Vanuatu Travel Budget: How Much Does a Trip to Vanuatu Cost?

There are a few things to think about purchasing in preparation for your trip, from the essential flight ticket to the optional travel insurance.

The Cost of Flights to Vanuatu

Because travellers to Vanuatu are coming from New Zealand, Australia, North America, Europe and beyond, it would be inappropriate to give an average flight cost here. Though we do give a few tips on how to save money on international flights in The Complete Backpacking & Budget Travel Guide to Vanuatu.

We talk about domestic flights, such as those between the islands, in the “The Cost of Transport in Vanuatu” section below.

The Cost of Visas for Vanuatu

Many travellers do not need to pay for a tourist visa to visit Vanuatu. Tourist Visas are automatically granted on arrival for travellers from visa-exempt countries who meet the entry requirements, while eligible visitors can stay in Vanuatu for up to 120 days without a visa.

If your passport is not from one of Vanuatu’s visa-exempt countries, then you’ll need to apply for a Tourist Visa before arrival, which costs 5,150 VT.

Other potential visa costs include 1,855 VT for a Transit Visa and 7,420 VT for a Visitor Visa, depending on your reason for travelling and how long you plan to stay. See Vanuatu Tourist Visa: Do You Need a Visa to Visit Vanuatu? for more details.

The Cost of Items to Pack for Vanuatu

You might want to consider making a few purchases for your Vanuatu wardrobe, as well as getting essential gear like sunscreen, reef-safe insect repellent or snorkelling gear.

Check out What to Pack for Vanuatu: Vanuatu Packing List for more advice.

Accommodation is available in Vanuatu to suit a range of styles and budgets, from simple island bungalows and dorm beds to beachfront resorts, family villas and “let’s pretend we live here now” holiday homes.

Note that prices can vary widely depending on the island, the season and whether breakfast, airport transfers or activities are included. Some outer-island bungalows include breakfast in the rate, while larger holiday homes can jump dramatically in price during peak school holiday periods.

Here are your typical accommodation costs in Vanuatu:

• Dorm bed/night – 2,000-4,000 VT
• Island bungalow/night – 3,500-10,000 VT
• Motel/budget accommodation ensuite room/night – 3,500-12,500 VT
• Mid-range resort ensuite room/night – 12,500-45,000 VT
• Luxury resort or villa/night – 40,000-230,000 VT
• Family room in a resort/night – 14,500-34,000 VT
• Holiday home/night – 20,000-350,000 VT

Take a look at The Best Vanuatu Accommodations: Where to Stay to start finding a place to stay, categorised by budget. The structure and style follow the Cook Islands accommodation-cost section template.

Whether you decide to eat out at Efate or Santo's range of restaurants or save a bit extra by making the most of your accommodation’s self-catering facilities, you’ll be able to plan your food budget for Vanuatu with this list of typical food prices.

Restaurant Prices in Vanuatu

• Main breakfast meal – 650-2,000 VT
• Main lunch meal – 1,200-3,200 VT
• Main dinner meal – 1,800-8,000 VT
• Small coffee – 280-500 VT
• Bottle of beer – 450-850 VT
• Bottle of wine – 2,500-12,000 VT
• Cocktail – 1,200-1,800 VT
• Mocktail or smoothie – 500-850 VT
• Soft drink – 200-450 VT

Supermarket Food Prices in Vanuatu

• 1 litre (33.8 fl oz) milk – 290 VT
• Large tray of eggs – 1,850 VT
• 1 kg (2.2 lb) rice – 160-420 VT
• 500 g (1.1 lb) pasta – 200-500 VT
• A loaf of bread – 80-360 VT
• Can of tuna – 150-270 VT
• Can of corned beef – 200 VT
• Instant noodles – 70-80 VT
• Small peanut butter jar – 150-170 VT
• Box of cereal – 510-1,240 VT
• 50 g (1.8 oz) instant coffee – 420-510 VT
• Box of 25 tea bags – 180-350 VT
• Packet or bag of chips – 40-980 VT
• Pack of cookies or Oreos – 110-200 VT
• Ice cream – 160-240 VT
• 1.5 litre (50.7 fl oz) bottled water – 130-160 VT
• Soft drink – 130-430 VT
• Bottle of wine – 1,100-12,050 VT

The Cost of Fruit and Vegetables in Vanuatu's Supermarkets

• 1 kg (2.2 lb) apples – 680 VT
• 1 kg (2.2 lb) onions – 280-600 VT
• 1 kg (2.2 lb) carrots – 220-410 VT
• 1 kg (2.2 lb) potatoes – 300 VT
• 1 kg (2.2 lb) cauliflower – 640 VT

The Cost of Meat in Vanuatu's Supermarkets

• 1 kg (2.2 lb) chicken breast – 1,700-3,360 VT
• 1 kg (2.2 lb) chicken wings – 1,180-1,810 VT
• 1 kg (2.2 lb) sirloin steak – 1,650-2,100 VT
• 1 kg (2.2 lb) scotch fillet – 2,600-2,660 VT
• 1 kg (2.2 lb) beef mince – 1,300 VT
• 500 g (1.1 lb) beef sausage – 700 VT

Local Market Food Prices in Vanuatu

• 1 kg (2.2 lb) bananas – 60-100 VT
• Large bunch of bananas – 400 VT
• 1 kg (2.2 lb) taro – 100-200 VT
• 1 kg (2.2 lb) sweet potato (kumala) – 120 VT
• 1 kg (2.2 lb) cassava – 70 VT
• Individual avocado – 20-200 VT
• 1 kg (2.2 lb) avocado – 240 VT
• Pineapple – 300-500 VT
• 1 kg (2.2 lb) watermelon – 280 VT
• Large watermelon – 1,500-2,800 VT
• 1 kg (2.2 lb) pawpaw – 350 VT
• Drinking coconut – 50-100 VT
• 1 kg (2.2 lb) tomatoes – 450-500 VT
• 1 kg (2.2 lb) cabbage – 160-250 VT
• 1 kg (2.2 lb) capsicum – 500-800 VT
• 1 kg (2.2 lb) lettuce – 500 VT
• 1 kg (2.2 lb) beans – 500 VT
• 1 kg (2.2 lb) cucumber – 250 VT
• Traditional laplap leaves – 150-300 VT
• Bag of cooked peanuts – 50-200 VT
• Bundle of chillies – 150 VT
• Ginger bundle – 150 VT

Find out more about shopping for food in A Guide to Supermarkets & Food Shopping in Vanuatu.

