🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,745 in Kiribati versus $1,974 in Solomon Islands.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,746 in Kiribati versus $3,006 in Solomon Islands.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,746 in Kiribati versus $4,037 in Solomon Islands.
🌍Living in Kiribati costs about 12% less than in Solomon Islands on average.
📊Both countries sit above the global median: Kiribati 27% above, Solomon Islands 43% above.
📏Internal cost variation is higher in Kiribati: monthly costs span $1,745 to $1,745, compared to $1,756–$2,191 in Solomon Islands. City choice carries more weight in Kiribati.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kiribati
Solomon Islands
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.29KID 7.35
$6.15SBD 49.24
-13.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.68KID 39.86
$66.1SBD 530
-56.63%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.79KID 14.99
$12.64SBD 101
-14.64%
Cappuccino
$3.22KID 4.47
$3.34SBD 26.77
-3.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05KID 1.46
$1.43SBD 11.46
-26.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76KID 1.06
$1.13SBD 9.03
-32.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.92KID 5.45
$2.75SBD 22.03
42.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.34KID 8.81
$4.67SBD 37.39
35.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kiribati
Solomon Islands
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.33KID 3.24
$2.84SBD 22.77
-17.96%
White Bread(500g)
$2.11KID 2.93
$1.47SBD 11.74
43.54%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.54KID 2.15
$1.53SBD 12.29
0.65%
Eggs
$6.86KID 9.54
$5.88SBD 47.08
16.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.99KID 25.01
$7.19SBD 57.6
150.21%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.10KID 8.48
$8.19SBD 65.6
-25.52%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.39KID 28.34
$14.89SBD 119
36.94%
Apples(1kg)
$6.93KID 9.63
$6.84SBD 54.8
1.32%
Banana(1kg)
$3.69KID 5.13
$2.80SBD 22.44
31.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$6.42KID 8.92
$8.24SBD 66.0
-22.09%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.77KID 8.02
$3.66SBD 29.34
57.65%
Potato(1kg)
$4.95KID 6.88
$2.11SBD 16.90
134.60%
Onion(1kg)
$3.01KID 4.19
$3.29SBD 26.36
-8.51%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.32KID 4.61
$1.64SBD 13.17
102.44%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.36KID 0.50
$1.19SBD 9.55
-69.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.54KID 9.09
$4.47SBD 35.77
46.31%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.90KID 19.33
$12.27SBD 98.3
13.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79KID 2.49
$1.81SBD 14.47
-1.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.71KID 5.16
$3.29SBD 26.33
12.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Kiribati
Solomon Islands
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.84KID 2.56
$0.38SBD 3.05
384.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$78.9KID 110
$31.51SBD 252
150.36%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.11KID 2.93
$1.28SBD 10.27
64.84%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.92KID 2.66
$1.24SBD 9.91
54.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$12.52SBD 100
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.10KID 2.92
$1.42SBD 11.35
47.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.2KKID 40.5K
$19.8KSBD 158.8K
47.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.9KKID 34.6K
$28.0KSBD 223.9K
-10.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kiribati
Solomon Islands
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$320KID 445
$533SBD 4,267
-39.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$24.09SBD 193
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$3.55KID 4.94
$104SBD 833
-96.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kiribati
Solomon Islands
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$35.29KID 49.06
$28.04SBD 225
25.86%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.80KID 34.47
$9.27SBD 74.3
167.53%
Cinema Ticket
$4.59KID 6.38
$4.46SBD 35.71
2.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kiribati
Solomon Islands
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$280KID 389
$123SBD 986
127.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,756KID 8,001
$2,335SBD 18.7K
146.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kiribati
Solomon Islands
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.5KID 75.8
$27.16SBD 218
100.66%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.5KID 74.3
$94.4SBD 756
-43.33%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.0KID 120
$97.0SBD 777
-11.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$64.5KID 89.6
$100SBD 805
-35.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kiribati
Solomon Islands
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$851KID 1,183
$610SBD 4,883
39.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$605KID 841
$529SBD 4,234
14.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,529KID 2,126
$1,621SBD 13.0K
-5.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,396KID 1,940
$1,375SBD 11.0K
1.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,520KID 6,282
$87.4KSBD 700.2K
-94.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,396KID 4,720
$63.0KSBD 504.4K
-94.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kiribati
Solomon Islands
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$364KID 506
$465SBD 3,729
-21.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
15.83
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kiribati: September 7, 2026
Last update for Solomon Islands: September 5, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰National salary averages: $353 in Kiribati, $553 in Solomon Islands. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 16% higher in Kiribati.
⭐Dining out costs 84% more in Solomon Islands.
⭐Public transport is 179% more expensive in Kiribati.
⭐Salaries are 57% 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 $1,745 per month in Kiribati and $1,974 in Solomon Islands, there's a 13% 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.