Vanuatu · roaming cost calculator
Roaming Price Audit: What 10 Days of Data Cost in Vanuatu
HelloRoam, first on this site's rubric, does not sell Vanuatu: its catalogue of 29 Oct 2026 lists 185 destinations. In Oceania it sells 6 destinations, among them Australia, Fiji and French Polynesia, so a trip that continues there can switch to it. HelloRoam's 7-day unlimited plan has a median price of $21.50 across the 35 countries where all five providers were priced.
Two prices sit on this page. AT&T bills $12 a day for Vanuatu and travel eSIM data at $3.99 a gigabyte bills once, both in dollars. HelloRoam bills in 31 checkout currencies.
Airalo lists 200+ destinations and HelloRoam lists 185, so a route through smaller markets can land outside the shorter catalog.
Which eSIM providers cover Vanuatu networks
HelloRoam, first on this site's rubric, sells 185 destinations and Vanuatu is not one of them, so this page ranks no provider here. The four below list Vanuatu plans; Airalo covers 200+ destinations to HelloRoam's 185.
In Vanuatu, Holafly runs on a local network with unlimited data. Heavy users streaming video save against paying by the gigabyte elsewhere.
Get eSIMNomad offers straightforward Vanuatu plans on a local 4G LTE network from $2.30/GB. Simple checkout, no frills.
Get eSIMAiralo's Vanuatu eSIM uses the same local towers AT&T roaming relies on. A 5GB plan at $2.40/GB covers most week-long trips for navigation, messaging, and social media.
Get eSIMSaily sells Vanuatu data at $2.60/GB with VPN included. Travelers who regularly use public WiFi in cafes, hotels, or transit hubs avoid paying $13/month for a separate VPN subscription.
Get eSIMCompare providers: Airalo vs Holafly · Airalo vs Saily · Airalo vs Nomad · Airalo vs HelloRoam · Holafly vs Saily · Holafly vs Nomad · Holafly vs HelloRoam · Saily vs Nomad · Saily vs HelloRoam · Nomad vs HelloRoam
The full picture
Published carrier rates on travel data, Vanuatu
Every major carrier's published Vanuatu rate, side by side, with the eSIM winner highlighted.
| Carrier | Plan type | Daily | 7-day | Speed | Data limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T | International Day Pass | $12.00source | $84.00 | LTE | Plan data |
| Verizon | TravelPass | $12.00source | $84.00 | LTE | Plan data |
| T-Mobile | International Pass | $10.00*source | $50.00 | LTE | 2GB per 1 Day pass |
| eSIM · Saily | Sold by the gigabyte | — | $3.99/GB | 4G LTE | Your choice |
*T-Mobile's Experience More plan includes 5GB of high-speed data abroad and Experience Beyond 15GB, then data runs at up to 256Kbps. Essentials includes texting but no data. The 1 Day International Pass costs $10; the 7-day figure is the cheapest pass mix, 10-day pass.
Compare all carrier roaming plans to see how AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Vodafone, and EE stack up against eSIM providers.
Pay-per-use cost audit
Vanuatu data bill scenarios: AT&T without a day pass
AT&T pay-per-use data in Vanuatu costs $2.05/MB when no $12/day international day pass is active. At that rate, five common activities add up quickly.
5-minute FaceTime call (~75 MB): $154. 30-minute Zoom meeting (~450 MB): $922. 1 hour of Google Maps navigation (~50 MB): $102. Uploading 20 vacation photos (~200 MB): $410. 1 hour of YouTube (~500 MB): $1025. Combined, those five activities use roughly 1.3 GB — before background app refresh or iCloud sync adds anything. Rates checked June 2026. Source: AT&T international rate card.
Personalize your savings
Your Vanuatu saving against $12 a day
Adjust the trip length, the carrier and the daily data below and the calculator reprices both sides. The starting point is the 10-day average stay recorded for Vanuatu: $120 on an AT&T day pass at $12 a day, against $3.99 a gigabyte on a travel eSIM. Both prices buy access to the same local operators.
Network coverage
Vanuatu cellular coverage by operator
Verizon TravelPass connects to a local network in Vanuatu at $12/day. A travel eSIM connects to the same local network at $3.99/GB. Pull up AT&T's roaming rate card for Vanuatu and a travel eSIM plan side by side. The network is Digicel in both cases. The price is not. Travel eSIM providers deliver the same 4G LTE signal for less. 4G LTE download and upload speeds are available on a local network in Vanuatu. A carrier roaming pass delivers those speeds. A travel eSIM delivers the same speeds. Paying $12/day does not increase your download speed over the $3.99/GB eSIM rate.
