Moving to Ecuador from Vanuatu

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Vanuatu to Ecuador, and you’d need to navigate life in Spanish. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Quito averages 71°F vs 83°F in Port Vila, making it significantly cooler.

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Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

VU
0.3
EC
27.0
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

VU
12.5
EC
23.4

Vanuatu performs better than Ecuador across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

VU
$141
EC
$1,238
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2020

affects wait times and access to care

VU
1.6
EC
23.1

Ecuador 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

VU
57.0
EC
23.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

VU
0.9t
EC
2.6t

Vanuatu generally does better on environment, though Ecuador leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

VU
1.1
EC
15.0
Internet access The World Factbook, 2021

share of households with internet

VU
66.0%
EC
76.0%

Ecuador performs significantly 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

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

a broad measure of economic output per person

VU
$3,000
EC
$14,300

Ecuador generally does better on employment & economy, though Vanuatu leads in poverty rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

VU
75.1 yrs
EC
77.5 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

VU
14.3
EC
18.1

Ecuador generally does better on family life, though Vanuatu leads in infant mortality.

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

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

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

Avg. annual high / low

Quito Rain: 43.2 in/yr (1098 mm)
71° / 50°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Port Vila Quito
Jan–Mar 86°/74°F (30°/23°C) 70°/50°F (21°/10°C)
Apr–Jun 82°/70°F (28°/21°C) 70°/50°F (21°/10°C)
Jul–Sep 79°/67°F (26°/19°C) 72°/49°F (22°/9°C)
Oct–Dec 84°/71°F (29°/22°C) 70°/49°F (21°/10°C)
View all months
Month Port Vila Quito
Jan 87°/74°F (30.3°/23.4°C) 70°/50°F (21.2°/9.8°C)
Feb 86°/74°F (30.2°/23.6°C) 70°/50°F (21.0°/10.1°C)
Mar 86°/74°F (29.9°/23.4°C) 69°/50°F (20.8°/10.1°C)
Apr 84°/72°F (28.9°/22.5°C) 70°/50°F (20.9°/10.2°C)
May 82°/70°F (27.7°/21.3°C) 70°/50°F (21.0°/10.1°C)
Jun 80°/69°F (26.7°/20.5°C) 70°/50°F (21.1°/9.8°C)
Jul 79°/67°F (25.9°/19.5°C) 71°/49°F (21.5°/9.4°C)
Aug 79°/67°F (26.1°/19.3°C) 72°/49°F (22.2°/9.6°C)
Sep 80°/67°F (26.7°/19.6°C) 72°/49°F (22.3°/9.4°C)
Oct 82°/69°F (27.8°/20.6°C) 71°/49°F (21.8°/9.5°C)
Nov 84°/71°F (28.9°/21.7°C) 70°/49°F (21.3°/9.6°C)
Dec 85°/72°F (29.7°/22.4°C) 70°/49°F (21.3°/9.7°C)

Data: Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-hazards Department Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-hazards Department, Instituto Nacional de Meteorología e Hidrología - INAMHI Instituto Nacional de Meteorología e Hidrología - INAMHI

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Vanuatu passport

Vanuatu passport holder visiting Ecuador

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

Ecuador passport holder visiting Vanuatu

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Ecuador?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Ecuador has 15.0 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 Ecuador safe for expats?

Vanuatu performs better than Ecuador across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Ecuador is 27.0 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.3 in Vanuatu.

How is healthcare in Ecuador compared to Vanuatu?

Ecuador generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Vanuatu leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 23.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Ecuador, compared to 1.6 in Vanuatu. Ecuador scores 77 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Vanuatu: 47).

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

The average high temperature in Quito is 71°F, compared to 83°F in Port Vila. Quito receives around 43.2 in of rainfall per year, while Port Vila gets 87.5 in.

What language do they speak in Ecuador?

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

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At a Glance

VU EC
Population 308,043 17,289,554
Currency Vanuatu Vatu (VUV) United States Dollar ($)
Languages Bislama, English, French Spanish
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +678 +593
Time zones 1 2
Emergency number 911