Cost of Living Comparison Between India and Solomon Islands Cost of Living Comparison Between India and Solomon Islands

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $388 in India versus $2,088 in Solomon Islands.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $618 in India versus $2,837 in Solomon Islands.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $847 in India versus $3,585 in Solomon Islands.

Living in India costs about 81% less than in Solomon Islands on average.

India (71% below) and Solomon Islands (57% above) straddle the global median.

Internal cost variation is higher in India: monthly costs span $273 to $887, compared to $2,081$2,095 in Solomon Islands. City choice carries more weight in India.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
India
Solomon Islands
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.51 ₹237
$4.61 SBD 37.14
-45.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.92 ₹1,313
$53.1 SBD 428
-73.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.12 ₹388
$11.88 SBD 95.8
-65.32%
Cappuccino
$1.83 ₹173
$3.05 SBD 24.55
-40.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40 ₹37.95
$1.51 SBD 12.18
-73.51%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.17 ₹15.88
$1.18 SBD 9.48
-85.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.04 ₹192
$2.35 SBD 18.95
-13.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40 ₹321
$3.20 SBD 25.81
6.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
India
Solomon Islands
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.72 ₹67.9
$2.76 SBD 22.25
-73.91%
White Bread (500g)
$0.52 ₹49.09
$1.44 SBD 11.63
-63.89%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.67 ₹62.9
$1.46 SBD 11.76
-54.11%
Eggs
$1.00 ₹94.6
$5.47 SBD 44.04
-81.72%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.23 ₹493
$5.83 SBD 46.98
-10.29%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.20 ₹302
$7.91 SBD 63.8
-59.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$13.90 SBD 112
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.21 ₹208
$8.72 SBD 70.2
-74.66%
Banana (1kg)
$0.75 ₹71.1
$2.62 SBD 21.14
-71.37%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.09 ₹103
$7.44 SBD 60.0
-85.35%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.53 ₹50.3
$3.17 SBD 25.57
-83.28%
Potato (1kg)
$0.43 ₹40.18
$2.25 SBD 18.15
-80.89%
Onion (1kg)
$0.49 ₹46.08
$3.30 SBD 26.59
-85.15%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.50 ₹47.61
$1.47 SBD 11.84
-65.99%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.35 ₹33.39
$1.09 SBD 8.79
-67.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.01 ₹378
$4.18 SBD 33.66
-4.07%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.34 ₹693
$12.24 SBD 98.7
-40.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.90 ₹179
$1.81 SBD 14.61
4.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01 ₹284
$3.05 SBD 24.55
-1.31%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
$5.72 ₹539
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
India
Solomon Islands
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 ₹31.93
$0.37 SBD 2.99
-8.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.72 ₹917
$30.45 SBD 245
-68.08%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.94 ₹89.1
$1.22 SBD 9.80
-22.95%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.28 ₹26.14
$1.17 SBD 9.46
-76.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.76 ₹166
$11.79 SBD 95.0
-85.07%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.22 ₹115
$1.37 SBD 11.04
-10.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$14.0K ₹1.3M
$20.1K SBD 161.6K
-30.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.3K ₹2.1M
$21.3K SBD 171.6K
4.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
India
Solomon Islands
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$41.00 ₹3,868
$712 SBD 5,742
-94.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.87 ₹365
$22.81 SBD 184
-83.03%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.87 ₹742
$98.6 SBD 794
-92.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
India
Solomon Islands
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$16.43 ₹1,550
$17.70 SBD 143
-7.18%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.77 ₹733
$5.84 SBD 47.08
33.05%
Cinema Ticket
$3.58 ₹338
$4.15 SBD 33.43
-13.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
India
Solomon Islands
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$69.5 ₹6,558
$118 SBD 952
-41.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,794 ₹169.2K
$2,266 SBD 18.3K
-20.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
India
Solomon Islands
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.97 ₹2,355
$24.67 SBD 199
1.22%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.18 ₹2,469
$91.1 SBD 734
-71.27%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$45.36 ₹4,278
$96.1 SBD 775
-52.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$32.60 ₹3,075
$88.1 SBD 710
-62.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
India
Solomon Islands
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$179 ₹16.9K
$523 SBD 4,218
-65.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$115 ₹10.8K
$470 SBD 3,784
-75.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$405 ₹38.2K
$1,106 SBD 8,914
-63.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$261 ₹24.6K
$927 SBD 7,473
-71.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,254 ₹118.3K
$87.9K SBD 708.5K
-98.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$635 ₹59.9K
$62.8K SBD 506.1K
-98.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
India
Solomon Islands
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$433 ₹40.8K
$465 SBD 3,747
-6.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.02
16.33
-44.76%

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

Last update for India: June 14, 2026

Last update for Solomon Islands: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $127 in India, $563 in Solomon Islands. Capital cities: $242 in Delhi vs $539 in Honiara.

National salary averages: $402 in India, $549 in Solomon Islands. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 343% higher in Solomon Islands.

Dining out costs 373% more in Solomon Islands.

Public transport is 200% more expensive in Solomon Islands.

Salaries are 37% higher in Solomon Islands, and purchasing power comes out stronger in India.

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
India vs Solomon Islands: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between India and Solomon Islands?
At $580 per month in India and $2,088 in Solomon Islands, there's a 260% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Day-to-day life is simply cheaper in India: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Rent in Solomon Islands is consistently higher than in India across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget in India or in Solomon Islands?
In India, $1,000 covers most cities easily; in Solomon Islands it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to India or to Solomon Islands?
It depends on what you're after: India wins on affordability; Solomon Islands may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

India vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar countries