Pricing breakdown
Vanuatu roaming rate breakdown
Here is the 14-day cost breakdown for Vanuatu. AT&T International Day Pass: $12 per 24 hours, $120. Verizon TravelPass: $168. T-Mobile International Passes: $75 (30-day pass). eSIM 10GB plan on a local network: $39.90. That is $80.10 less than AT&T, a 67% reduction for the same 4G LTE connectivity.
Per-day data costs in Vanuatu: AT&T $12, Verizon $12, T-Mobile $10, eSIM $2.85. The eSIM figure is derived from a $39.90 10GB plan spread across 14 days. Carrier rates are fixed regardless of how much data you use each day.
eSIM plan tiers for Vanuatu: .
Trip cost breakdown
What your carrier charges for each Vanuatu trip type
Three days in Vanuatu costs $36 on AT&T at $12/day. A 2GB eSIM on a local network covers the same period for $7.98. Difference: $28.02.
Fourteen days costs $120 on AT&T, because it bills at most 10 daily fees per line each bill cycle. A 15GB eSIM on a local network covers 15GB of photos and video calls for $59.85. Difference: $60.15 (50%).
Thirty days on AT&T costs $120. A 50GB eSIM on a local network covers 50GB for $199.50. Difference: $-79.50 over the month. AT&T rate: $12/day regardless of data consumed, at most 10 daily fees per line each bill cycle. Rates checked June 2026.
Airport options
Airport data options when you land in Vanuatu
Airport kiosks in Vanuatu quote SIM card prices before taxes and activation fees. After the counter adds those costs, your final bill is higher than the posted rate. A 5GB eSIM at $19.95 is an all-in price — what you see online is what you pay. No register surprise after a long international flight.
Data planning
Carrier vs eSIM data costs for 7 days in Vanuatu
Vanuatu trips average 7 days. At 1.5 GB per day of typical usage (navigation, social, and streaming clips), you need 11GB total. WiFi in Vanuatu is unreliable, so lean toward a larger plan.
5GB covers about 102 hours of live map navigation, enough for a 7-day trip with directions to every meal and museum. AT&T charges $84 for the same coverage on a local network.
Connectivity
Vanuatu data strategy: WiFi vs eSIM
WiFi available at resorts in Port Vila; limited on outer islands Airport WiFi in Vanuatu typically limits free sessions to 30-60 minutes after landing. Once that runs out, you are relying on hotel WiFi or paying airport day-pass rates. An eSIM on a local network activates before you board and gives you 4G LTE speeds from the moment you land — no session timers.
Plan your data
Your Vanuatu data budget explained
Hotels in Vanuatu charge $10-$20/day for in-room WiFi — and that only covers your room. AT&T roaming adds $12/day for data outside the hotel. A 5GB eSIM on a local network at $19.95 covers the full 10 days everywhere, with no daily hotel WiFi fee needed.
Vanuatu has two mobile operators: Digicel and Vodafone Vanuatu. When AT&T or Verizon customers roam here, their calls and data pass through these exact networks. A travel eSIM reaches Digicel or Vodafone Vanuatu directly at $3.99/GB — the service is identical; the roaming markup is not.
WiFi in Vanuatu is limited and unreliable in most areas. An eSIM fills the gaps at $3.99/GB instead of AT&T's $12/day roaming charge. Local prices in Vanuatu are in Vanuatu Vatu (VUV) (VT), but eSIM plans are priced in USD, eliminating exchange rate uncertainty on your data costs.
Quick reference
Vanuatu Travel Essentials
111/112/113
111, 112, 113 are the emergency numbers in Vanuatu. Different numbers may route to different services — save all of them before your trip. Emergency calls work from any mobile device, including travel eSIMs.
Type I
Vanuatu uses Type I outlets (two or three angled flat prongs, used in Australia and China). US plugs do not fit — bring a Type I adapter. Voltage is 220-240V; verify your device chargers support dual-voltage before plugging in.
VUT (UTC+11)
Vanuatu Vatu (VUV) (VT)
Cash in Vanuatu Vatu (VUV) is preferred across most of Vanuatu outside major hotels and tourist centers. Card terminals are not common in local markets or small restaurants. Withdraw enough cash at a reliable ATM before leaving the city — rural areas may not have ATM access.
Good to know
Between islands and transport links in Vanuatu, WiFi coverage is limited. An eSIM running on the local network at $3.99/GB keeps maps and messaging active during transit.
Quick tip
Local prices in Vanuatu are in Vanuatu Vatu (VUV) (VT). eSIM plans are priced in USD, eliminating exchange rate uncertainty.
