Cost Of Living in Vanuatu 2025

Average monthly spending for singles, couples, students, and families in Vanuatu

Whether you're living in Vanuatu or planning to move there, it is very important to know the cost of living and the prices of things. Here we list the average spending for the four main population groups.

Singles

The average monthly expense for a single person living in Vanuatu is 68,000 VUV. Expenses can range from 9,500 VUV at the minimum level to 450,000 VUV at the highest end.

Couples

The average monthly spending of couples in Vanuatu is 110,000 VUV. Expenditure can range from 38,000 VUV to 600,000 VUV per month.

Families

The average cost of living for families in Vanuatu is 150,000 VUV per month. Families spend anywhere from 53,000 VUV to 980,000 VUV.

Students

The average monthly expenditure for students in Vanuatu is 50,000 VUV. Students spend from 7,500 VUV to 330,000 VUV per month.

Expenditure to Income Ratio in Vanuatu

One of the most definite ways to determine how affordable a place is measuring the ratio of expenses to salary. A high expense-to-income to ratio indicates a high cost-of-living index while a low expenditure-to-salary ratio means the place is affordable to live in.

Expense to income distribution levels

Interpretation and Analysis

The average spending-to-salary ratio in Vanuatu is 87% This means that on average, people spend around 87% of their income for living. According to the distribution table, 15% of the population spend approximately 60% to 70% of their income every month.

Individual
78%
Spending-Income-Ratio

---

72%

86%

Couple
83%
Spending-Income-Ratio

---

76%

90%

Family
91%
Spending-Income-Ratio

---

84%

100%

How do people spend their money in Vanuatu?

We asked thousands of people about their spending habits and expenditure breaks. Below are their answers.

People living in Vanuatu typically spend from 13% to 32% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 24% being the average. The average spend on housing is 29,000 VUV with expenditure ranging from 2,300 VUV to 290,000 VUV. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses. Housing costs are highest for families and lowest for students as expected.

Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Vanuatu ranges from 5% to 12% of total expenses with 8% being the average. The average monthly cost of utilities is 4,900 VUV with 380 VUV and 49,000 VUV being the upper and lower limits.

Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether you live near your work or school, but roughly speaking you would expect to spend from 750 VUV to 98,000 VUV on commuting with 9,800 VUV being the norm for most people in one month. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 7% of total spending on average but can go as low as 3% or as high as 11%.

The average outlay on groceries in a month in Vanuatu is 24,000 VUV. The cost of groceries can range between 1,900 VUV to 240,000 VUV. People spend on average about 28% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 20% and 34% respectively.

People in Vanuatu allocate 5% to 13% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending is around 10%. The range of medical expenses range from 530 VUV to 68,000 VUV with 6,800 VUV being the norm.

This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 300 VUV to 39,000 VUV with 3,900 VUV being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 2% to 8% of total expenses with an average of 4% for most residents.

Spending on education can vary drastically between different people. While working singles can spend 0% on education, families and students' expenditure can reach up to 22%. On average, education constitutes 5% of the monthly expenditure with 3% and 11% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 5,900 VUV per month with 450 VUV being the minimum spent amount and 59,000 VUV being the maximum.

How much money can you save in Vanuatu every month?

We asked thousands of people what percentage of their income can they save in a month. Below are the answers.

What percentage of people in Vanuatu manage to save money from their income every month?

Almost 52% of the surveyed people in Vanuatu said that they can save some money at the end of each month while 48% said that aren't saving anything.

Percentage of people saving money by population group in Vanuatu

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

For most people, 7% to 27% of their monthly income is what they can allocate to their savings, with 13% being the average. The amount of money that people can save is approximately 32,000 VUV on average with savings ranging from 2,400 VUV to 320,000 VUV.

61% of surveyed singles reported some of their income going to savings while 56% of couples said the same. 51% of families confirmed their ability to save money.

How much money do people actually save in Vanuatu?

