Port Vila City Guide

Port Vila is the capital of Vanuatu and the economic, administrative, and tourism centre of the South Pacific archipelago, set on the island of Efate within Shefa Province around a deep natural harbour. With a population near 49,000 it concentrates the majority of the country's commercial activity, expatriate community, and foreign-buyer demand, and its property market is among the most internationally accessible in the Pacific. Residential homes typically start around AUD 300,000 with oceanfront villas exceeding AUD 1 million, and the average price sits near US$1,200 per square metre, growing roughly 3.5% a year; the most sought-after waterfront enclaves, Pango Point, Tassiriki, and Elluk, saw luxury values rise about 20% between 2022 and 2024. Gross rental yields in the 6–8% range are common, supported by strong demand from the expatriate and tourism workforce concentrated in the capital. Vanuatu's tax regime is a core draw: no capital gains tax, no inheritance tax, and low income taxes, alongside a long-running citizenship programme. The main risks are the land-tenure system (most land is held on leasehold rather than freehold), exposure to cyclones and earthquakes, and the small, thin market.