Step by step
Step-by-step: set up your Vanuatu eSIM before you fly
- Check your phone supports eSIM (iPhone XS or newer, most Samsung Galaxy S20+) — LTE coverage is none on Vodafone Vanuatu
- Pick a data size for Vanuatu on Saily, which prices from $3.99 a gigabyte — payment takes under two minutes and your QR code arrives instantly. Compare providers if you want to see alternatives first.
- Install the eSIM via the QR code Saily sends to your email — do this before your flight to Bauerfield International Airport (VLI) so it activates the moment you land
- On iPhone: tap Settings > Cellular, select your carrier SIM (not the Saily eSIM), tap Cellular Data Options, and set Data Roaming to off. Full instructions with screenshots in the data roaming guide.
- On Samsung Galaxy at Bauerfield International Airport (VLI): open the notification shade, tap the SIM switcher, and select your Saily eSIM — Vodafone Vanuatu registers automatically
- On Google Pixel: go to Settings > Network > Calls and SMS > WiFi Calling and enable it — your home number stays reachable in Vanuatu without any voice roaming charge
Data tips
Vanuatu trip data discipline: what to disable
Messaging app data usage: WhatsApp text messages under 1 KB each, WhatsApp voice calls 30 MB/hour, WhatsApp video calls 250 MB/hour. Google Translate's offline language packs download once over WiFi and use no cellular data during translation. Download the Vanuatu language pack before you board.
Regional context
Oceania traveler data guide: Vanuatu edition
A few things to know before turning off carrier roaming in Vanuatu:
Australian-style power plugs (Type I)
Coverage limited to main islands; outer islands may have no signal
Archipelago of 80+ islands
WiFi available at resorts in Port Vila; limited on outer islands Roaming passes charge $12/day to fill WiFi gaps. An eSIM covers the same connectivity at $3.99/GB.
Nearby
Related destinations
6 destinations near Vanuatu are priced on the same rate card. AT&T bills $12 a day in every one of them, and the figure beside each flag is that destination's own per-gigabyte floor. The cheapest of the group is Australia at $0.71 a gigabyte.
Forgot your eSIM?
Vanuatu eSIM installation after arrival: the WiFi route
The fastest emergency option in Vanuatu: turn on AT&T cellular data long enough to download the Airalo app. The app download is approximately 5 MB. At AT&T's $2.05/MB pay-per-use rate, that download costs $10. Once the app is installed, turn carrier data back off. Connect to Bauerfield International Airport (VLI)'s free WiFi, buy a Vanuatu eSIM plan, and scan the QR code. Your eSIM on a local network then handles all data at $19.95 for 5GB. The $10 carrier charge is a one-time cost, not a daily fee. AT&T's International Day Pass costs $12 for that same day and $12 again for every day after it.
Savings math
How much you save in Vanuatu
Solo traveler
A solo traveler on AT&T International Day Pass in Vanuatu for 10 days: 10 days × $12/day = $120. A 15GB eSIM on a local network costs $59.85 for the same 10 days. Savings: $60.15 (50%). Both options connect to local 4G LTE towers. The arithmetic is simple: one fixed payment versus 10 daily charges.
Family trip
A family that takes two international trips per year saves $121.20 annually by switching from AT&T roaming to eSIMs. Per trip: AT&T bills $300 for 4 lines over 10 days ($12 for the first line and $6 for each extra line, per day billed). Four eSIMs cost $239.40 per trip. Over five years, the cumulative savings reach $606.
AT&T roaming rate analysis
AT&T bills International Day Pass per line, not per account. A family plan with 4 lines in Vanuatu: $12 for the first line and $6 for each of the other three = $30/day. For 10 days: $300. Even lines that barely use data still trigger the full daily charge. A child's phone syncing a game update overnight starts a $6 extra-line fee for that line. Four 15GB eSIMs: $239.40 total. Savings for the family: $60.60.
All-carrier summary
AT&T: AT&T International Day Pass costs 101% more than an eSIM for Vanuatu.
Verizon: Verizon TravelPass costs 101% more than an eSIM for Vanuatu.
T-Mobile: T-Mobile's International Passes cost less than this eSIM plan for Vanuatu.
The savings math for Vanuatu is clear. Solo: $60.15 saved vs AT&T for 10 days. Family of four: $60.60 saved. Annual (2 trips): $120.30 saved. All figures use the same local 4G LTE network. The eSIM costs less at every trip length and every group size.
Quick answers
Common questions about Vanuatu data costs
Is eSIM cheaper than roaming in Vanuatu?
