Moving to Vanuatu from Fiji

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What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Fiji to Vanuatu — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Fiji to Vanuatu. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

Real numbers on people moving from Fiji to Vanuatu, and how the trend has changed.

Living there in 2020
235 ↑ 2% vs 2015

people born in Fiji live in Vanuatu · UN DESA

Who's moving to Vanuatu?

Top countries of origin for Vanuatu's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

How Fiji and Vanuatu stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2020

per 100,000 people per year

FJ
2.2
VU
0.3
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

FJ
5.3
VU
12.5

Fiji 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

FJ
$548
VU
$141
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

affects wait times and access to care

FJ
8.1
VU
1.6

Fiji 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

FJ
37.0
VU
57.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

FJ
1.6t
VU
0.9t

Fiji 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

FJ
2.5
VU
1.1

Fiji performs better than Vanuatu across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

FJ
4.3%
VU
5.1%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

FJ
$13,600
VU
$3,000

Fiji performs better than Vanuatu across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

FJ
74.3 yrs
VU
75.1 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

FJ
10.1
VU
14.3

Fiji generally does better on family life, though Vanuatu leads in life expectancy.

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

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Suva Rain: 119.7 in/yr (3040 mm)
84° / 72°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Suva Port Vila
Jan–Mar 87°/75°F (31°/24°C) 86°/74°F (30°/23°C)
Apr–Jun 83°/72°F (29°/22°C) 82°/70°F (28°/21°C)
Jul–Sep 80°/69°F (27°/21°C) 79°/67°F (26°/19°C)
Oct–Dec 84°/72°F (29°/22°C) 84°/71°F (29°/22°C)
View all months
Month Suva Port Vila
Jan 87°/75°F (30.6°/23.7°C) 87°/74°F (30.3°/23.4°C)
Feb 88°/75°F (31.0°/23.8°C) 86°/74°F (30.2°/23.6°C)
Mar 87°/74°F (30.6°/23.5°C) 86°/74°F (29.9°/23.4°C)
Apr 85°/73°F (29.7°/23.0°C) 84°/72°F (28.9°/22.5°C)
May 83°/72°F (28.3°/22.0°C) 82°/70°F (27.7°/21.3°C)
Jun 82°/71°F (27.6°/21.4°C) 80°/69°F (26.7°/20.5°C)
Jul 80°/69°F (26.5°/20.4°C) 79°/67°F (25.9°/19.5°C)
Aug 80°/69°F (26.6°/20.5°C) 79°/67°F (26.1°/19.3°C)
Sep 81°/70°F (27.0°/20.9°C) 80°/67°F (26.7°/19.6°C)
Oct 82°/71°F (27.8°/21.7°C) 82°/69°F (27.8°/20.6°C)
Nov 84°/72°F (28.9°/22.5°C) 84°/71°F (28.9°/21.7°C)
Dec 86°/74°F (29.8°/23.2°C) 85°/72°F (29.7°/22.4°C)

Data: Fiji Meteorological Service Fiji Meteorological Service, Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-hazards Department Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-hazards Department

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Fiji 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.

Fiji passport

Fiji passport holder visiting Vanuatu

Visa Free
Fiji passport holders can enter Vanuatu without a visa.
Vanuatu passport

Vanuatu passport holder visiting Fiji

Visa Free
Vanuatu passport holders can enter Fiji without a visa.

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?

With 1.1 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Vanuatu can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Fiji and Vanuatu.

Is Vanuatu safe for expats?

Fiji 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 2.2 in Fiji.

How is healthcare in Vanuatu compared to Fiji?

Fiji 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 8.1 in Fiji. Vanuatu scores 47 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Fiji: 58).

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

The average high temperature in Port Vila is 83°F, compared to 84°F in Suva. Port Vila receives around 87.5 in of rainfall per year, while Suva gets 119.7 in.

What language do they speak in Vanuatu?

The official languages in Vanuatu are Bislama, English and French. In Fiji, the official languages are English, Fiji Hindi and Fijian.

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At a Glance

FJ VU
Population 943,737 308,043
Currency Fijian Dollar (FJD) Vanuatu Vatu (VUV)
Languages English, Fiji Hindi, Fijian Bislama, English, French
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +679 +678
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 911