Singles

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for singles

Interpretation and Analysis

Singles who can afford to save reported that they allocate from 10% to 29% of their monthly income to savings, with 17% being the average for most singles. The average amount of money that singles are able to save is 22,000 VUV with 2,400 VUV and 150,000 VUV being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Couples

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for couples

Interpretation and Analysis

Couples who confirmed their ability to save reported saving equivalent to 8% to 28% of their monthly income, with 15% being the average for most couples. The average amount of money that couples can save is 37,000 VUV with 12,000 VUV and 200,000 VUV being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Families

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for families

Interpretation and Analysis

Families in Vanuatu can save anywhere between 7% to 26% of their monthly income, with 13% being the average for most families. The average amount of money that families can put aside is 49,000 VUV with 17,000 VUV and 320,000 VUV being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Saving Challenges in Vanuatu

Reasons that make it difficult for people to save money

We wanted to understand what is stopping people from maximizing their savings in Vanuatu. Listed below are the answers given by the survey participants.

Around 5% of the people said that their salary is too low to accommodate a portion for savings while 8% said that the high cost of living leaves little room for savings. 13% of the residents said that they are burdened with debt and find it challenging to save money. 12% reported that they just don't have the knowledge or discipline to create and stick to a budget, leading to overspending and an inability to save. 12% blamed impulsive spending as the reason for saving inability. Around 7% said that unexpected expenses like medical bills or car repairs are derailing their savings goals. 5% bluntly said that they don't see the purpose of it and prefer to live each day to the fullest. 21% reported that they understand the value of saving but are putting off saving for the future, thinking they have plenty of time to start later. 13% blamed inflation, saying that every time they save some money they end up using it immediately. A surprising 3% said that social pressure and keeping up with peers or social expectations makes them overspend. Lastly, 2% blamed market instability and price fluctuations.

Typical saving choices for people in Vanuatu

Where do people choose to put their savings?

A typical and healthy budgeting structure

The 50/30/20 rule

Spending among different people can vary significantly based on factors such as their income, lifestyle, location, and personal preferences. A commonly used guideline for budgeting is the 50/30/20 rule, which suggests allocating your income into three main categories in the following percentages.

• 50% for needs and financial obligations

  This category includes essential expenses like housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, and healthcare.

• 30% for wants and discretionary spending

  This category covers discretionary spending on non-essential items, such as dining out, entertainment, travel, and other lifestyle choices.

• 20% for savings and emergency fund

  This is the percentage that must be allocated to savings, emergency funds, and retirement accounts.

About financial planning, money management, and household budgeting

Affordable living in Vanuatu

Income and cost of living compatibility

We asked residents one simple question and recorded their answers.

Is it affordable or economical to live in Vanuatu?

Around 53% of surveyed residents think that living in Vanuatu is affordable with proper budgeting while 47% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.

Low-cost alternatives in Vanuatu

People are always looking for ways to cut down expenses and reduce expenditures. The hallmark of any affordable place is the availability of discount stores, bargain deals, smart or secondhand shopping, refurbished items, and couponing. We asked residents how easily cost-cutting is and the answers were distributed as follows:

Plenty of low-cost options54%

Few low-cost options46%

Based on the survey, 54% of the people living in Vanuatu have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 46% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.

Emergency Funds

An emergency fund is a financial safety net comprised of easily accessible savings set aside to cover unexpected expenses or financial emergencies, typically amounting to three to six months' worth of living expenses. We asked residents of Vanuatu whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.

Yes49%

No51%

Based on the survey, 51% of the people living in Vanuatu said that they don't have an emergency fund while 49% said that they do.

Financial Literacy in Vanuatu

Financial literacy is the knowledge of concepts and principles related to personal finance that allow individuals to make informed decisions regarding their money such as budgeting, saving, investing, borrowing, managing debt, financial risk management, and planning.

Financial Leteracy48%

We asked residents of Vanuatu whether they acquired any adequate personal financial training in their lives. Approximately 52% of the people who participated in the survey said that they are not well informed about the topics of budgeting, saving, etc., and just manage things based on their own experience, while 48% said that they know about the general principles of personal finance from sources other than their own experience.

Difficulty in Budgeting and Financial Planning

We wanted to understand whether residents of Vanuatu have problems or difficulties in managing their expenditures and savings so we asked people one simple question: do you struggle with your personal finances? 55% of the participants reported that they indeed struggle in creating budgets and in organizing their finances while 45% said that they have everything under control.

