Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Hastings and Gizo

For one person, living is cheaper in Hastings: $1,731 a month against $2,164 in Gizo, rent and utilities included – about $5,200 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Gizo outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Hastings
🇳🇿 New Zealand
$1,731
/mo nomad
Gizo
🇸🇧 Solomon Islands
$2,164
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Hastings and in Gizo

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,731 in Hastings versus $2,164 in Gizo.

  • Hastings $1,731
  • Gizo $2,164

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,526 in Hastings versus $3,051 in Gizo.

  • Hastings $2,526
  • Gizo $3,051

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,322 in Hastings versus $3,938 in Gizo.

  • Hastings $3,322
  • Gizo $3,938

Living in Hastings costs roughly 20% less than in Gizo, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Hastings 28% above, Gizo 60% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hastings
Gizo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.05 NZ$19.55
$3.01 SBD 24.25
267.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$55.7 NZ$98.5
$54.7 SBD 441
1.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.05 NZ$16.00
$15.57 SBD 126
-41.88%
Cappuccino
$3.06 NZ$5.41
$2.85 SBD 22.95
7.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87 NZ$3.31
$1.26 SBD 10.13
48.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.36 NZ$2.41
$1.21 SBD 9.79
12.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.34 NZ$7.67
$2.47 SBD 19.88
75.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.51 NZ$9.75
$2.41 SBD 19.41
128.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hastings
Gizo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 NZ$2.50
$3.27 SBD 26.35
-56.88%
White Bread (500g)
$1.29 NZ$2.28
$1.39 SBD 11.19
-7.19%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.72 NZ$3.05
$1.40 SBD 11.30
22.86%
Eggs
$5.45 NZ$9.64
$7.24 SBD 58.4
-24.72%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.72 NZ$10.11
$8.47 SBD 68.3
-32.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.30 NZ$12.90
$6.20 SBD 50.0
17.74%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.45 NZ$20.26
$8.41 SBD 67.8
36.15%
Apples (1kg)
$2.66 NZ$4.71
$6.88 SBD 55.5
-61.34%
Banana (1kg)
$1.92 NZ$3.40
$6.34 SBD 51.1
-69.72%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.06 NZ$5.42
$6.06 SBD 48.84
-49.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.30 NZ$5.84
$3.02 SBD 24.32
9.27%
Potato (1kg)
$1.81 NZ$3.21
$3.07 SBD 24.74
-41.04%
Onion (1kg)
$1.05 NZ$1.85
$2.41 SBD 19.45
-56.43%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.45 NZ$2.56
$2.53 SBD 20.39
-42.69%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 NZ$1.60
$1.34 SBD 10.79
-32.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$17.62 NZ$31.16
$4.25 SBD 34.29
314.59%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.08 NZ$16.06
$12.36 SBD 99.6
-26.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.02 NZ$7.11
$1.83 SBD 14.77
119.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91 NZ$5.14
$2.19 SBD 17.66
32.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Hastings
Gizo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.71 NZ$4.79
$0.39 SBD 3.11
594.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$81.8 NZ$145
$31.36 SBD 253
160.81%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.65 NZ$6.46
$1.25 SBD 10.09
192.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.75 NZ$4.87
$2.43 SBD 19.56
13.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$33.32 NZ$58.9
$12.52 SBD 101
166.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.60 NZ$2.82
$1.75 SBD 14.10
-8.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.0K NZ$47.7K
$20.7K SBD 166.9K
30.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.7K NZ$40.1K
$21.9K SBD 176.9K
3.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hastings
Gizo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$190 NZ$335
$750 SBD 6,048
-74.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.05 NZ$63.8
$13.42 SBD 108
168.63%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.6 NZ$105
$123 SBD 989
-51.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hastings
Gizo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$27.98 NZ$49.48
$18.49 SBD 149
51.33%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.14 SBD 49.54
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.93 NZ$17.55
$4.20 SBD 33.87
136.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hastings
Gizo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$679 NZ$1,200
$126 SBD 1,014
439.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.0K NZ$38.9K
$1,242 SBD 10.0K
1669.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hastings
Gizo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.05 NZ$81.4
$25.29 SBD 204
82.09%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.74 NZ$66.7
$94.4 SBD 761
-60.00%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.8 NZ$168
$99.8 SBD 804
-5.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.8 NZ$161
$90.6 SBD 730
0.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hastings
Gizo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$806 NZ$1,426
$599 SBD 4,833
34.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$703 NZ$1,243
$580 SBD 4,678
21.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,519 NZ$2,687
$630 SBD 5,081
141.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,129 NZ$1,997
$1,217 SBD 9,809
-7.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,051 NZ$8,933
$85.9K SBD 692.3K
-94.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,061 NZ$5,414
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hastings
Gizo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,589 NZ$2,810
$389 SBD 3,140
308.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.83
16.33
-58.18%

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

Last update for Hastings: October 12, 2026

Last update for Gizo: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Hastings
$703
Gizo
$580 17.4% $122
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hastings
$285
Gizo
$886 211% $601
Groceries & Markets
Hastings
$266
Gizo
$353 32.9% $87
Eating Out
Hastings
$198
Gizo
$132 33.3% $66
Clothing & Footwear
Hastings
$121
Gizo
$139 15.1% $18
Getting Around
Hastings
$110
Gizo
$46 57.9% $64
Sport & Entertainment
Hastings
$48
Gizo
$27 43.8% $21

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $806 in Hastings and $599 in Gizo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Hastings pays 308% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $56.0 in Hastings vs $55.0 in Gizo. Groceries flip the comparison at $266 vs $353, with Hastings cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇳🇿 Hastings
🇸🇧 Gizo
🕒 Local time
16:48 4:48 PM
14:48 2:48 PM
2 h behind Hastings
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
50,100
7,177
Exchange rates and currency converter

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

New Zealand Dollar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 1.77 NZD (1 NZD = 0.565 USD). 1 EUR = 1.99 NZD (1 NZD = 0.503 EUR).

Solomon Islands Dollar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 8.06 SBD (1 SBD = 0.124 USD). 1 EUR = 9.06 SBD (1 SBD = 0.11 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Hastings Gizo 4,040 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Hastings
  • Gizo

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
Hastings vs Gizo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Hastings or Gizo?
Hastings wins on cost – living expenses run 25% lower than in Gizo. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Hastings the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Hastings or in Gizo?
Average pay runs 308% higher in Hastings, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Hastings compared to Gizo?
Rent for a central apartment: $806 in Hastings versus $599 in Gizo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Hastings or in Gizo?
Supermarket bills run roughly 33% higher in Gizo. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Hastings and in Gizo?
Dining out is cheaper in Hastings – a meal for two runs $56.0 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 Hastings or in Gizo?
At $1,731 in Hastings versus $2,164 in Gizo, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Hastings but tight or insufficient in Gizo. The gap between the two cities makes Hastings the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Hastings or Gizo?
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 Hastings compared to Gizo?
Safety-wise, Hastings and Gizo 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 Hastings gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% less than in Gizo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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