🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,612 in Kiribati versus $2,129 in Solomon Islands.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,500 in Kiribati versus $2,857 in Solomon Islands.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,387 in Kiribati versus $3,585 in Solomon Islands.
🌍Living in Kiribati costs about 24% less than in Solomon Islands on average.
📊Both countries sit above the global median: Kiribati 21% above, Solomon Islands 59% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kiribati
Solomon Islands
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.99KID 7.13
$4.59SBD 37.03
8.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.87KID 36.99
$53.7SBD 433
-51.83%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.53KID 13.63
$11.84SBD 95.6
-19.51%
Cappuccino
$2.95KID 4.21
$3.04SBD 24.52
-2.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97KID 1.39
$1.46SBD 11.77
-33.56%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70KID 0.99
$1.18SBD 9.52
-40.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.53KID 5.05
$2.35SBD 18.93
50.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.90KID 8.43
$3.28SBD 26.46
79.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kiribati
Solomon Islands
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.18KID 3.12
$2.68SBD 21.65
-18.66%
White Bread(500g)
$1.85KID 2.64
$1.47SBD 11.85
25.85%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.34KID 1.92
$1.44SBD 11.59
-6.94%
Eggs
$6.34KID 9.06
$5.64SBD 45.52
12.41%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.29KID 23.30
$5.79SBD 46.69
181.35%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.64KID 8.06
$8.16SBD 65.8
-30.88%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.86KID 25.53
$13.84SBD 112
29.05%
Apples(1kg)
$6.16KID 8.81
$8.55SBD 69.0
-27.95%
Banana(1kg)
$3.32KID 4.75
$2.66SBD 21.45
24.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$6.34KID 9.06
$7.52SBD 60.7
-15.69%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.88KID 8.40
$3.15SBD 25.45
86.67%
Potato(1kg)
$4.51KID 6.44
$2.25SBD 18.13
100.44%
Onion(1kg)
$2.99KID 4.28
$3.13SBD 25.25
-4.47%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.46KID 4.95
$1.46SBD 11.80
136.99%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.37KID 0.52
$1.09SBD 8.79
-66.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.68KID 8.12
$4.01SBD 32.35
41.65%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.18KID 18.84
$12.62SBD 102
4.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67KID 2.39
$1.88SBD 15.20
-11.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.19KID 4.57
$2.92SBD 23.60
9.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Kiribati
Solomon Islands
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.60KID 2.29
$0.35SBD 2.82
357.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$69.4KID 99.3
$30.46SBD 246
127.84%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.96KID 2.81
$1.22SBD 9.85
60.66%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.85KID 2.64
$1.16SBD 9.35
59.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$11.84SBD 95.5
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.91KID 2.72
$1.37SBD 11.05
39.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.1KKID 37.4K
$20.4KSBD 165.0K
27.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1KKID 33.0K
$21.1KSBD 170.4K
9.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kiribati
Solomon Islands
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$289KID 413
$732SBD 5,903
-60.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$23.24SBD 188
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$3.20KID 4.58
$99.1SBD 799
-96.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kiribati
Solomon Islands
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$34.58KID 49.45
$17.98SBD 145
92.32%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.62KID 35.21
$6.09SBD 49.13
304.27%
Cinema Ticket
$4.66KID 6.66
$4.16SBD 33.59
12.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kiribati
Solomon Islands
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$252KID 360
$118SBD 949
114.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,779KID 8,264
$2,218SBD 17.9K
160.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kiribati
Solomon Islands
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.75KID 71.2
$24.46SBD 197
103.39%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.94KID 70.0
$89.1SBD 718
-45.04%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.6KID 111
$95.8SBD 773
-19.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$57.6KID 82.4
$89.6SBD 723
-35.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kiribati
Solomon Islands
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$770KID 1,100
$517SBD 4,170
48.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$546KID 781
$473SBD 3,820
15.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,377KID 1,969
$1,122SBD 9,050
22.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,237KID 1,770
$918SBD 7,406
34.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,582KID 6,552
$88.4KSBD 713.6K
-94.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,441KID 4,921
$61.2KSBD 494.1K
-94.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kiribati
Solomon Islands
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$350KID 501
$468SBD 3,775
-25.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
16.33
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kiribati: July 13, 2026
Last update for Solomon Islands: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰National salary averages: $344 in Kiribati, $546 in Solomon Islands. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 41% higher in Kiribati.
⭐Dining out costs 77% more in Solomon Islands.
⭐Public transport is 159% more expensive in Kiribati.
⭐Salaries are 59% higher in Solomon Islands.
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
Kiribati vs Solomon Islands: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is more expensive to live in: Kiribati or Solomon Islands?
At $1,612 per month in Kiribati and $2,129 in Solomon Islands, there's a 32% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Where are groceries and transport cheaper: Kiribati or Solomon Islands?
Day-to-day life is simply cheaper in Kiribati: 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.
How do rents compare between Kiribati and Solomon Islands?
Rent in Solomon Islands is consistently higher than in Kiribati across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
How far does $3,000 go in Kiribati compared to Solomon Islands?
In Kiribati, $3,000 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.
How do I choose between living in Kiribati and in Solomon Islands?
It depends on what you're after: Kiribati wins on affordability; Solomon Islands may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.