Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Gizo and Wairoa

For one person, living is cheaper in Wairoa: $1,932 a month against $2,164 in Gizo, rent and utilities included – about $2,800 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Gizo outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Gizo
🇸🇧 Solomon Islands
$2,164
/mo nomad
Wairoa
🇳🇿 New Zealand
$1,932
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Gizo and in Wairoa

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,164 in Gizo versus $1,932 in Wairoa.

  • Gizo $2,164
  • Wairoa $1,932

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,051 in Gizo versus $2,867 in Wairoa.

  • Gizo $3,051
  • Wairoa $2,867

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,938 in Gizo versus $3,802 in Wairoa.

  • Gizo $3,938
  • Wairoa $3,802

Living in Gizo is roughly 12% more expensive than in Wairoa, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Gizo 60% above, Wairoa 43% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gizo
Wairoa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.01 SBD 24.25
$14.86 NZ$26.27
-79.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.7 SBD 441
$59.2 NZ$105
-7.57%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$15.57 SBD 126
$8.52 NZ$15.06
82.75%
Cappuccino
$2.85 SBD 22.95
$3.11 NZ$5.51
-8.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.26 SBD 10.13
$2.28 NZ$4.03
-44.74%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.21 SBD 9.79
$1.66 NZ$2.94
-27.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.47 SBD 19.88
$6.69 NZ$11.83
-63.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41 SBD 19.41
$6.30 NZ$11.15
-61.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gizo
Wairoa
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.27 SBD 26.35
$1.92 NZ$3.40
70.31%
White Bread (500g)
$1.39 SBD 11.19
$2.20 NZ$3.89
-36.82%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.40 SBD 11.30
$1.74 NZ$3.07
-19.54%
Eggs
$7.24 SBD 58.4
$6.31 NZ$11.17
14.74%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.47 SBD 68.3
$8.79 NZ$15.54
-3.64%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.20 SBD 50.0
$8.65 NZ$15.30
-28.32%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.41 SBD 67.8
$15.26 NZ$26.99
-44.89%
Apples (1kg)
$6.88 SBD 55.5
$2.96 NZ$5.24
132.43%
Banana (1kg)
$6.34 SBD 51.1
$2.21 NZ$3.90
186.88%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.06 SBD 48.84
$2.62 NZ$4.63
131.30%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.02 SBD 24.32
$5.45 NZ$9.63
-44.59%
Potato (1kg)
$3.07 SBD 24.74
$1.97 NZ$3.48
55.84%
Onion (1kg)
$2.41 SBD 19.45
$1.31 NZ$2.32
83.97%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.53 SBD 20.39
$2.24 NZ$3.96
12.95%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.34 SBD 10.79
$1.02 NZ$1.81
31.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.25 SBD 34.29
$23.97 NZ$42.39
-82.27%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.36 SBD 99.6
$10.24 NZ$18.12
20.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83 SBD 14.77
$2.83 NZ$5.01
-35.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19 SBD 17.66
$2.91 NZ$5.15
-24.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Gizo
Wairoa
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.39 SBD 3.11
$1.76 NZ$3.10
-77.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$31.36 SBD 253
$70.2 NZ$124
-55.31%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.25 SBD 10.09
$2.41 NZ$4.27
-48.13%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.43 SBD 19.56
$1.58 NZ$2.80
53.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$12.52 SBD 101
$28.67 NZ$50.7
-56.33%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.75 SBD 14.10
$1.72 NZ$3.04
1.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.7K SBD 166.9K
$24.9K NZ$44.1K
-16.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.9K SBD 176.9K
$19.8K NZ$35.0K
10.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gizo
Wairoa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$750 SBD 6,048
$98.1 NZ$174
664.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.42 SBD 108
$24.87 NZ$43.98
-46.04%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$123 SBD 989
$57.2 NZ$101
114.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gizo
Wairoa
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$18.49 SBD 149
$43.61 NZ$77.1
-57.60%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.14 SBD 49.54
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.20 SBD 33.87
$9.93 NZ$17.56
-57.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gizo
Wairoa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$126 SBD 1,014
$727 NZ$1,287
-82.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,242 SBD 10.0K
$16.9K NZ$29.8K
-92.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gizo
Wairoa
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.29 SBD 204
$53.8 NZ$95.1
-52.98%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$94.4 SBD 761
$36.83 NZ$65.1
156.18%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.8 SBD 804
$102 NZ$181
-2.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.6 SBD 730
$114 NZ$202
-20.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gizo
Wairoa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$599 SBD 4,833
$1,016 NZ$1,796
-40.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$580 SBD 4,678
$894 NZ$1,582
-35.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$630 SBD 5,081
$1,600 NZ$2,830
-60.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,217 SBD 9,809
$1,443 NZ$2,552
-15.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$85.9K SBD 692.3K
$5,236 NZ$9,260
1540.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$3,126 NZ$5,528
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gizo
Wairoa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$389 SBD 3,140
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
16.33
5.57
193.18%

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

Last update for Gizo: October 12, 2026

Last update for Wairoa: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gizo
$886
Wairoa
$180 79.7% $706
Accommodation & Living
Gizo
$580
Wairoa
$894 54.2% $314
Groceries & Markets
Gizo
$353
Wairoa
$325 8% $28
Clothing & Footwear
Gizo
$139
Wairoa
$138 0.9% $1.2
Eating Out
Gizo
$132
Wairoa
$244 84.6% $112
Getting Around
Gizo
$46
Wairoa
$88 89.1% $41
Sport & Entertainment
Gizo
$27
Wairoa
$63 136% $37

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $599 in Gizo and $1,016 in Wairoa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $55.0 in Gizo vs $59.0 in Wairoa. Groceries flip the comparison at $353 vs $325, with Wairoa cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇸🇧 Gizo
🇳🇿 Wairoa
🕒 Local time
07:42 7:42 AM
09:42 9:42 AM
2 h ahead of Gizo
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
7,177
4,300
Exchange rates and currency converter

NZD, USD, EUR to SBD – Solomon Islands Dollar Converter

Solomon Islands Dollar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 8.06 SBD (1 SBD = 0.124 USD). 1 EUR = 9.06 SBD (1 SBD = 0.11 EUR).

New Zealand Dollar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 1.77 NZD (1 NZD = 0.565 USD). 1 EUR = 1.99 NZD (1 NZD = 0.503 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Gizo Wairoa 4,010 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Gizo
  • Wairoa

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
Gizo vs Wairoa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Gizo or Wairoa?
Wairoa wins on cost – living expenses run 12% lower than in Gizo. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Wairoa the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Gizo and in Wairoa?
You'd need roughly $3,246 in Gizo and $2,898 in Wairoa 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 much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Gizo compared to Wairoa?
Rent for a central apartment: $599 in Gizo versus $1,016 in Wairoa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Gizo or in Wairoa?
Supermarket bills run roughly 9% higher in Gizo. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Gizo and in Wairoa?
Dining out is cheaper in Wairoa – a meal for two runs $59.0 versus $55.0 in Gizo. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Gizo or in Wairoa?
At $1,932 in Wairoa versus $2,164 in Gizo, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Wairoa but tight or insufficient in Gizo. The gap between the two cities makes Wairoa the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Gizo or Wairoa?
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.
How safe is Gizo compared to Wairoa?
Safety-wise, Gizo and Wairoa are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Wairoa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Gizo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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