Vanuatu on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
Vanuatu on a budget is possible on Efate and in island bungalows, but flights and tours make it more expensive than its laid-back image suggests. A realistic minimum is about VT 12,000 (roughly US$100) a day per person sharing a room: VT 5,000 for a bed, VT 3,500 for food, VT 2,000 for sights and VT 1,500 for transport, plus domestic flights.
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | VT5,000 | VT12,000 | VT30,000 |
| Food & drink | VT3,500 | VT6,500 | VT12,000 |
| Sights & tickets | VT2,000 | VT6,000 | VT12,000 |
| Local transport | VT1,500 | VT4,000 | VT8,000 |
| Per person, per day | VT12,000 | VT28,500 | VT62,000 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Vanuatu day-cost table.
Free things to do
- The Port Vila Market House and its flower and produce stalls
- Walking the Port Vila waterfront and seawall
- Sunset over Mele Bay
- Sunday church services with village choirs (dress modestly)
- Luganville's main street and its WWII buildings on Santo
- Swimming at public beaches near Port Vila
Cheap eats
- Kai kai (local meal) at the Port Vila Market House — about VT 500–1,000
- Lap lap (root vegetable pudding from an earth oven) — a few hundred vatu at markets
- Fresh tropical fruit and coconuts at markets — VT 100–300
- Kava at a nakamal — about VT 100–200 a shell
- Fish and chips on the waterfront — about VT 1,800–2,500
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers stay in Port Vila guesthouses near the market and bus routes, where rooms cost about VT 6,000–12,000 a night. On Tanna, simple bungalows near the volcano cost about VT 8,000–18,000, often with meals. A few backpacker hostels exist in Port Vila.
Getting around cheaply
In Port Vila, shared minibuses cost about VT 150–200 a ride. Rent a car with others for the Efate ring road (about VT 8,000–12,000 a day). Between islands, there is no cheap alternative to small planes, except slow cargo boats; book domestic flights early.
A sample budget day
- Morning: Port Vila Market House breakfast (about VT 500), National Museum (about VT 1,000)
- Lunch: kai kai at the market (about VT 800)
- Afternoon: minibus to Mele Cascades (about VT 400 return) and entry (about VT 2,000)
- Evening: sunset over Mele Bay, kava at a nakamal (about VT 300) and waterfront dinner (about VT 2,000)
- Total: about VT 12,000 including a guesthouse room shared (about VT 5,000)
More ways to save
- Combine flights to Tanna and Santo carefully to avoid extra nights and fees.
- Book bungalows with meals included on outer islands, where restaurants are few.
- Bring snorkel gear to avoid rentals at blue holes and beaches.
- Buy groceries in Port Vila supermarkets before flying to outer islands.
- Travel in the shoulder months (May, October) for dry weather at slightly lower prices.
- Carry enough cash, as ATMs are scarce outside Port Vila and Luganville.
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Common questions
How much money do I need per day in Vanuatu?
About VT 12,000 (roughly US$100) per person on a budget, VT 28,500 mid-range and VT 62,000 for comfort, sharing a room, plus flights.
How do I get around Port Vila cheaply?
Use shared minibuses with a red 'B' on the number plate, about VT 150–200 a ride.
Are domestic flights reliable in Vanuatu?
Schedules have been disrupted since Air Vanuatu collapsed in 2024. Check current operators and leave buffer days.