Vanuatu Currency & Money Guide: Exchange, Cards, and Tips

Vanuatu uses the Vanuatu vatu (VUV), cash is king outside the main towns, and cards are most reliable in Port Vila and Luganville. Expect around 1 SGD ≈ 90–95 VUV in 2026, bring some AUD or VUV cash, and don’t worry about tipping – it’s not widely expected.

The short version of Vanuatu money tips: carry mixed cash and cards, withdraw in Port Vila or Luganville before heading to the outer islands, and use bank ATMs or licensed exchangers for the best rates. Tipping is optional, digital wallets are limited, and simple precautions help you avoid common scams.

If you’re tracking a holiday budget in multiple currencies – say SGD, AUD and VUV – the Hello travel companion app can automatically convert expenses at live exchange rates, making it much easier to see what that VT 5,000 dinner really cost you back home.

Below, you’ll find practical advice on where to exchange money, how much cash to carry, what cards work, roughly what things cost in 2026, and real-world examples to help you plan a stress-free, well-budgeted trip to Vanuatu.

The official Vanuatu currency is the Vanuatu vatu (VUV), with no cents, and travelers from Singapore can expect around 1 SGD ≈ 90–95 VUV in 2026, making price conversions fairly straightforward according to rates published by the National Bank of Vanuatu and independent FX trackers.

The vatu is written as VUV or VT, and comes in banknotes of 200, 500, 1,000, 2,000 and 5,000 vatu, plus coins from 1 to 100 vatu, as noted by MyVanuatu’s travel guide and the Reserve Bank of Vanuatu. All amounts are whole vatu – prices are rounded, and you won’t see cents on menus or receipts.

For Singapore travelers, recent bank tables show 1 SGD buying roughly 90–95 VUV in 2026, which means:

• 100 VUV ≈ SGD 1.05–1.10
• 1,000 VUV ≈ SGD 10.50–11.00
• 10,000 VUV ≈ SGD 105–110

That makes quick mental math easy: just divide vatu prices by 100 and add about 10%. For example, a VT 2,500 meal is roughly SGD 26–28.

If you’re juggling multiple currencies – e.g., paying in AUD, tracking in SGD, and spending VUV in markets – the Hello app’s multi-currency expense tracking can automatically convert everything at current rates, so you don’t have to keep recalculating every time you buy lunch.

Here’s a simple snapshot of how VUV compares:

Currency	Approx. value in VUV (2026)
1 SGD	90–95 VUV
1 USD	115–125 VUV
1 AUD	75–85 VUV

The best places to exchange money in Vanuatu are major banks and licensed currency exchangers in Port Vila and Luganville, which generally offer better rates and reliability than hotels or remote island kiosks, according to Vanuatu’s official tourism guide and local pocket guides.

In Port Vila and Luganville, you’ll find branches of ANZ, BRED Bank, BSP, and the National Bank of Vanuatu, all offering foreign exchange services on weekdays. The tourism authority notes typical bank hours as 8:30 am–3:00 pm Monday–Friday, while pocket guides specify National Bank’s main FX branches in downtown Port Vila, Luganville (Santo), Mystery Island, and a desk at Bauerfield International Airport for international arrivals.

Licensed currency-exchange chains like No1 Currency operate at Bauerfield International Airport, along Kumul Highway in Port Vila, and at Pekoa Airport in Luganville, with opening hours often 7:30 am–4:30 pm on weekdays and shorter hours on weekends and public holidays. These counters are convenient if you arrive with AUD, NZD, USD or EUR cash – the currencies most commonly accepted for exchange per the Vanuatu Tourism Office.

A practical strategy:

• Arrive with some AUD or SGD and exchange a starter amount at Bauerfield Airport.
• Compare rates at banks vs. No1 Currency in downtown Port Vila before changing larger amounts.
• Avoid exchanging money in remote islands, where options are scarce and rates can be worse.

If you’re tracking different exchange rates over several days, logging your cash exchanges in the Hello app’s budget tracker keeps a clear record of what rate you actually got, so you can spot if one counter is consistently better.

Credit and debit cards are widely accepted in Port Vila and Luganville, but cash remains essential in smaller islands, and contactless or app-based payments are still limited compared to destinations like Japan, according to regional banking information and Vanuatu travel guides.

In 2026, most larger hotels, resorts, supermarkets, tour operators and restaurants in Port Vila and Luganville accept Visa and Mastercard, with some availability of EFTPOS terminals. Card payments may attract a 2–3% surcharge, which many businesses clearly state on receipts or menus. In villages, local guesthouses, truck taxis and markets, expect to pay cash only.

ATMs from banks such as BSP, ANZ and National Bank of Vanuatu are clustered in Port Vila and Luganville, with very limited coverage on outer islands. Daily withdrawal limits vary by bank, but travellers commonly report VT 20,000–40,000 (about SGD 220–440) per transaction, plus an international ATM fee from your home bank. It’s wise to withdraw enough in town before heading to places like Tanna or Mystery Island.

