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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,967 in Solomon Islands versus $365 in India.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,988 in Solomon Islands versus $579 in India.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,009 in Solomon Islands versus $792 in India.

Living in Solomon Islands is roughly 439% more expensive than in India on average.

Solomon Islands (43% above) and India (73% below) straddle the global median.

Solomon Islands ($1,718$2,216) and India ($231$827) have similar cost spreads. Where you settle within each country has roughly equal impact on the budget.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Solomon Islands
India
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.37 SBD 51.0
$2.06 ₹195
209.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8 SBD 518
$10.63 ₹1,004
509.78%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.36 SBD 98.9
$3.70 ₹350
234.05%
Cappuccino
$3.44 SBD 27.51
$1.74 ₹164
97.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.49 SBD 11.90
$0.37 ₹35.14
302.70%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13 SBD 9.03
$0.17 ₹16.26
564.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.82 SBD 22.58
$1.93 ₹182
46.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.76 SBD 38.10
$3.06 ₹289
55.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Solomon Islands
India
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.86 SBD 22.87
$0.62 ₹58.6
361.29%
White Bread (500g)
$1.48 SBD 11.82
$0.49 ₹46.45
202.04%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.60 SBD 12.81
$0.63 ₹59.8
153.97%
Eggs
$5.97 SBD 47.72
$0.94 ₹88.5
535.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.02 SBD 56.2
$4.67 ₹441
50.32%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.05 SBD 64.4
$2.88 ₹272
179.51%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.74 SBD 118
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$6.59 SBD 52.7
$1.91 ₹180
245.03%
Banana (1kg)
$2.70 SBD 21.63
$0.64 ₹60.6
321.88%
Oranges (1kg)
$8.38 SBD 67.0
$0.98 ₹92.8
755.10%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.71 SBD 29.68
$0.51 ₹47.90
627.45%
Potato (1kg)
$2.21 SBD 17.67
$0.34 ₹31.92
550.00%
Onion (1kg)
$3.41 SBD 27.25
$0.42 ₹39.68
711.90%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.63 SBD 13.04
$0.48 ₹45.44
239.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.21 SBD 9.65
$0.29 ₹27.27
317.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.33 SBD 34.62
$4.91 ₹464
-11.81%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.27 SBD 98.1
$7.27 ₹687
68.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 SBD 13.98
$1.65 ₹156
6.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.22 SBD 25.72
$2.66 ₹251
21.05%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$5.22 ₹493
-
🚌 Getting Around
Solomon Islands
India
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 SBD 2.85
$0.27 ₹25.67
33.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$31.83 SBD 255
$8.45 ₹798
276.69%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.22 SBD 9.76
$0.96 ₹90.9
27.08%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.26 SBD 10.08
$0.27 ₹25.74
366.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$12.56 SBD 100
$1.60 ₹151
685.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.43 SBD 11.42
$1.12 ₹106
27.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.1K SBD 160.5K
$12.7K ₹1.2M
57.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.2K SBD 225.6K
$20.4K ₹1.9M
38.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Solomon Islands
India
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$551 SBD 4,408
$37.48 ₹3,541
1370.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.42 SBD 195
$3.50 ₹331
597.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$102 SBD 817
$7.16 ₹676
1325.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Solomon Islands
India
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$27.59 SBD 221
$14.79 ₹1,398
86.54%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.31 SBD 74.5
$7.08 ₹669
31.50%
Cinema Ticket
$4.31 SBD 34.46
$3.06 ₹289
40.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Solomon Islands
India
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$123 SBD 987
$57.0 ₹5,381
116.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,325 SBD 18.6K
$1,679 ₹158.6K
38.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Solomon Islands
India
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.51 SBD 212
$22.56 ₹2,131
17.51%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$94.6 SBD 756
$24.04 ₹2,271
293.39%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.4 SBD 795
$40.60 ₹3,836
144.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101 SBD 808
$30.39 ₹2,871
232.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Solomon Islands
India
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$599 SBD 4,793
$145 ₹13.7K
313.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$522 SBD 4,173
$91.4 ₹8,630
471.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,603 SBD 12.8K
$335 ₹31.6K
379.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,349 SBD 10.8K
$209 ₹19.8K
545.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$87.7K SBD 701.8K
$1,233 ₹116.5K
7015.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$61.5K SBD 491.6K
$626 ₹59.1K
9724.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Solomon Islands
India
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$475 SBD 3,801
$443 ₹41.9K
7.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
15.83
8.94
77.07%

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

Last update for Solomon Islands: August 30, 2026

Last update for India: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $751 in Solomon Islands, $120 in India. Capital cities: $902 in Honiara vs $272 in Delhi.

National salary averages: $558 in Solomon Islands, $408 in India. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 526% higher in Solomon Islands.

Dining out costs 500% more in Solomon Islands.

Public transport is 300% 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
Solomon Islands vs India: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between India and Solomon Islands?
At $529 per month in India and $1,967 in Solomon Islands, there's a 272% 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.

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