Investor
Development Support Program (CBI)
Citizenship-by-investment from ~$130k USD — fastest CBI program in the world (1–2 months).
- $130k investment
- 12-mo
- Path to PR
Vanuatu — Financial Overview for Expats & Nomads
Vanuatu
Exchange Rate
LoadingCurrency data unavailable.
Travel Advisory
LoadingFinancial & Living Snapshot
March 2026 — sourced from World Bank & Numbeo averagesThese are national averages updated quarterly. Local variation applies. Always verify with local institutions.Savings Rate
3.50%
Credit Card Rate
18.0%
Mortgage Rate
9.00%
Avg Rent (1BR)
$650
Real Estate / m²
$2,100
NoodlePants COL Index
52.0
Inflation (CPI)
4.5%
Safety Score
68/100
NoodlePants COL Index — 5 year trend
Is it getting cheaper or pricier to live here?
Full COL history coming soon.
Visa & residency intelligence
Last reviewed Feb 2026 · Sourced from official immigration portals.
Digital nomad visa
None
Retirement visa
Available
Citizenship
10 years
Path to PR
10 years
Tax residency trigger
183 days
Worldwide income taxed
No
Work rights
Restricted
Healthcare score
42/100
AI residency briefing
Reading the latest visa rules…
Available pathways
Passive Income
Self-Funded Residence Visa
For retirees and high-net-worth individuals with proven foreign income.
- $2,500/mo income
- 12-mo · renew
- Path to PR
Investor
Investor Visa
Requires registered local business with employment of ni-Vanuatu staff.
- $50k investment
- 12-mo · renew
- Path to PR
Watch out
- •No personal income tax — but limited digital infrastructure (avg 18 Mbps).
- •Healthcare is basic; medical evacuation insurance strongly recommended.
- •CBI program faces increasing scrutiny from EU and UK on visa-free access.
Insider tips
- •Best suited for retirees and HNW individuals, not active remote workers.
- •Port Vila is the only urban hub with reliable services.
What it's actually like here, financially
Reading the numbers on Vanuatu…
Similar countries to consider
Cities in Vanuatu
AI insights engine
Vanuatu, in six honest insights
Affordability · Remote work · Inflation · Stability · Lifestyle · Savings
AI country intelligence
What it's really like in Vanuatu
Generated from live cost-of-living, visa, and tax data · AI-powered, always verify.
Reading the data on Vanuatu…
Country metadata sourced from RestCountries · Live exchange rates from open.er-api.com