Last update: Oct 2026 300K

Cost of Living in Vanuatu

Name: Vanuatu
Address: VU

Across Vanuatu, living costs for one person average $3,216 a month, including rent and utilities, which take more than half of the total. Other living expenses average about $46 a day.

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🇻🇺 Vanuatu

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Vanuatu

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Vanuatu actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends around $3,216 per month with rent on average in Vanuatu.

$3,216 /mo

A couple spends around $4,324 per month with rent on average in Vanuatu.

$4,324 /mo

A family of three spends around $5,432 per month with rent on average in Vanuatu.

$5,432 /mo

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.42 VUV 1,448

$8.27 VUV 964

$16.55 VUV 1,930

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$55.9 VUV 6,513

$41.86 VUV 4,880

$83.7 VUV 9,759

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.15 VUV 1,650

$11.66 VUV 1,359

$16.65 VUV 1,942

Cappuccino

$3.97 VUV 463

$2.88 VUV 336

$4.94 VUV 575

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

$2.30 VUV 269

$1.36 VUV 159

$2.99 VUV 349

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 VUV 272

$2.07 VUV 241

$2.50 VUV 291

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.03 VUV 587

$3.46 VUV 404

$6.71 VUV 782

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.35 VUV 857

$3.31 VUV 386

$7.78 VUV 907

Milk (1 liter)

$3.13 VUV 365

$2.56 VUV 299

$4.28 VUV 499

White Bread (500g)

$2.50 VUV 291

$0.59 VUV 68.5

$4.20 VUV 490

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.86 VUV 450

$1.70 VUV 198

$5.09 VUV 594

Eggs

$6.21 VUV 724

$5.22 VUV 608

$6.78 VUV 791

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.29 VUV 1,900

$12.86 VUV 1,499

$23.16 VUV 2,700

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.00 VUV 1,865

$8.27 VUV 964

$18.21 VUV 2,123

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.25 VUV 1,545

$9.14 VUV 1,066

$16.62 VUV 1,937

Apples (1kg)

$6.57 VUV 766

$4.18 VUV 488

$9.97 VUV 1,162

Banana (1kg)

$2.07 VUV 242

$1.25 VUV 145

$4.15 VUV 483

Oranges (1kg)

$3.91 VUV 456

$2.88 VUV 336

$4.77 VUV 556

Tomato (1kg)

$10.09 VUV 1,177

$2.59 VUV 302

$17.31 VUV 2,018

Potato (1kg)

$8.96 VUV 1,045

$4.26 VUV 497

$10.24 VUV 1,194

Onion (1kg)

$4.34 VUV 506

$2.00 VUV 233

$6.08 VUV 709

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.60 VUV 304

$0.86 VUV 101

$4.34 VUV 506

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 VUV 136

$0.82 VUV 95.0

$4.09 VUV 477

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.57 VUV 1,115

$9.04 VUV 1,054

$18.08 VUV 2,108

Wine (Bottle)

$12.45 VUV 1,451

$8.21 VUV 957

$16.59 VUV 1,934

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.94 VUV 342

$2.13 VUV 248

$4.26 VUV 496

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.99 VUV 349

$2.23 VUV 260

$4.13 VUV 481

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.29 VUV 150

$2.57 VUV 299

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$67.7 VUV 7,895

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.51 VUV 293

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.81 VUV 94.8

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.00 VUV 583

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.84 VUV 215

$1.65 VUV 192

$2.43 VUV 283

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

$23.0K VUV 2.7M

$21.0K VUV 2.4M

$25.1K VUV 2.9M

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

$37.3K VUV 4.4M

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

$624 VUV 72.8K

$500 VUV 58.2K

$708 VUV 82.5K

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

$22.95 VUV 2,675

$8.60 VUV 1,003

$25.81 VUV 3,009

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$360 VUV 42.0K

$289 VUV 33.7K

$502 VUV 58.5K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.9 VUV 7,915

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.80 VUV 1,959

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

$632 VUV 73.7K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,850 VUV 798.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.81 VUV 4,757

$39.63 VUV 4,620

$41.99 VUV 4,895

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$66.5 VUV 7,749

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.2 VUV 9,930

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 VUV 12.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,566 VUV 182.6K