Contactless payments (tap-and-go) exist at some hotels and supermarkets, but global wallets like Apple Pay or Google Pay aren’t universally supported, and local usage of apps such as WeChat Pay or PayPay is minimal, especially outside tourist hubs. Vanuatu remains primarily a cash-and-card economy.

If you want reliable data for maps and banking SMS codes while on the move, an eSIM from Hello for Vanuatu lets you arrive connected, check ATM locations on your phone, and verify suspicious charges instantly via your banking app.

Tipping in Vanuatu is not expected or customary, and locals generally prefer that visitors respect a culture where service charges are included and small gestures of appreciation matter more than extra cash, according to regional tourism advice and ethical travel guidelines.

Most mid-range restaurants in Port Vila charge VT 1,500–2,500 per main course (roughly SGD 16–28 in 2026), while local takeaway stalls and market food can be as low as VT 300–600 (SGD 3–7) for a plate of rice and stew. Coffee in a café is usually around VT 400–700, and a beer at a bar VT 500–800.

Because Vanuatu doesn’t have a strong tipping culture, you won’t see service fees automatically added to bills, and staff don’t expect extra cash. If you receive exceptional service, a small tip of VT 200–500, or a thoughtful gift (like school supplies on village visits), is welcomed but not required.

Useful everyday money tips:

• Carry small notes and coins (200, 500 VUV) for markets, taxis and village shops.
• Keep VT 2,000–5,000 aside for departure airport snacks or last-minute souvenirs.
• Watch for card surcharges and ask whether the price is different for cash.

For budget planning, a realistic estimate in 2026 is VT 6,000–10,000 (SGD 65–110) per person per day for food, local transport and small activities, excluding accommodation. Logging these daily costs in the Hello app’s budget tracker gives you a live view of your spend against your trip budget so you know when to scale back on cocktails or gift shopping.

Vanuatu is generally safe and relaxed, but travellers should still watch for small money scams like inflated taxi fares, unofficial currency exchanges, and card surcharges not disclosed upfront, as noted in regional Pacific travel advisories and visitor reports.

The most common issues aren’t serious crime, but small overcharges. Around Port Vila’s wharf and markets, some taxis may quote flat fares far above local norms; asking your hotel for typical rates – for example VT 300–500 for short trips around town – helps you negotiate fairly. Always agree the price before you get in.

Avoid changing money with individuals who approach you on the street or near markets. The official tourism authority specifically recommends using banks and licensed exchange offices, noting that services are limited on outer islands and that you should withdraw or exchange enough before leaving Port Vila. Unlicensed exchangers may offer poor rates or short-change you.

To save money:

• Eat where locals eat: market stalls and nakamals can cost half of tourist restaurants.
• Book tours directly with reputable operators instead of resellers when possible.
• Use bank ATMs to withdraw larger amounts less frequently, reducing per-withdrawal fees.

Tracking your expenses in the Hello app – with AI receipt scanning and automatic categorisation – makes it easier to see patterns, like overspending on taxis or imported alcohol, so you can adjust mid-trip. If you’re traveling with friends, Hello’s expense splitting in multiple currencies ensures everyone pays their fair share at the real exchange rate, avoiding awkward money conversations.

Travellers usually ask whether Vanuatu currency is easy to use, if cards work everywhere, and whether tipping is expected, and the short answer is: vatu is simple, cards work mainly in Port Vila and Luganville, and tipping is optional rather than a firm rule.

Q: What is the official currency of Vanuatu?
The official currency is the Vanuatu vatu (VUV or VT), issued by the Reserve Bank of Vanuatu. There are no cents, only whole vatu denominations.

Q: What’s the Vanuatu exchange rate from SGD in 2026?
Recent National Bank of Vanuatu tables and FX rate trackers suggest 1 SGD ≈ 90–95 VUV in 2026, so VT 1,000 ≈ SGD 10.5–11.0. Rates change daily, so always check just before your trip.

Q: Can I use credit cards everywhere?
Cards (Visa/Mastercard) are widely accepted in Port Vila and Luganville at hotels, supermarkets and restaurants, but you’ll need cash in smaller islands, villages, markets and for truck taxis.

Q: Is tipping customary in Vanuatu?
No. Tipping is not traditionally part of local culture, and staff don’t expect it. If service is outstanding, a small tip or gift is a nice gesture but entirely voluntary.

Q: How much cash should I carry per day?
For food, transport and small purchases, many travellers find VT 6,000–10,000 per day (around SGD 65–110 in 2026) comfortable, plus extra for tours.

Q: What’s the easiest way to track spending in different currencies?
Using the Hello travel companion app, you can log expenses in VUV, SGD and AUD, with automatic exchange rate conversion and expense splitting with friends, so you always know where your money’s going on your Vanuatu adventure.