In Vanuatu, a travel eSIM on a local network costs $59.85 for 15GB over 10 days. AT&T roaming charges $12 a day, $120 for the same duration on the same towers. The eSIM cuts the data bill by 50%. This applies to both AT&T and Verizon, which charge the same $12/day rate. Rates checked June 2026.
How much does roaming cost in Vanuatu?
Vanuatu roaming costs per device: AT&T $120, Verizon $120 (10 days). A family of four pays $480 on AT&T. Four eSIMs on a local network: $239.40. Rates checked June 2026.
Does T-Mobile work in Vanuatu?
T-Mobile works in Vanuatu on its included allowance: Experience More plan includes 5GB of high-speed data abroad and Experience Beyond 15GB, then data runs at up to 256Kbps. Essentials includes texting but no data. For 10 days of high-speed data, the cheapest pass mix is $50 (10-day pass). A Vodafone Vanuatu eSIM delivers full 4G LTE speed for $59.85. Rates checked June 2026.
AT&T fine print for Vanuatu
$12 covers 24 hours from the first time your phone uses a foreign network, and a single background push notification at 2 AM can start it. AT&T bills at most 10 daily fees per line each bill cycle (terms read 31 Oct 2026).
iCloud Photos, email push, app updates all trigger the daily charge. A phone left in a bag with data roaming on starts a new $12 fee each time a sync lands after the last 24 hours ran out.
Vanuatu FAQ
Vanuatu eSIM & roaming questions
Vanuatu carrier roaming costs $12 a day on AT&T and on Verizon
AT&T: $12/day, or $84 a week. Verizon: $12/day. T-Mobile: 5GB or 15GB of high-speed data included on Experience plans, then at a reduced speed, or $10 for a 1 Day pass with 2GB. Travel eSIM on a local network: from $3.99/GB. On the median 5 GB plan, fixed rates run from $2.01/GB on HelloRoam to $2.60/GB on Saily. HelloRoam's 7-day unlimited plan has the lowest median of the five at $21.50 across 35 countries, against $27.50 on Holafly. Every option above routes through the same local towers in Vanuatu. Difference for 7 days against AT&T on that HelloRoam plan: $62.50. Carrier rates checked June 2026; eSIM prices from the 30 Oct 2026 price check.
T-Mobile's included data in Vanuatu runs at high speed until the allowance ends
For light use, yes. T-Mobile's Experience More plan includes 5GB of high-speed data abroad and Experience Beyond 15GB, then data runs at up to 256Kbps. Essentials includes texting but no data. Even at 256Kbps you stay reachable on WhatsApp and iMessage text in Vanuatu, which is more than AT&T gives you without a pass. Fixed-data eSIM plans across HelloRoam, Holafly, Nomad, Airalo, and Saily run full 4G LTE on a local network from $3.99/GB, with no daily activation trigger. Carrier rates checked June 2026; eSIM prices from the 30 Oct 2026 price check.
Vanuatu roaming bills by the day, not by the gigabyte
Relying on hotel WiFi does not prevent roaming charges in Vanuatu. AT&T's per-day charge fires from any background cellular contact — your phone does not need an active app, just a brief tower handshake. Per-MB billing at $2.05/MB is even more dangerous with background syncs. T-Mobile sidesteps per-day billing up to its plan's high-speed allowance, then runs at up to 256Kbps. A travel eSIM at $3.99/GB gives you full 4G LTE and locks the total cost before you board.
Coverage lists decide which provider suits a Vanuatu trip with extra stops
HelloRoam, first on this site's rubric, does not sell Vanuatu, so this leg needs another provider even though HelloRoam holds the lowest median 5 GB rate here, $2.01/GB, across its 185 destinations. For a route that adds stops, check each list before the price: Airalo reaches 200+ destinations, Nomad 200 and Holafly 200+. This site states no Saily count. That breadth is worth paying for only when the itinerary is still moving. A regional plan covering several countries in one bucket beats one plan per stop. AT&T sidesteps the question by charging $12 per 24 hours in every country alike, which is simple and expensive: three countries over nine days still bills $108. Carrier rates checked June 2026; eSIM prices from the 30 Oct 2026 price check.
A top-up in Vanuatu costs less than another $12 roaming day
Almost always. One more gigabyte on Vodafone Vanuatu costs about $3.99. One more day of AT&T International Day Pass costs $12, and Verizon TravelPass costs $12. Top-ups run through the provider app across HelloRoam, Holafly, Nomad, Airalo, and Saily and usually need no new QR code. The catch is worth naming, because it is the one way this goes wrong: a top-up needs a connection to buy. Run the bucket to zero somewhere with no WiFi and you are stuck with a dead plan and no way to refill it. Buy the next gigabyte while you still have one. Holafly has no top-up at all, since it never meters gigabytes, so you extend days instead. Rates checked June 2026.