Struggles with finance55%

Easily manages finances45%

Financial goals of people in Vanuatu

In an attempt to understand the economic situation in Vanuatu, we asked participants about their financial targets. By knowing what the population in general is trying to achieve, we can shed light on the economic outlook, cost of living, and quality of life in general.

Around 8% of those who participated in the survey said that their main goal is to establish an emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses while 42% said their number one priority is to pay off high-interest debt or loans and improve credit. 10% of surveyed people confirmed that saving for retirement to ensure a comfortable lifestyle in the final years is their main target. Around 7% reported that their priority is saving for the tuition fees and education costs of their children while 18% choose to buy a home or pay off existing mortgage before other things. 6% of the population would like to build wealth through investments such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or real estate. For 7% of people, saving for vacations or upgrading their lifestyle is the number one concern. Approximately 14% of the residents said that saving for healthcare expenses including insurance premiums is their main goal.

Retirement, pension plans, and life after work in Vanuatu

What does the retirement lifestyle look like in Vanuatu and how much retirement savings are required?

Retirement age

The retirement age for most employees in Vanuatu is 65 years. Specific retirement ages can vary based on factors like occupation, gender, years of contribution, and location. It is not entirely unlikely for people to retire either before or after this age.

Retirement planning and savings

There are many retirement saving options, some are personally initiated and others are government-sponsered. Regardless of the source of savings, the minimum amount of money that needs to be put aside to ensure a peaceful and comfortable retirement at each age can be found in the table below. This data is largely approximated and can vary drastically based on individual needs and situations. Treat these figures as a general guideline.

Retirement Income Distribution

We asked residents of Vanuatu about their retirement income sources and below are the results.

Retirement Monthly Expenses in Vanuatu

Debt, loans, and mortgages in Vanuatu

Percentage of people who are in debt

According to the survey, 34% of the people in Vanuatu have some kind of debt, loan, mortgage, or credit card payments while 66% reported that they don't have financial obligations to banks.

Debt-to-income ratio in Vanuatu

Interpretation

The debt-to-income ratio measures the percentage of income being paid as debt settlement across the population. It is calculated by dividing the monthly debt settlement payment of an individual by their monthly income. Based on collected data, approximately 32% of the people's monthly income in Vanuatu goes to debt settlement.

Debt levels

Monthly debt settlement payment as percentage of monthly income

According to our data, 3% of the debtors in Vanuatu pay 60%+ of their income as debt settlement while 18% of the people pay 50% to 60% of their income for the same, which is quite an alarming financial situation for those individuals. 14% of people in debt dedicate 40% to 50% of their income to loan and mortgage payments while 16% dedicated 30% to 40% of income for same. Things are looking brighter for 10% of individuals as they only pay 20% to 30% of their income for loan and credit card repayment.

Distribution by type of debt in Vanuatu

8% of debtors in Vanuatu confirm that real estate mortgages constitutes the main part of their outstanding debt while 30% say that credit card payments are the reason they are in debt. Auto loans were the main type of debt for 15% of people and personal loans rose at 43%. Lastly, student loans are the main source of debt for 4% of debtors in Vanuatu.

Good debt vs. Bad debt

Not all debt is bad. Good debt typically refers to borrowing money for investments that can increase in value or generate income over time like purchasing a home or acquiring student loans. On the other hand, bad debt involves borrowing for things that fail to generate lasting value like high-interest credit card debt used for non-essential expenses like luxury items or vacations.

Loan Affordability Index in Vanuatu

Besides measuring the loan-to-income ratio, we asked residents of Vanuatu how many times in a year they defaulted or were unable to pay their due credit card or loan payments on time. Understanding how often people default on their due payments is one of the indicators of the cost of living and economic situation.

Frequency and percentage of people who failed to pay their monthly credit card or loan payments on time last year.

Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in Vanuatu

Rent Cost in Vanuatu

Monthly Rent Prices

Studio apartment monthly rent cost

8,300 VUV

12,000 VUV

33,000 VUV

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$69

$100

$280

1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

12,000 VUV

20,000 VUV

50,000 VUV

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$100

$170

$410

2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

17,000 VUV

25,000 VUV

66,000 VUV

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$140

$210

$550

3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

20,000 VUV

33,000 VUV

90,000 VUV

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$170

$280

$750

Furnished apartment monthly rent cost

40,000 VUV

99,000 VUV

200,000 VUV

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$330

$830

$1,700

Townhouse monthly rent cost

33,000 VUV

50,000 VUV

140,000 VUV

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$280

$410

$1,200

House monthly rent cost

40,000 VUV

99,000 VUV

200,000 VUV

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$330

$830

$1,700

Villa monthly rent cost

50,000 VUV

120,000 VUV

200,000 VUV

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$410

$1,000

$1,700

The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Vanuatu ranges between 8,300 VUV and 33,000 VUV, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 12,000 VUV to 50,000 VUV. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 17,000 VUV and 66,000 VUV per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 20,000 VUV to 90,000 VUV. The average rent of a townhouse in Vanuatu is around 50,000 VUV while house rental costs can be as high as 99,000 VUV per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 50,000 VUV to 200,000 VUV per month.

Apartment and house prices in Vanuatu

Cost of buying a property

Studio apartment price

1.7M VUV

2.5M VUV

5M VUV

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$14,000

$21,000

$41,000

1-bedroom apartment price

2M VUV

3.3M VUV

12M VUV

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$17,000

$28,000

$100,000

2-bedroom apartment price

3.3M VUV

9.9M VUV

20M VUV

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$28,000

$83,000

$170,000

3-bedroom apartment price

11M VUV

17M VUV

50M VUV

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$92,000

$140,000

$410,000

Townhouse price

14M VUV

33M VUV

120M VUV

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$120,000

$280,000

$1M

House price

17M VUV

99M VUV

140M VUV

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$140,000

$830,000

$1.2M

Villa price

20M VUV

110M VUV

170M VUV

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$170,000

$920,000

$1.4M

The average price of a studio apartment in Vanuatu can range from 1.7M VUV to 5M VUV depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 2M VUV to 12M VUV. A villa can cost you 110M VUV on average with prices ranging from 20M VUV to 170M VUV.

House / apartment prices to income ratio

Property prices in Vanuatu can be x85 to x191 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x85 multiples of the average monthly salary in Vanuatu.

Rent to income ratio

The average rent-to-income ratio in Vanuatu is around 29%. This means that people pay 29% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 19% to 39% depending on the salary, location, and type of property.

Housing affordability index

The housing affordability index measures how affordable accommodation is in a particular place. This can measured in multiple ways, the most common being housing expenditure to total expenditure ratio and the rent to income ratio. The housing expenditure ratio is a figure reported by individuals on the percentage they allocate for housing. Rent to income ratio is calculated by dividing the average monthly rent by the average income. Because these values are both percentages, we can find their average and get the best of the two worlds.

Property Taxes

Real estate owners pay property taxes to local tax authorities, which are determined by the assessed value of their property. Typically, these taxes are paid once a year. Property tax funds contribute to community development, financing infrastructure improvements, public services, and local education initiatives.

Home Maintenance Costs

Home maintenance costs encompass various expenses associated with the upkeep and repair of a residence. These expenditures include regular tasks such as lawn care, pest control, and HVAC system servicing, as well as occasional repairs and renovations like fixing leaks, painting, or replacing appliances.

Urban vs. rural living costs

Urban living typically entails higher housing and transportation costs due to demand and limited space, while rural areas generally offer lower housing expenses but may have higher prices for goods and services. The differnce in rental rates between urban areas and rural areas can be as high as 300% in some cases.

Monthly costs and expenses of energy and basic utilities in Vanuatu

Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in Vanuatu

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Individual

570 VUV

4,100 VUV

27,000 VUV

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$4.7

$34

$220

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Couple

1,500 VUV

5,100 VUV

33,000 VUV

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$12

$42

$270

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Family

2,600 VUV

7,500 VUV

49,000 VUV

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$22

$62

$400

Internet and cable cost

500 VUV

990 VUV

1,300 VUV

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$4.1

$8.3

$11

Mobile phone bill and charges

400 VUV

660 VUV

2,000 VUV

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$3.3

$5.5

$17

The average monthly expenditure for individuals on electricty, water, and gas in Vanuatu ranges between 570 VUV and 27,000 VUV with average being 4,100 VUV, meanwhile the expenditure of couples is slightly higher at 5,100 VUV with 1,500 VUV and 33,000 VUV being the upper and lower limits respectively. As expected, the energy and water consumption of families is the highest among the three groups with an average of 7,500 VUV. The cost of internet and WiFi is unchanged among the three groups and ranges from 500 VUV to 1,300 VUV with 990 VUV being the average internet bill. Finally, the average monthly mobile charges is around 660 VUV but can range between 400 VUV and 2,000 VUV depending on consumption. Mobile charges include both calling minutes as well as data packages.