Of course, you’re going to want to do stuff while you’re exploring the islands of Vanuatu. The country is full of amazing land and water experiences, from cultural villages and waterfall hikes to snorkelling tours, scuba diving and spa treatments.

See if you can afford your bucket list activities with this list of Vanuatu activity prices (plus, check out what there is to do in 101 Best Things to Do in Vanuatu: The Ultimate List LINK#TTD066).

Land Activity Prices

• Natural attraction access - 500-2,000 VT
• Guided hike or cave tour – 9,500-20,000 VT
• Spa treatment – 2,600-18,800 VT
• Quad bike tour – 7,500-22,000 VT
• Guided sightseeing tour – 4,500-15,800 VT
• Culture tour or village experience – 3,500-10,000 VT
• Waterfall tour – 10,000 VT
• Golf green fees – 1,000-5,000 VT

Water Activity Prices

• Snorkelling tour – 5,000-12,000 VT
• Kayak tour – 5,500-12,000 VT
• Jet ski/U-power tour – 6,000-10,500 VT
• Outrigger canoe tour/three days – 48,000 VT
• Scuba dive/single dive – 10,000-13,000 VT
• Scuba dive/two-tank dive – 21,000-24,000 VT
• Fishing charter/half day – 50,000-70,000 VT
• Fishing charter/full day – 85,000-110,000 VT

Free Activities

A trip to Vanuatu also has plenty of attractions and activities to enjoy free of charge! For activities that you can enjoy for 100% free, check out the 20 Free Things to Do in Vanuatu.

From road transport to flights and ferries, there are several ways to get around Vanuatu. Port Vila and Luganville have the most transport options, while outer islands can involve a little more planning, a little more flexibility and, occasionally, a strong acceptance of “island time”.

Discover all of your transport options in Vanuatu Transport Guide: 15 Ways to Get Around Vanuatu.

Road Transport Prices

• Bicycle rental/two hours – Free-1,000 VT
• E-bike rental/four to eight hours – 5,500-7,500 VT
• Scooter or moped rental/day – 7,500-15,000 VT
• Car rental/day – 9,000-19,500 VT
• Petrol/litre – 165-175 VT
• Bus/one-way trip – 200-500 VT
• Airport taxi transfer – 1,500-12,000 VT
• Taxi day hire or island tour – 12,000-15,000 VT
• Outer island truck transport/person – 200-300 VT
• Outer island truck charter – 1,500-30,000 VT

Water and Air Transport Prices

• Domestic flight/Port Vila to Tanna – 17,600 VT
• Domestic flight/Port Vila to Santo – 19,320 VT
• Domestic flight/Port Vila to Malekula – 10,900-12,970 VT
• Ferry/Port Vila to Santo – 10,000 VT
• Ferry/Port Vila to Malekula – 8,000-8,500 VT
• Provincial airport tax – 200 VT for airport departures/100 VT for seaport departures

Domestic flight prices in Vanuatu vary a lot depending on the island pair, with short hops from Santo to nearby islands at the lower end and longer routes to or from Port Vila at the higher end. Children’s fares and infant fares are typically cheaper, but exact prices can change, so use the flight figures as a planning guide rather than a sacred coconut.

The cost of transport is included in each of our guides to specific transportation methods, such as The Cost of Renting a Car in Vanuatu: Full Car Rental Cost Breakdown and Scooter & Quad Hire in Vanuatu: Where to Rent, Cost & More, so have a look at the links above.

And for those miscellaneous costs, including phones, WiFi, credit card transaction fees, laundry services and toiletries, here are a few approximate costs that may or may not apply to your holiday.

Phone and Internet Prices

• Tourist SIM card + bundle – Free-3,500 VT
• Standard SIM card – 300-500 VT
• Short-term data bundle – 50-600 VT
• Longer-term data bundle – 1,000-10,000 VT

See more details in The Best SIM Card in Vanuatu for Travellers.

Overseas Bank Card Fee

• Overseas card transaction fee – 3.5-5%
• ATM overseas card withdrawal fee – 490-800 VT

Check out Can You Use Your Credit or Debit Card in Vanuatu? to learn more about credit card fees.

Laundry Service Fee

• Self-service washing machine/use – 500 VT
• Laundry service/basket – 1,000-1,6000 VT

Personal Care and Toiletries Prices

• Toothpaste/tube – 130-520 VT
• Shampoo – 290-580 VT
• Conditioner – 160 VT
• Bar of soap – 60-130 VT
• Spray deodorant – 300 VT
• After sun lotion/200 ml (6.8 fl oz) – 650-1,700 VT
• Sunscreen/30 ml (1 fl oz) – 2,300 VT
• Natural insect repellent – 854 VT
• Sanitary towels – 150 VT

Childcare Service Fee

• Babysitting service/three hours – From 3,400 VT
• Kids' clubs/activity – Free-1,000 VT

Learn more about babysitting and kids' clubs in The Best Kids' Clubs in Vanuatu + Top 5 Resorts for Babysitting.