Moving to Vanuatu from Indonesia

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Indonesia to Vanuatu? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Indonesia 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.

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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Vanuatu compared to Indonesia.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2020

per 100,000 people per year

ID
0.6
VU
0.3
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

ID
11.3
VU
12.5

Indonesia 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

ID
$417
VU
$141
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

ID
6.9
VU
1.6

Indonesia 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

ID
58.0
VU
57.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

ID
2.9t
VU
0.9t

Vanuatu performs significantly better than Indonesia across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

ID
4.9
VU
1.1

Indonesia 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

ID
3.4%
VU
5.1%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

ID
$14,100
VU
$3,000

Indonesia 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

ID
73.1 yrs
VU
75.1 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

ID
19.7
VU
14.3

Indonesia 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.

Jakarta Rain: 65.2 in/yr (1655 mm)
89° / 77°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Jakarta Port Vila
Jan–Mar 87°/76°F (31°/25°C) 86°/74°F (30°/23°C)
Apr–Jun 90°/77°F (32°/25°C) 82°/70°F (28°/21°C)
Jul–Sep 90°/77°F (32°/25°C) 79°/67°F (26°/19°C)
Oct–Dec 90°/77°F (32°/25°C) 84°/71°F (29°/22°C)
View all months
Month Jakarta Port Vila
Jan 86°/76°F (29.9°/24.2°C) 87°/74°F (30.3°/23.4°C)
Feb 87°/76°F (30.3°/24.3°C) 86°/74°F (30.2°/23.6°C)
Mar 89°/77°F (31.5°/25.2°C) 86°/74°F (29.9°/23.4°C)
Apr 90°/77°F (32.5°/25.1°C) 84°/72°F (28.9°/22.5°C)
May 90°/78°F (32.5°/25.4°C) 82°/70°F (27.7°/21.3°C)
Jun 89°/77°F (31.4°/24.8°C) 80°/69°F (26.7°/20.5°C)
Jul 90°/77°F (32.3°/25.1°C) 79°/67°F (25.9°/19.5°C)
Aug 90°/77°F (32.0°/24.9°C) 79°/67°F (26.1°/19.3°C)
Sep 91°/78°F (33.0°/25.5°C) 80°/67°F (26.7°/19.6°C)
Oct 91°/78°F (32.7°/25.5°C) 82°/69°F (27.8°/20.6°C)
Nov 88°/77°F (31.3°/24.9°C) 84°/71°F (28.9°/21.7°C)
Dec 90°/77°F (32.0°/24.9°C) 85°/72°F (29.7°/22.4°C)

Data: Meteorological, Climatological and Geophysical Agency (BMKG) Meteorological, Climatological and Geophysical Agency (BMKG), Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-hazards Department Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-hazards Department

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Indonesia 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.

Indonesia passport

Indonesia passport holder visiting Vanuatu

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

Vanuatu passport holder visiting Indonesia

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

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?

Connectivity is usually fine (Vanuatu: 1.1 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Vanuatu offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Vanuatu safe for expats?

Indonesia 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 0.6 in Indonesia.

How is healthcare in Vanuatu compared to Indonesia?

Indonesia 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 6.9 in Indonesia. Vanuatu scores 47 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Indonesia: 55).

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

The average high temperature in Port Vila is 83°F, compared to 89°F in Jakarta. Port Vila receives around 87.5 in of rainfall per year, while Jakarta gets 65.2 in.

What language do they speak in Vanuatu?

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

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At a Glance

ID VU
Population 277,329,163 308,043
Currency Indonesian Rupiah (IDR) Vanuatu Vatu (VUV)
Languages Indonesian Bislama, English, French
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +62 +678
Time zones 3 1
Emergency number 112