Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Dargaville and Honiara

For one person, living is cheaper in Honiara: $1,719 a month against $2,134 in Dargaville, rent and utilities included – about $5,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Dargaville, New Zealand
Honiara, Solomon Islands
Dargaville
🇳🇿 New Zealand
$2,134
/mo nomad
Honiara
🇸🇧 Solomon Islands
$1,719
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Dargaville and in Honiara

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Dargaville and in Honiara actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,134 in Dargaville versus $1,719 in Honiara.

  • Dargaville $2,134
  • Honiara $1,719

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,019 in Dargaville versus $2,828 in Honiara.

  • Dargaville $3,019
  • Honiara $2,828

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,904 in Dargaville versus $3,936 in Honiara.

  • Dargaville $3,904
  • Honiara $3,936

Living in Dargaville is roughly 24% more expensive than in Honiara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Dargaville 57% above, Honiara 26% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dargaville
Honiara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.54 NZ$25.60
$6.79 SBD 54.7
114.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.9 NZ$121
$61.7 SBD 498
11.65%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.05 NZ$15.93
$12.30 SBD 99.1
-26.42%
Cappuccino
$3.69 NZ$6.50
$3.48 SBD 28.02
6.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18 NZ$3.84
$1.56 SBD 12.59
39.74%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09 NZ$3.68
$1.10 SBD 8.84
90.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.31 NZ$11.10
$2.53 SBD 20.41
149.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.63 NZ$9.91
$5.55 SBD 44.77
1.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dargaville
Honiara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.05 NZ$3.61
$2.52 SBD 20.36
-18.65%
White Bread (500g)
$1.96 NZ$3.45
$1.54 SBD 12.38
27.27%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.52 NZ$2.68
$1.59 SBD 12.79
-4.40%
Eggs
$6.70 NZ$11.79
$5.66 SBD 45.61
18.37%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.49 NZ$14.95
$6.42 SBD 51.7
32.24%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.47 NZ$18.43
$8.36 SBD 67.4
25.24%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.69 NZ$22.34
$15.30 SBD 123
-17.06%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 NZ$4.66
$6.21 SBD 50.1
-57.33%
Banana (1kg)
$2.14 NZ$3.76
$2.69 SBD 21.72
-20.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.92 NZ$5.14
$8.72 SBD 70.3
-66.51%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.86 NZ$10.32
$3.65 SBD 29.39
60.55%
Potato (1kg)
$1.73 NZ$3.04
$1.95 SBD 15.71
-11.28%
Onion (1kg)
$1.38 NZ$2.43
$3.43 SBD 27.62
-59.77%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.49 NZ$4.38
$1.44 SBD 11.58
72.92%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 NZ$2.07
$1.08 SBD 8.69
9.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$26.67 NZ$46.94
$4.03 SBD 32.50
561.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.24 NZ$18.03
$10.41 SBD 83.9
-1.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.02 NZ$5.32
$1.72 SBD 13.85
75.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.13 NZ$5.50
$3.37 SBD 27.20
-7.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Dargaville
Honiara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.89 NZ$3.33
$0.35 SBD 2.86
440.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$115 NZ$203
$25.21 SBD 203
357.16%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.42 NZ$4.25
$1.22 SBD 9.80
98.36%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.81 NZ$3.18
$1.22 SBD 9.80
48.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$26.35 NZ$46.38
$12.28 SBD 99.0
114.58%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 NZ$2.63
$1.33 SBD 10.73
12.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.5K NZ$44.8K
$18.5K SBD 149.4K
37.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7K NZ$41.7K
$34.2K SBD 275.5K
-30.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dargaville
Honiara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$128 NZ$225
$437 SBD 3,520
-70.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.15 NZ$51.3
$26.84 SBD 216
8.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.3 NZ$90.3
$88.8 SBD 716
-42.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dargaville
Honiara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.91 NZ$68.5
$36.66 SBD 296
6.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$9.06 SBD 73.0
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.48 NZ$20.20
$4.29 SBD 34.61
167.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dargaville
Honiara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$659 NZ$1,159
$98.9 SBD 797
566.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.6K NZ$25.7K
$2,868 SBD 23.1K
410.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dargaville
Honiara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.3 NZ$119
$27.51 SBD 222
144.75%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.09 NZ$68.8
$93.1 SBD 751
-58.01%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.9 NZ$160
$99.0 SBD 798
-8.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115 NZ$203
$101 SBD 818
13.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dargaville
Honiara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,125 NZ$1,981
$890 SBD 7,175
26.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,011 NZ$1,780
$432 SBD 3,482
134.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,404 NZ$2,471
$1,812 SBD 14.6K
-22.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,352 NZ$2,379
$1,409 SBD 11.4K
-4.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,216 NZ$7,421
$85.8K SBD 691.8K
-95.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,111 NZ$5,475
$62.0K SBD 499.6K
-94.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dargaville
Honiara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$437 SBD 3,522
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.83
15.67
-62.80%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Dargaville: October 25, 2026

Last update for Honiara: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Dargaville
$1K
Honiara
$432 57.3% $579
Groceries & Markets
Dargaville
$330
Honiara
$344 4.4% $15
Eating Out
Dargaville
$248
Honiara
$167 32.5% $80
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dargaville
$209
Honiara
$552 165% $344
Clothing & Footwear
Dargaville
$141
Honiara
$144 2.7% $3.8
Getting Around
Dargaville
$134
Honiara
$34 74.7% $100
Sport & Entertainment
Dargaville
$62
Honiara
$45 26.9% $17

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,125 in Dargaville and $890 in Honiara. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $69 in Dargaville vs $62 in Honiara. Groceries flip the comparison at $330 vs $344, with Dargaville cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇳🇿 Dargaville
🇸🇧 Honiara
🕒 Local time
23:59 11:59 PM
21:59 9:59 PM
2 h behind Dargaville
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,600
54,600 Capital
Exchange rates and currency converter

SBD, USD, EUR to NZD – New Zealand Dollar Converter

New Zealand Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 1.76 NZD (1 NZD = 0.568 USD). 1 EUR = 1.96 NZD (1 NZD = 0.511 EUR).

Solomon Islands Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 8.06 SBD (1 SBD = 0.124 USD). 1 EUR = 8.97 SBD (1 SBD = 0.111 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Dargaville Honiara 3,270 km ≈ 4 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Dargaville
  • Honiara

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Dargaville vs Honiara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Dargaville and in Honiara?
Dargaville and Honiara differ by about 24% in total monthly costs ($2,134 vs $1,719 including rent). Honiara is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Dargaville compared to Honiara?
You’d need roughly $3,201 in Dargaville and $2,579 in Honiara to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Dargaville and in Honiara?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,125 in Dargaville versus $890 in Honiara. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Dargaville and Honiara?
Childcare runs $659 in Dargaville versus $99 in Honiara. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Dargaville pay roughly 4% less for everyday groceries. It’s an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How far does $3,000 go in Dargaville compared to Honiara?
Either city works on $3,000 a month, though Honiara gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
How does quality of life compare between Dargaville and Honiara?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

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