Two weeks of Vanuatu roaming costs $120 on AT&T
AT&T: $120 ($12/day x 14 days). Verizon: $168. T-Mobile at $10/day: $75. A travel eSIM on Vodafone Vanuatu for 2 weeks at 1.5 GB/day average costs roughly $83.79. That is an 80-90% saving over any paid carrier roaming option for the same connectivity.
T-Mobile reaches Vanuatu on a free tier and on a paid pass
T-Mobile's Experience More plan includes 5GB of high-speed data abroad and Experience Beyond 15GB, then data runs at up to 256Kbps. Essentials includes texting but no data. At 256Kbps GPS navigation, photo uploads and video calls stall. The 1 Day International Pass costs $10 for 2GB, and a week of passes $50 (10-day pass). A travel eSIM on Vodafone Vanuatu provides full 4G LTE for $3.99/GB.
Verizon TravelPass costs $12 a day in Vanuatu
No. Verizon TravelPass bills $12/day in Vanuatu — $168 for a 14-day trip. A travel eSIM on Vodafone Vanuatu for the same 14 days at 1.5 GB/day costs roughly $83.79. Both connect to local 4G LTE towers — the speed and coverage are identical. The only difference is $84.21 in cost.
A US plan in Vanuatu without an add-on bills by the megabyte
No. Using your phone in Vanuatu without a roaming plan triggers AT&T's pay-per-use rate of $2.05/MB — $2,099 per GB. Verizon's pay-per-use rates are comparable. T-Mobile's Experience plans include 5GB or 15GB of high-speed data, then up to 256Kbps, which is too slow for maps, booking apps, or navigation. You need either a roaming plan (AT&T at $12/day, Verizon at $12/day) or a travel eSIM at $3.99/GB. The eSIM is the lower-cost option at every trip length.
A week of Vanuatu carrier roaming costs $84
AT&T: $84/week (International Day Pass at $12/day). Verizon: $84/week (TravelPass). T-Mobile: 5GB or 15GB of high-speed data included on its Experience plans, then up to 256Kbps, or $50 for a week of passes (10-day pass). The cheapest eSIM for Vanuatu starts at $3.99/GB on a local 4G LTE network — better per-GB value than all three carriers.
Fact check
Vanuatu travel data: correcting the record
EU roaming is free for Americans
EU roaming-within-the-EU rules apply only to SIM cards issued by EU-based carriers. AT&T and Verizon are US carriers — they charge full international day pass rates in every EU country. AT&T's International Day Pass runs $12/day in EU destinations. Verizon TravelPass is $12/day. A travel eSIM on a local network covers Vanuatu for $19.95 total. Rates checked June 2026.
You need to unlock your phone to use an eSIM
eSIM installation does not require an unlocked phone in most cases. iPhones sold in the US since iPhone 14 are sold unlocked by law. iPhones XS through 13 require unlocking to add a foreign carrier eSIM, but AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile all offer free unlocking after your contract ends. Samsung Galaxy S20 and newer models support eSIM on both locked and unlocked variants. Check your carrier's unlock policy before your trip to Vanuatu.
Roaming charges only apply to data
US carrier international plans charge separately for data, calls, and texts. AT&T's International Day Pass at $12/day includes data but charges $0.25–$1.50/minute for calls beyond the bundled allocation. Incoming voicemail retrieval can trigger per-minute roaming charges even when you make no outgoing calls. A data-only eSIM in Vanuatu at $19.95 covers data and uses WhatsApp or FaceTime for voice at no additional carrier cost. Rates checked June 2026.
Our recommendation
Vanuatu data costs: what our research found
For heavy data users in Vanuatu: Vanuatu is a thin eSIM market and we could not price a plan tier here. Airalo and Holafly each list 200+ destinations, the highest count this site prints, so it is among the likeliest of the five to stock Vanuatu on a local network. Holafly is the alternative, at 200+ destinations with a 180-day refund window if the plan turns out not to cover you.
Learn more
Travel guides, Vanuatu
4 guides carry the parts of a Vanuatu trip this page does not price: installing the profile before departure, switching data roaming off on the home SIM, and what happens to the allowance once a fair-use policy applies. Each one reads the same rate card as this page, where AT&T bills $12 a day.
Stop paying $12/day to roam in Vanuatu
Same networks, same speed. eSIM data costs a fraction of carrier roaming in Vanuatu.
Get a Vanuatu eSIM