🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,575 in Kiribati versus $2,117 in Solomon Islands.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,472 in Kiribati versus $2,846 in Solomon Islands.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,369 in Kiribati versus $3,574 in Solomon Islands.
🙂Living in Kiribati costs about 26% less than in Solomon Islands on average.
📊Both countries sit above the global median: Kiribati18% above, Solomon Islands58% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kiribati
Solomon Islands
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.09KID 7.13
$4.45SBD 35.74
14.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.49KID 37.09
$54.3SBD 435
-51.17%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.73KID 13.62
$12.00SBD 96.3
-18.92%
Cappuccino
$3.00KID 4.20
$3.02SBD 24.23
-0.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.99KID 1.39
$1.51SBD 12.15
-34.44%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69KID 0.97
$1.17SBD 9.38
-41.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.43KID 4.80
$2.46SBD 19.77
39.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.97KID 8.36
$3.24SBD 26.00
84.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kiribati
Solomon Islands
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.12KID 2.96
$2.63SBD 21.13
-19.39%
White Bread(500g)
$1.90KID 2.66
$1.47SBD 11.76
29.25%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.41KID 1.97
$1.43SBD 11.49
-1.40%
Eggs
$6.37KID 8.91
$5.43SBD 43.55
17.31%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.14KID 22.59
$5.86SBD 47.03
175.43%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.50KID 7.71
$8.30SBD 66.6
-33.73%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.16KID 25.43
$14.33SBD 115
26.73%
Apples(1kg)
$6.34KID 8.88
$8.29SBD 66.5
-23.52%
Banana(1kg)
$3.16KID 4.42
$2.65SBD 21.23
19.25%
Oranges(1kg)
$6.32KID 8.84
$7.34SBD 58.9
-13.90%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.88KID 8.23
$3.23SBD 25.95
82.04%
Potato(1kg)
$4.36KID 6.10
$2.31SBD 18.53
88.74%
Onion(1kg)
$3.04KID 4.25
$3.14SBD 25.18
-3.18%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.34KID 4.67
$1.47SBD 11.76
127.21%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.36KID 0.51
$1.14SBD 9.15
-68.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.81KID 8.13
$3.96SBD 31.79
46.72%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.34KID 18.68
$12.63SBD 101
5.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.64KID 2.30
$1.85SBD 14.85
-11.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20KID 4.47
$2.92SBD 23.41
9.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Kiribati
Solomon Islands
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.59KID 2.22
$0.34SBD 2.75
367.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$71.1KID 99.6
$29.78SBD 239
138.85%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.00KID 2.81
$1.19SBD 9.55
68.07%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.93KID 2.70
$1.22SBD 9.80
58.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$11.92SBD 95.6
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.92KID 2.69
$1.39SBD 11.17
38.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.8KKID 36.2K
$19.8KSBD 158.6K
30.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.8KKID 31.9K
$21.3KSBD 170.7K
7.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kiribati
Solomon Islands
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$296KID 414
$728SBD 5,838
-59.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$23.37SBD 188
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$3.28KID 4.59
$97.2SBD 780
-96.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kiribati
Solomon Islands
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$34.65KID 48.52
$18.03SBD 145
92.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.44KID 35.61
$5.88SBD 47.15
332.65%
Cinema Ticket
$4.48KID 6.27
$4.30SBD 34.52
4.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kiribati
Solomon Islands
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$250KID 350
$119SBD 958
109.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,664KID 7,930
$2,249SBD 18.0K
151.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kiribati
Solomon Islands
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.80KID 68.3
$24.41SBD 196
99.92%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.05KID 68.7
$89.1SBD 715
-44.96%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.5KID 110
$96.2SBD 772
-18.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$57.5KID 80.4
$90.0SBD 722
-36.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kiribati
Solomon Islands
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$790KID 1,106
$523SBD 4,193
51.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$552KID 772
$474SBD 3,802
16.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,355KID 1,897
$1,106SBD 8,875
22.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,253KID 1,755
$910SBD 7,305
37.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,578KID 6,409
$86.7KSBD 695.6K
-94.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,471KID 4,859
$61.6KSBD 494.0K
-94.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kiribati
Solomon Islands
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$353KID 494
$472SBD 3,790
-25.29%
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: June 1, 2026
Last update for Solomon Islands: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰National salary averages: $364 in Kiribati, $545 in Solomon Islands. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 38% higher in Kiribati.
⭐Dining out costs 83% more in Solomon Islands.
⭐Public transport is 159% more expensive in Kiribati.
⭐Salaries are 50% 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 $1,575 per month in Kiribati and $2,118 in Solomon Islands, there's a 34% 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?
Kiribati is simply cheaper day-to-day: 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 beats 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 $2,000 go in Kiribati vs Solomon Islands?
In Kiribati, $2,000 covers most cities easily. In Solomon Islands, it works in regional areas but 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 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.