Energy / Utility expense to income ratio

The average utility-to-income ratio in Vanuatu is around 7%. This means that people pay 7% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 4% to 11% depending on salary and location.

Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Vanuatu

Prices and cost of goods and services in Vanuatu

Dining out, food, and beverages costs. Price variations for common food items.

Fast food combo meal price

99 VUV

200 VUV

330 VUV

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.83

$1.7

$2.8

The average price of a regular combo meal at a fast food outlet or chain like McDonald's, Pizzahut, or KFC in Vanuatu is approximatly 200 VUV with meal cost ranging from 99 VUV to 330 VUV. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.

Restaurant meal for one price

330 VUV

500 VUV

990 VUV

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2.8

$4.1

$8.3

If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 330 VUV and 990 VUV with 500 VUV being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Vanuatu.

Fine dining meal for one price

660 VUV

990 VUV

4,000 VUV

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$5.5

$8.3

$33

The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 660 VUV to 4,000 VUV with the average cost being 990 VUV for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Vanuatu.

Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..

83 VUV

130 VUV

200 VUV

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.69

$1.1

$1.7

The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in Vanuatu is around 130 VUV. Price ranges between 83 VUV and 200 VUV depending on the type of beverage, the size, and optional add-ons.

Grocery and market costs

Large bottle of milk price

66 VUV

80 VUV

99 VUV

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.55

$0.66

$0.83

The average price of a large bottle of milk in Vanuatu is 80 VUV. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 99 VUV and the minimum being 66 VUV depending on the brand of milk and other properties.

12 eggs price

50 VUV

66 VUV

99 VUV

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.41

$0.55

$0.83

A dozen eggs costs around 66 VUV on average with 50 VUV and 99 VUV being the lower and upper limits respectively.

Fresh whole chicken price

110 VUV

150 VUV

210 VUV

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.94

$1.2

$1.7

The price range of a fresh whole chicken in Vanuatu is between 110 VUV and 210 VUV depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 150 VUV.

Pack of beef price

130 VUV

200 VUV

400 VUV

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.1

$1.7

$3.3

The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 200 VUV. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.

Medium bag of rice price

53 VUV

73 VUV

100 VUV

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.44

$0.61

$0.86

A bag of rice in Vanuatu costs around 73 VUV on average with prices rangeing between 53 VUV and 100 VUV depending on the brand and quality.

Bag of tomatos price

20 VUV

27 VUV

50 VUV

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.17

$0.22

$0.41

A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 20 VUV to 50 VUV. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Bag of apples price

36 VUV

46 VUV

77 VUV

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.29

$0.39

$0.63

A bag of apples costs 46 VUV on average. A bag of apples denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Grocery and food expenditure to income ratio

The average grocery-to-income ratio in Vanuatu is around 27%. This means that people spend 27% of their income on grocery and basic household items. The expenditure can range from 19% to 33% depending on salary and location.

Expenditure on food and grocery for every population group

A single person living alone spends approximately 11,000 VUV per month on grocery and food with expenditure fluctuating between 1,500 VUV and 72,000 VUV depending on location and the type of person. The average cost of food and groceries for a couple is around 16,000 VUV per month. That number can be get as low as 5,300 VUV or a high as 84,000 VUV. Families' spending on grocery ranges from 9,500 VUV to 180,000 VUV with the location, income, and size of the family being the most determinite factors.

SingleSpending habits, consumption analysis, and expenditure patterns for a single person living in Vanuatu

CoupleAverage monthly living expenditure breaks and spending patterns for couples in Vanuatu

FamilyAverage monthly expenses and break out of spending for families living in Vanuatu

StudentCost of living and expenses break down for students living in Vanuatu