Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Honiara and Fiji

For one person, living is cheaper in Fiji: $709 a month against $1,742 in Honiara, rent and utilities included – about $12,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Honiara
🇸🇧 Solomon Islands
$1,742
/mo nomad
Fiji
🇫🇯 Fiji
$709
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Honiara and in Fiji

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 Fiji actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,742 in Honiara versus $709 in Fiji.

  • Honiara $1,742
  • Fiji $709

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,873 in Honiara versus $1,144 in Fiji.

  • Honiara $2,873
  • Fiji $1,144

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,004 in Honiara versus $1,578 in Fiji.

  • Honiara $4,004
  • Fiji $1,578

Living in Honiara is roughly 146% more expensive than in Fiji, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Honiara is 30% above, Fiji is 47% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Honiara
Fiji
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.66 SBD 53.8
$4.32 FJD 9.67
54.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.8 SBD 507
$31.65 FJD 70.9
98.36%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.53 SBD 101
$6.54 FJD 14.64
91.59%
Cappuccino
$3.48 SBD 28.15
$2.50 FJD 5.59
39.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60 SBD 12.90
$1.35 FJD 3.01
18.52%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 SBD 8.49
$1.05 FJD 2.34
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.42 SBD 19.59
$4.08 FJD 9.14
-40.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.70 SBD 46.05
$4.04 FJD 9.05
41.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Honiara
Fiji
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.57 SBD 20.76
$1.25 FJD 2.80
105.60%
White Bread (500g)
$1.49 SBD 12.00
$0.26 FJD 0.59
473.08%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.64 SBD 13.29
$0.85 FJD 1.90
92.94%
Eggs
$5.48 SBD 44.29
$3.08 FJD 6.90
77.92%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.61 SBD 53.4
$10.64 FJD 23.82
-37.88%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.34 SBD 67.4
$5.30 FJD 11.87
57.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.18 SBD 123
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$6.39 SBD 51.7
$1.30 FJD 2.92
391.54%
Banana (1kg)
$2.70 SBD 21.84
$0.86 FJD 1.94
213.95%
Oranges (1kg)
$8.70 SBD 70.3
$1.83 FJD 4.10
375.41%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.67 SBD 29.63
$1.31 FJD 2.93
180.15%
Potato (1kg)
$1.99 SBD 16.10
$0.70 FJD 1.56
184.29%
Onion (1kg)
$3.47 SBD 28.03
$0.74 FJD 1.65
368.92%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.40 SBD 11.31
$0.88 FJD 1.96
59.09%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.03 SBD 8.36
$0.52 FJD 1.16
98.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26 SBD 34.40
$10.95 FJD 24.51
-61.10%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.37 SBD 83.7
$6.19 FJD 13.86
67.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 SBD 13.67
$3.97 FJD 8.89
-57.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.47 SBD 28.02
$4.12 FJD 9.22
-15.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Honiara
Fiji
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.39 SBD 3.12
$0.93 FJD 2.07
-58.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$25.14 SBD 203
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.27 SBD 10.28
$1.12 FJD 2.52
13.39%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.20 SBD 9.72
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$12.60 SBD 102
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 SBD 10.92
$1.25 FJD 2.81
8.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7K SBD 151.1K
$46.1K FJD 103.2K
-59.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.1K SBD 275.9K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Honiara
Fiji
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$429 SBD 3,466
$53.5 FJD 120
702.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.02 SBD 218
$13.37 FJD 29.94
102.09%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$89.0 SBD 719
$17.80 FJD 39.86
400.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Honiara
Fiji
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.76 SBD 297
$21.89 FJD 49.01
67.93%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.94 SBD 72.2
$4.42 FJD 9.89
102.26%
Cinema Ticket
$4.41 SBD 35.66
$4.10 FJD 9.18
7.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Honiara
Fiji
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$100 SBD 811
$44.79 FJD 100
124.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,898 SBD 23.4K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Honiara
Fiji
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.71 SBD 224
$19.42 FJD 43.48
42.69%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$93.5 SBD 755
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.9 SBD 774
$30.25 FJD 67.7
216.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 SBD 830
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Honiara
Fiji
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$870 SBD 7,027
$680 FJD 1,523
27.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$434 SBD 3,508
$270 FJD 604
60.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,851 SBD 14.9K
$1,095 FJD 2,452
68.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,398 SBD 11.3K
$610 FJD 1,366
129.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$86.4K SBD 698.3K
$1,289 FJD 2,886
6606.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$62.1K SBD 501.4K
$1,293 FJD 2,896
4698.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Honiara
Fiji
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$444 SBD 3,585
$538 FJD 1,205
-17.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
15.67
6
161.17%

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

Last update for Honiara: October 3, 2026

Last update for Fiji: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Honiara
$545
Fiji
$85 84.5% $460
Accommodation & Living
Honiara
$434
Fiji
$270 37.8% $164
Groceries & Markets
Honiara
$345
Fiji
$169 * 51.1% $176
Eating Out
Honiara
$167
Fiji
$122 26.7% $45
Clothing & Footwear
Honiara
$144
Fiji
$22 * 84.5% $122
Sport & Entertainment
Honiara
$46
Fiji
$30 34% $16
Getting Around
Honiara
$34
Fiji
$4.8 * 85.8% $29

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $870 in Honiara and $680 in Fiji. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Fiji pays 21% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $63.0 in Honiara vs $32.00 in Fiji for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $345 vs $169 per month, with Fiji cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇸🇧 Honiara
🇫🇯 Fiji
🕒 Local time
17:02 5:02 PM
18:02 6:02 PM
1 h ahead of Honiara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
54,600 Capital
92,043
Exchange rates and currency converter

FJD, 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).

Fijian Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 2.24 FJD (1 FJD = 0.447 USD). 1 EUR = 2.51 FJD (1 FJD = 0.398 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Honiara Fiji 2,220 km ≈ 3 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Honiara
  • Fiji

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 Fiji: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fiji cheaper than Honiara?
Fiji is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 146% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Honiara or Fiji?
On paper, salaries run 21% lower in Fiji. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Honiara and Fiji?
Rent for a central apartment: $870 in Honiara versus $680 in Fiji. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Honiara and in Fiji?
Supermarket bills run roughly 104% higher in Honiara. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Honiara and in Fiji?
All in, you'll spend $1,742 per month in Honiara versus $709 in Fiji – a 146% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Honiara or in Fiji?
At $709 in Fiji versus $1,742 in Honiara, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Fiji but tight or insufficient in Honiara. The gap between the two cities makes Fiji the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Honiara or in Fiji?
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.
Which city is safer, Honiara or Fiji?
Safety-wise, Honiara and Fiji 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Fiji gentler on the wallet – expenses run 146% less than in Honiara. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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