$991 VUV 115.6K

$2,930 VUV 341.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,198 VUV 139.7K

$843 VUV 98.3K

$2,950 VUV 344.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,359 VUV 391.6K

$1,749 VUV 203.9K

$6,246 VUV 728.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,897 VUV 221.1K

$1,367 VUV 159.4K

$4,272 VUV 498.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,080 VUV 708.8K

$3,630 VUV 423.2K

$8,529 VUV 994.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,184 VUV 254.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$345 VUV 40.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.18

4.55

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

Last update: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Vanuatu $3,216

Accommodation & Living

$1.2K 37.3%

Monthly Utilities & Internet

$1K 31.3%

Groceries & Markets

$482 15%

Eating Out

$248 7.7%

Clothing & Footwear

$133 4.1%

Getting Around

$79 2.5%

Sport & Entertainment

$68 * 2.1%

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

The average net salary in Vanuatu is $488 – below average monthly costs of $3,216. Many locals rely on dual incomes or shared housing. Remote workers earning abroad find strong purchasing power here.

Groceries average around $481 per month nationally. A mid-range dinner for two costs about $56.

Cost Highlights

Overall cost of living ($3,216) is 137% above the global median of $1,355.

Average rent ($1,587) is 139% above the global median of $663.

Dinner for two at a restaurant ($56) is 17% above the global median of $48.

Public transport ($66) is 100% above the global median of $33.

Good to know

🕒 Local time

06:27 6:27 AM

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

300,019

💱 Currency

Vanuatu Vatu VUV Vt

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 VUV = 8.58 USD

1,000 VUV = 7.66 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

By City in Vanuatu

Lowest

Highest

Rank	City	Population	Living Index	Solo costs (no rent) / month	Solo costs (with rent) / month	Family of 3 costs (no rent) / month	Family of 3 costs (with rent) / month	Mobile download speed (Mbps)	Internet download speed (Mbps)
1	Norsup	1200		$484	$3,454	$1,091	$1,091	241.89	25.14
2	Port Vila	44039	153	$1,400	$3,155	$2,914	$5,415	94.95	81.6

Vanuatu Median Internet Speeds (Updated April 2026)

Mobile

Mbps

Fixed Broadband

Mbps

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Cost of Living in Vanuatu - Frequently Asked Questions

You’ll notice value is highly place- and style-dependent. Island differences, proximity to Port Vila, and your housing choice shape costs more than any national figure. Digital nomads who can blend local work rhythms with affordable, long-term housing often find the best balance, while travelers on short stays may feel the sting of imported goods. Local markets, shared accommodations, and seasonal produce lift value, especially if you plan around ferries and weather. The Cost of Living in Vanuatu shifts with where you live and how you live, not with a single price tag. Tip: Prioritize local options, flexible leases, and season-aware planning to maximize value.

In daily life, you’ll notice housing access varies by island and proximity to ports. Expect a mix of guesthouses, modest apartments, and family homes, with longer leases often negotiated through word-of-mouth. For groceries, local markets and fresh seafood are affordable and flavorful, while imported items come at a premium. Transport includes scooters, buses, ferries between islands, and occasional domestic flights; plan extra time for weather. Co-working spaces exist in Port Vila and some regional towns, easing remote work. Errands like banking and postal services run at slower tempos. Vanuatu living cost informs how you allocate weeks. Tip: Start with short-term stays to test neighborhoods before committing.

Quality of life in Vanuatu hinges on pace, space, and community. Build a simple budgeting framework: separate housing, food, transport, utilities, and activities, then set flexible caps for imports and adventures. Plan for seasonality: the dry season often supports more outdoor activities, while the wet season can shift energy use and travel plans. For neighborhoods, Port Vila offers services, beaches, and coworking communities; outer islands deliver quieter life, stronger local networks, and easier access to nature. Focus on neighborhoods that fit your work needs, daily errands, and social circles; prioritize local markets and a reliable internet plan. Tip: anchor routines around weekly markets and predictable transport windows to reduce impulse buys.

Vanuatu is expensive by global standards. High wages, strong regulation, and premium services all drive up prices, and even budget-conscious visitors will find it pricier than most alternatives abroad.