🇻🇺 Vanuatu
Living in Port Vila in 2026: cost, rent, neighbourhoods
Port Vila spills down a hillside amphitheater around a scenic harbor, blending Melanesian, French and Chinese influences into one of the Pacific's most atmospheric port towns.
Port Vila Market
The covered central market runs almost around the clock, piled with tropical fruit, vegetables and seafood from local farmers.
National Museum of Vanuatu
The national museum holds artifacts over 3,000 years old, tracing traditions from across the archipelago's islands.
Iririki Island
A small island just off the waterfront with beaches and city views, reachable by a short boat ride.
Erakor Lagoon
A scenic lagoon for swimming and snorkeling, ringed by lush tropical greenery just outside the capital.
Mele Cascades
A cascade of limestone waterfalls half an hour from downtown, popular for swimming in natural pools.
Chinatown
A lively quarter of Chinese shops and eateries reflecting the city's layered immigration history.
Seafront Promenade
The harbor-front promenade with docks, cruise ships and sunset views across the strait.
L'Houstalet Restaurant
A French restaurant known for prawns and frog legs, a taste of the country's colonial-era heritage.
Moorings Seaside Bar & Bistro
A bay-view bistro serving fresh fish under a warm Pacific breeze.
Banyan Beach Bar
A beach bar at Mele Bay with wood-fired pizza and Friday-night fire shows.
What the city lives on and who it suits
Port Vila is the capital of Vanuatu on the island of Efate, with about 50,000 residents. The country's economy rests on tourism, agriculture, offshore financial services and revenue from the citizenship by investment programme. On 17 December 2024 a strong earthquake damaged buildings in the centre, and the city is rebuilding.
Who it suits: people seeking a quiet life on a tropical island, divers and sailors, holders of a Vanuatu passport. Who it does not suit: those who need developed healthcare, frequent flights and a wide choice of jobs.
Districts and housing
- The harbour centre - the market, shops, cafés and offices.
- The lagoon coast - villas and resort complexes, chosen by foreigners.
- The hills above town - houses with ocean views, cooler.
- Harbour islands - small resorts and private homes.
Since the 2024 earthquake, check the building's condition and insurance when choosing housing.
Cost of living
Rate - about 120 vatu to the US dollar.
- Rent - homes for foreigners are not cheap, with prices comparable to Australian suburbs.
- Groceries - local fruit and vegetables at the market are cheap, imports from Australia and New Zealand expensive.
- Electricity - among the pricier in the region.
- Flights - the main cost: routes via Australia, New Zealand or Fiji.
Renting and buying a home
| Home | Approximately per month |
|---|---|
| One-bedroom flat in the centre | $700-1,000 |
| Two-bedroom flat | $900-2,100 |
| Three-bedroom house | $1,700-2,500 |
Homes for foreigners are usually let furnished, with a deposit of two to three months' rent. A foreigner cannot own land outright: under the constitution all land in Vanuatu belongs to its custom owners. It is taken on long leases of up to 75 years, and buying a house in practice means buying the remaining term of such a lease. Before a deal, check how many years are left, who owns the land and whether the lease is registered in the land register. More on the page about investment property in Vanuatu.
Practicalities: climate, language, connectivity
- Climate. Tropical: +25-30 all year, with a cyclone season from November to April.
- Earthquakes and volcanoes - the country is in a seismic zone.
- Language. Bislama, English and French are official.
- Connectivity. Mobile internet works in town but is expensive.
- Money. Vatu; cards are accepted at hotels and large shops.
Climate by season
| Season | Weather | What to keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Hot wet season, November-April | +27-31°C, downpours and high humidity | cyclone season: stock water and food, insure the house and have an evacuation plan |
| Cool dry season, May-October | +20-27°C, drier and fresher | the best time to move and view homes |
Entry, residence and passport
- Entry - tourists from many countries need no visa for 30 days; we check the rules for your citizenship in advance.
- Residence - for investors, retirees with income and property owners under local rules.
- Citizenship by investment - from $130,000, a passport in 1-3 months without moving. But since 2023 Vanuatu citizens need a UK visa, and in 2025 the European Union moved Vanuatu to its visa-required list. More in Vanuatu citizenship.
Taxes
Vanuatu has no income tax, capital gains tax, inheritance tax or profit tax for most companies. The state relies on value added tax - 15% - and duties. So the country is considered a tax haven, but zero tax in Vanuatu does not cancel tax where you remain resident.
Work and business
- Tourism - resorts, diving, restaurants.
- Financial services - company and trust registration for foreigners.
- Work for foreigners - requires a permit, and many occupations are reserved for citizens.
- Remote work - possible, but the internet is expensive and not always stable.
Family: schools and healthcare
- Schools - a few English- and French-language schools; older children often study in Australia.
- Healthcare - basic; serious cases are evacuated to Australia or New Zealand, so insurance with evacuation is essential.
- Leisure - beaches, reef diving, waterfalls and the Yasur volcano on Tanna island.
First steps after moving
- Entry and extension - tourist status, then a residence application to the immigration service.
- Bank account - local and Australian banks, with strict source-of-funds checks.
- Housing - rentals are found through local agents, and homes for foreigners come furnished.
- Insurance - international, with evacuation to Australia.
- Flights - book early: there are few flights, and the national airline stopped operating in 2024.
How to get the right to live there and further reading
- Vanuatu citizenship by investment - contribution, timelines and passport limitations.
- Vanuatu overview - all grounds for moving and taxes.
- Company registration in Vanuatu - for business and investor residence.
- Personal account in Vanuatu - documents and checks at a bank.
We choose the grounds for residence, prepare the documents and help with housing and a bank account on the spot. A manager in the chat will calculate the cost of our support.
Is it worth living here
Port Vila is a quiet tropical town with no income tax and the ocean and reefs nearby. The downsides are expensive flights and groceries, limited healthcare, cyclones and earthquakes. Moving makes sense for those seeking a calm island life who accept the remoteness. A Vanuatu passport no longer gives visa-free Schengen access, so assess its value in advance.
Services
Murblz services in Vanuatu
A passport or residence permit opens the door, but life behind it is awkward without a bank account and a roof over your head. Murblz specialists help with the account, property and company in the same country. The quote is fixed in writing before work starts.
FAQ
Is there income tax in Vanuatu?
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Relocation options
Considering Vanuatu citizenship by investment?
We explain how to obtain a Vanuatu passport without relocating, check your family documents and source of funds and handle the application. The catalogue shows citizenship by investment elsewhere.