Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Honiara and Bali

For one person, living is cheaper in Bali: $1,224 a month against $1,742 in Honiara, rent and utilities included – about $6,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Honiara
🇸🇧 Solomon Islands
$1,742
/mo nomad
Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,224
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Honiara and in Bali

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

A single person spends $1,742 per month in Honiara vs $1,224 in Bali, rent included.

  • Honiara $1,742
  • Bali $1,224

A couple spends around $2,873 per month in Honiara vs $2,064 in Bali, rent included.

  • Honiara $2,873
  • Bali $2,064

A family of three spends $4,004 per month in Honiara vs $2,904 in Bali, rent included.

  • Honiara $4,004
  • Bali $2,904

Honiara costs about 42% more than Bali, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Honiara sits 30% above the global median, while Bali is 9% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Honiara
Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.66 SBD 53.8
$2.74 Rp 49.0K
143.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.8 SBD 507
$29.64 Rp 529.8K
111.81%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.53 SBD 101
$4.74 Rp 84.7K
164.35%
Cappuccino
$3.48 SBD 28.14
$2.22 Rp 39.7K
56.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60 SBD 12.89
$1.37 Rp 24.5K
16.79%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 SBD 8.49
$0.66 Rp 11.8K
59.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.42 SBD 19.58
$2.21 Rp 39.4K
9.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.70 SBD 46.04
$3.62 Rp 64.7K
57.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Honiara
Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.57 SBD 20.75
$1.44 Rp 25.8K
78.47%
White Bread (500g)
$1.49 SBD 12.00
$2.17 Rp 38.7K
-31.34%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.64 SBD 13.28
$1.12 Rp 20.0K
46.43%
Eggs
$5.48 SBD 44.27
$1.97 Rp 35.2K
178.17%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.61 SBD 53.4
$16.41 Rp 293.2K
-59.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.34 SBD 67.4
$3.63 Rp 65.0K
129.75%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.18 SBD 123
$11.53 Rp 206.2K
31.66%
Apples (1kg)
$6.39 SBD 51.6
$3.37 Rp 60.2K
89.61%
Banana (1kg)
$2.70 SBD 21.83
$1.46 Rp 26.0K
84.93%
Oranges (1kg)
$8.70 SBD 70.2
$2.15 Rp 38.4K
304.65%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.67 SBD 29.62
$1.90 Rp 34.0K
93.16%
Potato (1kg)
$1.99 SBD 16.09
$1.80 Rp 32.2K
10.56%
Onion (1kg)
$3.47 SBD 28.01
$2.24 Rp 40.0K
54.91%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.40 SBD 11.30
$0.94 Rp 16.8K
48.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.03 SBD 8.36
$0.48 Rp 8,577
114.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26 SBD 34.39
$2.14 Rp 38.2K
99.07%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.37 SBD 83.7
$21.94 Rp 392.2K
-52.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 SBD 13.67
$2.26 Rp 40.4K
-25.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.47 SBD 28.00
$2.77 Rp 49.6K
25.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Honiara
Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.39 SBD 3.12
$0.26 Rp 4,661
50.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$25.14 SBD 203
$8.08 Rp 144.4K
211.14%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.27 SBD 10.28
$0.44 Rp 7,853
188.64%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.20 SBD 9.72
$0.42 Rp 7,491
185.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$12.60 SBD 102
$5.66 Rp 101.1K
122.61%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 SBD 10.92
$0.90 Rp 16.0K
50.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7K SBD 151.1K
$24.2K Rp 433.4M
-22.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.1K SBD 275.7K
$31.5K Rp 563.1M
8.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Honiara
Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$429 SBD 3,464
$80.1 Rp 1.4M
435.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.02 SBD 218
$6.63 Rp 118.5K
307.54%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$89.0 SBD 719
$18.33 Rp 327.6K
385.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Honiara
Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.76 SBD 297
$45.56 Rp 814.4K
-19.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.94 SBD 72.2
$15.24 Rp 272.4K
-41.34%
Cinema Ticket
$4.41 SBD 35.65
$3.71 Rp 66.4K
18.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Honiara
Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$100 SBD 811
$442 Rp 7.9M
-77.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,898 SBD 23.4K
$5,246 Rp 93.8M
-44.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Honiara
Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.71 SBD 224
$44.18 Rp 789.6K
-37.28%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$93.5 SBD 755
$34.13 Rp 610.1K
173.98%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.9 SBD 774
$77.2 Rp 1.4M
24.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 SBD 829
$75.0 Rp 1.3M
37.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Honiara
Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$870 SBD 7,024
$994 Rp 17.8M
-12.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$434 SBD 3,507
$588 Rp 10.5M
-26.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,851 SBD 14.9K
$3,084 Rp 55.1M
-40.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,398 SBD 11.3K
$1,496 Rp 26.7M
-6.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$86.4K SBD 698.0K
$2,383 Rp 42.6M
3528.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$62.1K SBD 501.2K
$2,015 Rp 36.0M
2979.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Honiara
Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$444 SBD 3,583
$223 Rp 4.0M
98.95%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
15.67
13.78
13.72%

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

Last update for Honiara: October 3, 2026

Last update for Bali: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Honiara
$545
Bali
$105 80.7% $440
Accommodation & Living
Honiara
$434
Bali
$588 35.5% $154
Groceries & Markets
Honiara
$345
Bali
$274 20.4% $70
Eating Out
Honiara
$167
Bali
$89 46.5% $78
Clothing & Footwear
Honiara
$144
Bali
$104 27.9% $40
Sport & Entertainment
Honiara
$46
Bali
$53 16.2% $7.4
Getting Around
Honiara
$34
Bali
$12 65.7% $22

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $870 in Honiara versus $994 in Bali. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 99% higher in Honiara, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $63.0 in Honiara versus $30.00 in Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $345 vs $274 – making Bali the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇸🇧 Honiara
🇮🇩 Bali
🕒 Local time
18:31 6:31 PM
15:31 3:31 PM
3 h behind Honiara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
54,600 Capital
Exchange rates and currency converter

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

Solomon Islands Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 8.08 SBD (1 SBD = 0.124 USD). 1 EUR = 9.06 SBD (1 SBD = 0.11 EUR).

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 17,875 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.59 USD). 1 EUR = 20,048 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.99 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Honiara Bali 4,910 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Honiara
  • Bali

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
Honiara vs Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Honiara or Bali?
Honiara costs about 42% more than Bali, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from utilities. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Honiara and in Bali?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,614 per month in Honiara and $1,836 in Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Honiara or Bali?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Bali, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Honiara and in Bali?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $63.0 in Honiara and $30.00 in Bali. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Honiara compared to Bali?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,742 in Honiara and $1,224 in Bali. That's a gap of about 42%.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Honiara or in Bali?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,224, than in Honiara at $1,742. In Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Honiara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Honiara or Bali?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bali costs $1,224 versus $1,742 in Honiara. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Honiara compared to Bali?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Honiara or to Bali?
If budget matters most, go with Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Honiara makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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