Living in Funafuti
What it really costs to live in Funafuti, what you can earn, the visas that get you in, and the taxes you'll pay — for Tuvalu, updated 2026. Funafuti lies in Polynesia. The main languages are Tuvaluan, English. The currency is the dollar.
Cost of Living in Funafuti
Full Monthly Breakdown for Funafuti
What You Can Earn in Tuvalu
Typical gross annual salaries in Tuvalu by sector (entry · median · senior). Funafuti pay usually sits around the national median.
| Sector | Entry | Median | Senior |
|---|---|---|---|
| it | €19 500 | €28 000 | €39 000 |
| retail | €10 000 | €14 000 | €19 500 |
| finance | €17 500 | €25 000 | €35 000 |
| education | €13 500 | €19 000 | €26 500 |
| healthcare | €15 500 | €22 000 | €31 000 |
| engineering | €18 000 | €26 000 | €36 500 |
| hospitality | €10 500 | €15 000 | €21 000 |
| construction | €14 000 | €20 000 | €28 000 |
Living in Funafuti: Safety, Health & Climate
Funafuti shares Tuvalu's wider quality-of-life profile. Funafuti has a tropical climate. Here is what daily life looks like on the things that matter most when you relocate.
Visa Routes to Tuvalu
Affording Funafuti is only half the question — you also need a visa that lets you stay in Tuvalu. The main routes:
- A job offer is normally required for the main work route.
- Permanent residence after about 5 years.
- Citizenship after ~7 years — dual nationality allowed.
- Investment route from about €46 000 (USD).
Taxes in Tuvalu
Top marginal rate 15%, VAT 0%.
Settling into Funafuti
- Budget around €2 100 for first-month setup in Funafuti.
- Regulated professions needing credential recognition: Medicine, Law, Engineering.
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How much does it cost to live in Funafuti?
A single person in central Funafuti should budget about €835/month, roughly €785 outside the centre. A family of four needs around €1 950/month.
Can I get a visa to live in Tuvalu?
Yes — the main route usually needs a job offer, with permanent residence reachable in about 5 years. See the full Tuvalu visa comparison for the route that fits you.
Sources: salaries, taxes, safety, healthcare and visa data from World Bank, OECD, the Global Peace Index and official government portals. Cost-of-living figures are community-sourced benchmarks — a guide, not a quote. Last reviewed 2026-05.
Related: Tuvalu Guide · Visa Comparison · All Countries