MigrantoAverage salary in Vanuatu
What people take home per month and earn per year, by industry and against other countries
Wages in Vanuatu
96% of gross pay stays in hand after income tax and employee contributions
Per employee, all industries
Take-home / mo
VUV 64,900
Gross / yr
VUV 812,000
Salaries in Vanuatu by industry
Take-home pay by industry against the national average
Ask Migo
Tap a question — our AI assistant answers it in chat
Key facts
Salaries in Vanuatu in numbers
Every neighbour pays more
All 2 neighbouring countries pay a higher average wage, led by New Caledonia at VUV 199,000 against VUV 64,900 here.
Energy & utilities is paid unusually poorly in Vanuatu
Here it sits at -12% against the national average, where the same industry usually sits at +36%.
Pays well below the middle in Oceania
VUV 64,900 a month against VUV 147,000 for the middle country in Oceania.
Stands far lower in Oceania than in the world
#10 of 11 in Oceania, against #96 of 169 worldwide.
Agriculture & fishing is where the country places highest
It ranks #27 of 105 in the world, while Vanuatu ranks #96 of 169 on pay overall.
Professional & scientific pays the most
It averages VUV 113,000 a month, 74% above the national average of VUV 64,900.
How salaries in Vanuatu compare
Neighbours, region and the world on the same take-home figure
Industries against the world
Where this country pays an industry more, or less, than that industry is usually paid
Pays more than usual here
- Professional & scientific+74% here, usually +35%
- Agriculture & fishing-11% here, usually -38%
- Education+41% here, usually +16%
Pays less than usual here
- Energy & utilities-12% here, usually +36%
- IT & communication+12% here, usually +47%
- Finance & insurance+31% here, usually +57%
“Usually” is what the same industry pays above or below the national average in a typical country
Data source: Mean monthly earnings 2010 (ILOSTAT), adjusted to 2026 using IMF GDP-per-capita growth
Salary calculator
What you could earn in Vanuatu
Tell us what you do and what you earn today — we'll estimate what someone with your background could earn in Vanuatu, what your living costs might be, and what you could save
- What someone in your field earns
- What you could spend and save
- How it compares with today
Take-home in Vanuatu
VUV 29,100/mo
vs VUV 143,000 in your country
Cost of living
VUV 10,400
vs VUV 95,500 in your country
Potential savings
VUV 18,700
more than in your country
Standard of living
Under a minute, no sign-up
Frequently asked questions
What is the average salary in Vanuatu?
The average salary in Vanuatu is VUV 67,700 a month before tax, or VUV 64,900 take-home after tax and social contributions. Over a year that's VUV 812,000 before tax and VUV 779,000 after.
What is the average salary in Vanuatu in US dollars?
The average salary in Vanuatu in US dollars is about $6,804 a year before tax, or $544 a month after tax.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Vanuatu?
The highest-paying jobs in Vanuatu are in professional, education, and public sector. Take-home pay in these industries averages around VUV 113,000 a month (about VUV 1,420,000 gross a year), roughly 74% above the national average.
What is a good salary in Vanuatu?
A good salary in Vanuatu is generally one above the national average — more than VUV 64,900 take-home a month, or VUV 812,000 gross a year. But a lot depends on your spending, where you live, and your financial goals.
What salary do you need to live comfortably in Vanuatu?
A typical person in Vanuatu spends about VUV 22,900 a month, while the average take-home pay is VUV 64,900. How much you need to live comfortably depends on the city, your family situation, and how you usually spend. See the cost of living in Vanuatu for the full picture.
What are the lowest-paying jobs in Vanuatu?
Retail is the lowest-paying industry in Vanuatu. Pay there averages around VUV 47,700 a month take-home (about VUV 597,000 gross a year). For comparison, the highest-paying industries pay about 2.4 times more.
Is Vanuatu a high-salary country?
Moderately. By average after-tax pay, Vanuatu is ahead of 43% of countries worldwide and ranks 10th out of 11 countries in Oceania.
Where to live?
Score countries, regions and cities by what matters to you
Living in Vanuatu
See the full country overview