

$23.2K VUV 2.7M

$30.5K $30.5K

-23.96%

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

$38.1K VUV 4.4M

$26.4K $26.4K

44.52%

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

$544 VUV 62.8K

$204 $204

166.56%

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

$25.63 VUV 2,958

$57.3 $57.3

-55.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$228 VUV 26.3K

$71.2 $71.2

219.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.67 $46.67

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.78 VUV 1,936

$22.12 $22.12

-24.14%

Cinema Ticket

$12.41 VUV 1,432

$13.84 $13.84

-10.33%

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

$611 VUV 70.5K

$1,384 $1,384

-55.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,863 VUV 792.1K

$22.7K $22.7K

-69.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.56 VUV 5,373

$53.0 $53.0

-12.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$67.5 VUV 7,788

$43.17 $43.17

56.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.6 $90.6

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 $114

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,845 VUV 212.9K

$1,766 $1,766

4.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,758 VUV 202.8K

$1,459 $1,459

20.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,380 VUV 390.1K

$2,832 $2,832

19.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,037 VUV 235.1K

$2,411 $2,411

-15.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,133 VUV 707.8K

$3,287 $3,287

86.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,231 VUV 257.4K

$2,650 $2,650

-15.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$338 VUV 39.1K

$4,379 $4,379

-92.27%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for United States: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $941 in Vanuatu vs $1,637 in United States. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,882 in Port Vila and $2,591 in Washington, DC.

Average salary: $496 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 121% more in United States.

Public transport is 36% more expensive in Vanuatu.

Salaries are 807% higher in United States, giving United States 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 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.