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 $3,223 per month in Vanuatu vs $2,645 in United States, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,121 per month in Vanuatu vs $3,858 in United States, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,019 per month in Vanuatu vs $5,071 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 ($1,335–$5,185) than Vanuatu ($3,025–$3,420), so location matters more when choosing where to live in United States.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.22 VUV 1,323

$20.28 $20.28

-44.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$65.6 VUV 7,732

$73.7 $73.7

-10.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.39 VUV 1,107

$11.57 $11.57

-18.84%

Cappuccino

$5.03 VUV 592

$5.34 $5.34

-5.81%

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

$2.12 VUV 250

$2.50 $2.50

-15.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 VUV 204

$2.10 $2.10

-17.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.58 VUV 540

$5.96 $5.96

-23.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.14 VUV 488

$7.03 $7.03

-41.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.37 VUV 279

$1.09 $1.09

117.43%

White Bread (500g)

$2.87 VUV 339

$3.56 $3.56

-19.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.80 VUV 448

$4.75 $4.75

-20.00%

Eggs

$5.27 VUV 621

$4.26 $4.26

23.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$20.27 VUV 2,389

$13.05 $13.05

55.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.62 VUV 1,958

$12.32 $12.32

34.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.83 VUV 1,983

$16.03 $16.03

4.99%

Apples (1kg)

$4.89 VUV 576

$5.34 $5.34

-8.43%

Banana (1kg)

$2.87 VUV 339

$1.72 $1.72

66.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.32 VUV 626

$4.55 $4.55

16.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.41 VUV 402

$4.96 $4.96

-31.25%

Potato (1kg)

$5.09 VUV 599

$2.92 $2.92

74.32%

Onion (1kg)

$2.83 VUV 333

$3.03 $3.03

-6.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.47 VUV 292

$2.23 $2.23

10.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.35 VUV 159

$2.26 $2.26

-40.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.42 VUV 1,110

$10.13 $10.13

-7.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.47 VUV 1,941

$14.93 $14.93

10.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.16 VUV 372

$1.94 $1.94

62.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 VUV 342

$3.51 $3.51

-17.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.71 VUV 202

$2.55 $2.55

-32.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$67.9 VUV 7,996

$65.8 $65.8

3.12%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.13 VUV 252

$3.82 $3.82

-44.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.82 VUV 96.2

$1.69 $1.69

-51.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.15 VUV 607

$29.65 $29.65

-82.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.88 VUV 222

$0.90 $0.90

108.89%

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

$23.6K VUV 2.8M

$30.5K $30.5K

-22.48%

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

$37.7K VUV 4.4M

$26.4K $26.4K

42.96%

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

$531 VUV 62.5K

$205 $205

159.40%

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

$25.34 VUV 2,986

$57.2 $57.2

-55.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$225 VUV 26.5K

$71.5 $71.5

214.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.76 $45.76

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.06 VUV 2,010

$22.31 $22.31

-23.53%

Cinema Ticket

$12.80 VUV 1,508

$13.89 $13.89

-7.85%

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

$622 VUV 73.3K

$1,380 $1,380

-54.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,923 VUV 815.7K

$22.5K $22.5K

-69.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.46 VUV 5,474

$52.9 $52.9

-12.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$66.8 VUV 7,868

$42.81 $42.81

55.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.8 $88.8

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 $113

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,864 VUV 219.7K

$1,742 $1,742

7.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,762 VUV 207.6K

$1,431 $1,431

23.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,343 VUV 393.9K

$2,864 $2,864

16.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,035 VUV 239.8K

$2,422 $2,422

-15.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,456 VUV 996.3K

$3,466 $3,466

143.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,346 VUV 394.2K

$2,650 $2,650

26.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$456 VUV 53.8K

$4,320 $4,320

-89.43%

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: April 20, 2026

Last update for United States: April 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $940 in Vanuatu vs $1,634 in United States. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,879 in Port Vila and $2,570 in Washington, DC.

Average salary: $578 in Vanuatu vs $4,489 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 677% 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

Vanuatu is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 1% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.

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

Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Vanuatu, contributing to the overall 1% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.

$2,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Vanuatu, but in United States it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.

Vanuatu 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.