A head-to-head comparison of Vanguard Total International Stock ETF and Vanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.
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Vanguard is known for offering low-cost, passively managed ETFs that emphasize broad market exposure and long-term investing. The company operates 175 ETFs across diverse fund families including Index, Bond, Equity, Dividend, Income, International, Factor, and ESG strategies, serving investors with various goals from core portfolio building to specialized income generation. Notable for its scale and popular tickers like VB (total U.S. small-cap), BND (total bond market), and VBIAX (international bonds), Vanguard focuses on providing comprehensive, index-based investment solutions with an emphasis on cost efficiency and accessibility.
See our curated list of related YouTube videos on VXUS and VYMI.
Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.
Quick verdict
VXUS (Vanguard Total International Stock ETF) and VYMI (Vanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF) are both quarterly-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.
VYMI offers the higher yield at 4.99% vs 1.82% for VXUS. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.
VXUS is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.05% compared to 0.22%.
They track different benchmarks: VXUS is linked to FTSE Global All Cap ex US Index while VYMI tracks FTSE All-World ex US High Dividend Yield Index, which means their performance drivers differ.
VXUS is the larger fund by assets ($149B), which generally means tighter spreads and better liquidity.
Who should choose each?
Choose VXUS
Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Want broad equity exposure.
Want to keep costs low — a 0.05% expense ratio vs 0.22% for VYMI.
Choose VYMI
Vanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF
Want higher current income — VYMI yields 4.99% vs 1.82% for VXUS.
Want a quality-dividend tilt — screened payers rather than the broad index.
Prefer lower volatility — a beta of 0.7 vs 0.9 for VXUS.
Not sure? Use the income calculator and snapshot above to weigh these trade-offs against your own goals.
Deep dive
Yield & income
On a $10,000 investment, VXUS would generate roughly $15.17/month, while VYMI would produce $41.58/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.
VXUS yield1.82%
VYMI yield4.99%
Monthly diff on $10K$26.42
Cost & efficiency
Over 10 years on $10,000, VXUS would cost approximately $50 in fees vs $220 for VYMI (simplified, not compounded). The $170.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.
VXUS ER0.05%
VYMI ER0.22%
Strategy & risk
VXUS tracks FTSE Global All Cap ex US Index with an international approach, while VYMI tracks FTSE All-World ex US High Dividend Yield Index with a dividend income approach. Beta is 0.92 for VXUS and 0.74 for VYMI, indicating VYMI is less volatile relative to the market.
VXUS beta0.92
VYMI beta0.74
Fund details
VXUS is managed by Vanguard (launched 01/26/2011) with $149B in assets. VYMI is managed by Vanguard (launched 02/25/2016) with $19.7B in assets.
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Frequently asked questions
Is VXUS or VYMI better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. VYMI currently offers the higher distribution yield, which means more income per dollar invested. However, a lower-yield fund may offer better total return or lower volatility. Consider your time horizon and risk tolerance.
What is the difference between VXUS and VYMI?
VXUS (Vanguard Total International Stock ETF) tracks FTSE Global All Cap ex US Index with an international approach, while VYMI (Vanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF) tracks FTSE All-World ex US High Dividend Yield Index with a dividend income approach. They are issued by Vanguard and Vanguard respectively.
Can I hold both VXUS and VYMI?
Yes — nothing prevents holding both. Whether the combination actually diversifies depends on how much the underlying exposures overlap, which isn't fully measurable from the data on this page; review each security's holdings, sector, and strategy before treating them as complementary.
Which has lower fees, VXUS or VYMI?
VXUS has an expense ratio of 0.05% while VYMI charges 0.22%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.
How much income does $10,000 in VXUS vs VYMI generate?
At current rates, $10,000 in VXUS would generate roughly $15.17 per month ($182.00 annually). The same in VYMI would produce about $41.58 per month ($499.00 annually).
Explore related screeners
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