VMLUX vs VTILX
Vanguard Limited Term Tax-Exempt Fund admiral class vs Vanguard Total International Bond II Index Fund Class Institutional
Which is better, VMLUX or VTILX?
VTILX costs less.
VTILX has a lower expense ratio.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | VMLUX | VTILX |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09% | 0.07%Best |
| AUM | $34.5B | $141.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.93% | 4.23% |
| Holdings | 7,398 | 7,415 |
| YTD Price Return | -1.09% | -1.88% |
| 1Y Price Return | -1.27% | -4.02% |
| 3Y Price Return (annualized) | +0.72% | -0.60% |
| 5Y Price Return (annualized) | -0.63% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 2.8%Best | 6.0% |
| Max Drawdown | -8.0%Best | -15.3% |
| Fund Family | Vanguard (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Tax Preferred | Fixed Income |
| Style | Municipal Bond | - |
| Inception | Feb 12, 2001 | Feb 17, 2021 |
Not shown on this pair: $10,000 over 4.9 years, Top 10 Weight.
A price return is not the return of a fund that pays its income out. The coupon or distribution never appears in the price, so the return rows carry no winner here. VMLUX currently yields 2.93% and VTILX 4.23%.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 4.9 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 25, 2021 to Sep 8, 2026 (4.9 years).
VMLUX vs VTILX Performance
Vanguard Limited Term Tax-Exempt Fund admiral class (VMLUX) is a mutual fund from Vanguard (US) and Vanguard Total International Bond II Index Fund Class Institutional (VTILX) is a mutual fund from Vanguard (US). Over the past year VMLUX's price moved -1.27% and VTILX's -4.02%, before the income each one paid out.
Over three years, VMLUX compounded at +0.72% per year against -0.60% for VTILX.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VTILX has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 6.0% compared with 2.8% for VMLUX. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -8.0% for VMLUX and -15.3% for VTILX. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.77. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
VMLUX charges 0.09% per year while VTILX charges 0.07%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $7 annually, a gap of $2 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, VMLUX currently yields 2.93% against 4.23% for VTILX.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 915 holdings in VMLUX and 1,459 in VTILX, totalling 27.7% and 7.1% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
The two holdings books were reported 92 days apart, VMLUX as of Jan 31, 2026 and VTILX as of Oct 31, 2025, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
0 positions in common, counted across the 915 positions we hold weights for in VMLUX and 1,459 in VTILX, against full books of 7,398 and 7,415.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of VMLUX and VTILX you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, VMLUX or VTILX?
VMLUX has an expense ratio of 0.09% while VTILX charges 0.07%. VTILX is the cheaper option, by $2 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which is riskier, VMLUX or VTILX?
VTILX has been the more volatile fund at 6.0% annualized versus 2.8% for VMLUX. Worst drawdown: VMLUX -8.0% vs VTILX -15.3%.
Should I hold both VMLUX and VTILX?
VMLUX and VTILX have a monthly-return correlation of 0.77, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, VMLUX or VTILX?
VMLUX yields 2.93% while VTILX yields 4.23%, so VTILX currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTILX better than VMLUX?
VTILX has a lower expense ratio. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.