Moving to Vanuatu from Bhutan

moving to

What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Bhutan to Vanuatu — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Bhutan to Vanuatu, and you’d need to navigate life in Bislama, English and French. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Port Vila averages 83°F vs 72°F in Thimphu, making it significantly warmer.

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Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Bhutan to Vanuatu.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2020

per 100,000 people per year

BT
2.5
VU
0.3
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

BT
12.2
VU
12.5

Bhutan generally does better on safety, though Vanuatu leads in homicide rate.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

BT
$677
VU
$141
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

BT
5.5
VU
1.6

Bhutan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Vanuatu leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

BT
57.0
VU
57.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

BT
2.0t
VU
0.9t

Bhutan generally does better on environment, though Vanuatu leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

BT
0.4
VU
1.1

Vanuatu performs significantly better than Bhutan across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

BT
5.7%
VU
5.1%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

BT
$14,000
VU
$3,000

Bhutan generally does better on employment & economy, though Vanuatu leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

BT
72.3 yrs
VU
75.1 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

BT
27.0
VU
14.3

Vanuatu generally does better on family life, though Bhutan leads in education spending.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Thimphu Rain: 23.3 in/yr (591 mm)
72° / 46°F

Avg. annual high / low

Port Vila Rain: 87.5 in/yr (2222 mm)
83° / 71°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Thimphu Port Vila
Jan–Mar 63°/33°F (17°/1°C) 86°/74°F (30°/23°C)
Apr–Jun 76°/53°F (25°/12°C) 82°/70°F (28°/21°C)
Jul–Sep 80°/60°F (27°/16°C) 79°/67°F (26°/19°C)
Oct–Dec 68°/39°F (20°/4°C) 84°/71°F (29°/22°C)
View all months
Month Thimphu Port Vila
Jan 59°/28°F (15.1°/-2.1°C) 87°/74°F (30.3°/23.4°C)
Feb 62°/33°F (16.7°/0.5°C) 86°/74°F (30.2°/23.6°C)
Mar 67°/39°F (19.4°/4.0°C) 86°/74°F (29.9°/23.4°C)
Apr 72°/46°F (22.4°/7.8°C) 84°/72°F (28.9°/22.5°C)
May 76°/53°F (24.7°/11.5°C) 82°/70°F (27.7°/21.3°C)
Jun 80°/59°F (26.7°/15.2°C) 80°/69°F (26.7°/20.5°C)
Jul 81°/61°F (27.1°/16.4°C) 79°/67°F (25.9°/19.5°C)
Aug 81°/61°F (27.2°/16.1°C) 79°/67°F (26.1°/19.3°C)
Sep 79°/58°F (26.1°/14.6°C) 80°/67°F (26.7°/19.6°C)
Oct 74°/48°F (23.4°/9.0°C) 82°/69°F (27.8°/20.6°C)
Nov 67°/38°F (19.7°/3.2°C) 84°/71°F (28.9°/21.7°C)
Dec 62°/31°F (16.5°/-0.8°C) 85°/72°F (29.7°/22.4°C)

Data: National Center for Hydrology and Meteorology (NCHM) National Center for Hydrology and Meteorology (NCHM), Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-hazards Department Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-hazards Department

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Bhutan and Vanuatu. To live, work, or study long-term in Vanuatu, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Vanuatu's immigration authority.

Bhutan passport

Bhutan passport holder visiting Vanuatu

Visa Required
Bhutan passport holders need a visa to enter Vanuatu.
Vanuatu passport

Vanuatu passport holder visiting Bhutan

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Vanuatu passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Bhutan.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Vanuatu?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Vanuatu has 1.1 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Vanuatu safe for expats?

Bhutan generally does better on safety, though Vanuatu leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in Vanuatu is 0.3 per 100,000 people, compared to 2.5 in Bhutan.

How is healthcare in Vanuatu compared to Bhutan?

Bhutan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Vanuatu leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 1.6 doctors per 10,000 people in Vanuatu, compared to 5.5 in Bhutan. Vanuatu scores 47 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Bhutan: 60).

What's the weather like in Vanuatu compared to Bhutan?

The average high temperature in Port Vila is 83°F, compared to 72°F in Thimphu. Port Vila receives around 87.5 in of rainfall per year, while Thimphu gets 23.3 in.

What language do they speak in Vanuatu?

The official languages in Vanuatu are Bislama, English and French. In Bhutan, the official language is Dzongkha.

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At a Glance

BT VU
Population 867,775 308,043
Currency Bhutanese Ngultrum (BTN) Vanuatu Vatu (VUV)
Languages Dzongkha Bislama, English, French
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +975 +678
Time zones 1 1