Mid-Range Travel Guide: Vanuatu
The sweet spot of travel - comfortable accommodations, varied dining, and quality experiences without breaking the bank
Daily Budget: 15,000-37,000 VUV ($130-323) per day
Complete breakdown of costs for mid-range travel in Vanuatu
Accommodation
8,000-20,000 VUV ($70-175) per night
Upgrade to a private room in a mid-range hotel, a beachfront bungalow with its own bathroom, or an eco-lodge that folds meals into the rate.
Browse mid-range accommodation →Food & Dining
3,000-6,000 VUV ($26-52) per day
Mix of local restaurants, resort dining, and fresh seafood meals at beach bars
Transportation
1,000-3,000 VUV ($8.70-26) per day
Flag a taxi, rent a scooter on Efate, or book the occasional domestic flight to Tanna or Santo when the road runs out.
Activities
3,000-8,000 VUV ($26-70) per day
Spend days island-hopping, standing on the rim of Mount Yasur volcano, drifting over reefs with a mask, and sitting with villagers who still tell stories the old way.
Currency: VUV Vanuatu Vatu
Money-Saving Tips
Hit Port Vila Municipal Market for breakfast and lunch, expect to pay 60-80% less than anywhere aimed at tourists.
Ride public minibuses around Port Vila. The fare is 150 VUV, a fraction of the 1,000-1,500 VUV taxis demand.
Base yourself on outer islands like Tanna or Santo, where rooms run 30-50% cheaper than anything on Efate.
Lock in beds for April-May or October-November and watch the price drop by 25-35% in shoulder season.
Cook breakfast and lunch from supermarket hauls, then treat yourself to dinner at a restaurant run by locals.
Common Budget Mistakes to Avoid
Stick to resort restaurants and you'll pay 200-300% more than you would at the place around the corner.
Take taxis door-to-door and your daily transport bill jumps 10-15 times higher than if you'd ridden with the crowd.
Let the hotel book your adventures and you'll fork out 40-60% above the rate local operators quote for the same trip.