For one person, living is cheaper in India: $395 a month against $1,908 in the Solomon Islands, rent and utilities included – about $18,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
How much you'll spend in the Solomon Islands and in India
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in the Solomon Islands and in India actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,908 in the Solomon Islands versus $395 in India.
Solomon Islands $1,908
India $395
Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,956 in the Solomon Islands versus $628 in India.
Solomon Islands $2,956
India $628
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,005 in the Solomon Islands versus $861 in India.
Solomon Islands $4,005
India $861
📏
The Solomon Islands ($1,713–$2,179) and India ($229–$828) have similar cost spreads. Where you settle within each country has roughly equal impact on the budget.
🌍
Living in the Solomon Islands is roughly 382% more expensive than in India on average.
📊
The Solomon Islands (41% above) and India (71% below) straddle the global median.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Solomon Islands
India
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.03SBD 48.64
$2.14₹203
181.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$65.0SBD 524
$10.57₹1,004
515.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.20SBD 98.3
$3.77₹358
223.61%
Cappuccino
$3.26SBD 26.25
$1.76₹167
85.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43SBD 11.55
$0.42₹39.67
240.48%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15SBD 9.29
$0.14₹13.45
721.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.72SBD 21.97
$1.95₹186
39.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.77SBD 38.46
$3.11₹295
53.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Solomon Islands
India
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.83SBD 22.81
$0.63₹59.6
349.21%
White Bread(500g)
$1.53SBD 12.34
$0.46₹43.45
232.61%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.62SBD 13.02
$0.68₹64.3
138.24%
Eggs
$5.62SBD 45.29
$0.93₹88.4
504.30%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.00SBD 56.5
$4.83₹458
44.93%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.84SBD 63.2
$2.91₹276
169.42%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.39SBD 116
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$6.57SBD 53.0
$2.00₹190
228.50%
Banana(1kg)
$2.68SBD 21.60
$0.63₹59.6
325.40%
Oranges(1kg)
$7.87SBD 63.5
$0.98₹92.8
703.06%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.67SBD 29.55
$0.51₹48.04
619.61%
Potato(1kg)
$2.19SBD 17.65
$0.36₹34.28
508.33%
Onion(1kg)
$3.26SBD 26.32
$0.39₹36.72
735.90%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.64SBD 13.19
$0.43₹41.31
281.40%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20SBD 9.67
$0.29₹27.53
313.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.24SBD 34.16
$5.14₹488
-17.51%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.45SBD 100
$7.33₹696
69.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79SBD 14.42
$1.65₹157
8.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.36SBD 27.05
$2.73₹259
23.08%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$5.08₹483
-
🚌 Getting Around
Solomon Islands
India
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36SBD 2.90
$0.25₹23.70
44.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$31.35SBD 253
$8.49₹806
269.26%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.27SBD 10.28
$1.03₹97.9
23.30%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.21SBD 9.77
$0.25₹23.69
384.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$12.32SBD 99.3
$1.61₹153
665.22%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37SBD 11.04
$1.07₹101
28.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.8KSBD 159.4K
$11.3K₹1.1M
74.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.1KSBD 226.9K
$20.1K₹1.9M
39.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Solomon Islands
India
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$540SBD 4,353
$37.73₹3,583
1331.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.55SBD 190
$3.58₹340
557.82%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$99.8SBD 805
$6.89₹655
1348.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Solomon Islands
India
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$27.42SBD 221
$14.63₹1,390
87.42%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.84SBD 71.3
$7.25₹688
21.93%
Cinema Ticket
$4.31SBD 34.74
$3.17₹301
35.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Solomon Islands
India
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$126SBD 1,018
$56.5₹5,369
123.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,349SBD 18.9K
$1,646₹156.3K
42.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Solomon Islands
India
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.89SBD 217
$22.73₹2,158
18.30%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$94.3SBD 761
$24.04₹2,283
292.39%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.4SBD 777
$41.04₹3,898
134.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$100SBD 809
$30.60₹2,906
227.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Solomon Islands
India
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$597SBD 4,816
$144₹13.6K
315.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$519SBD 4,182
$91.5₹8,691
466.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,608SBD 13.0K
$324₹30.8K
395.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,379SBD 11.1K
$214₹20.3K
545.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$86.7KSBD 698.7K
$1,200₹114.0K
7120.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$61.7KSBD 497.6K
$619₹58.8K
9873.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Solomon Islands
India
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$471SBD 3,800
$440₹41.8K
7.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
17.78
8.92
99.33%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for the Solomon Islands: October 17, 2026
Last update for India: October 19, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Solomon Islands
$663 34.8%
India
$48 12.2% ↓ 92.7%$615
🏠Accommodation & Living
Solomon Islands
$519 27.2%
India
$92 23.1% ↓ 82.4%$427
🛒Groceries & Markets
Solomon Islands
$349 18.3%
India
$102 25.8% ↓ 70.8%$247
🍽Eating Out
Solomon Islands
$157 8.3%
India
$68 17.1% ↓ 57%$90
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Solomon Islands
$143 7.5%
India
$53 13.5% ↓ 62.7%$90
🚌Getting Around
Solomon Islands
$40 2.1%
India
$12 3% ↓ 70.7%$28
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Solomon Islands
$36 1.9%
India
$21 5.3% ↓ 41.8%$15
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Solomon Islands
$687 17.2%
India
$52 6% ↓ 92.5%$635
🏠Accommodation & Living
Solomon Islands
$1.4K 34.4%
India
$214 24.8% ↓ 84.5%$1.2K
🛒Groceries & Markets
Solomon Islands
$830 20.7%
India
$220 25.5% ↓ 73.5%$610
🍽Eating Out
Solomon Islands
$629 15.7%
India
$184 21.4% ↓ 70.8%$445
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Solomon Islands
$318 7.9%
India
$118 13.8% ↓ 62.8%$200
🚌Getting Around
Solomon Islands
$81 2%
India
$24 2.8% ↓ 70.3%$57
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Solomon Islands
$81 2%
India
$49 5.7% ↓ 39.2%$32
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $739 in the Solomon Islands, $119 in India. Capital cities: $872 in Honiara vs $271 in Delhi.
💰National salary averages: $409 in the Solomon Islands, $413 in India. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 521% higher in the Solomon Islands.
⭐Dining out costs 480% more in the Solomon Islands.
⭐Public transport is 300% more expensive in the Solomon Islands.
Solomon Islands→India9,810 km≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
Solomon Islands
India
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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 the Solomon Islands?
At $395 per month in India and $1,908 in the Solomon Islands, there's a 382% 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 cheaper in India: lower grocery prices, cheaper commutes, and more affordable meals out. 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 for a central one-bedroom averages $739 in the Solomon Islands and $119 in India. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget in India or in the Solomon Islands?
In India, $1,000 covers most cities easily; in the 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 the Solomon Islands?
It depends on what you're after: India wins on affordability; the Solomon Islands may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.
Solomon Islands vs other spots: cost of living compared