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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,129 in Solomon Islands versus $1,612 in Kiribati.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,857 in Solomon Islands versus $2,500 in Kiribati.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,585 in Solomon Islands versus $3,387 in Kiribati.

Living in Solomon Islands is roughly 32% more expensive than in Kiribati on average.

Both countries sit above the global median: Solomon Islands 59% above, Kiribati 21% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Solomon Islands
Kiribati
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.59 SBD 37.03
$4.99 KID 7.13
-8.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.7 SBD 433
$25.87 KID 36.99
107.61%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.84 SBD 95.6
$9.53 KID 13.63
24.24%
Cappuccino
$3.04 SBD 24.52
$2.95 KID 4.21
3.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46 SBD 11.77
$0.97 KID 1.39
50.52%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.18 SBD 9.52
$0.70 KID 0.99
68.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.35 SBD 18.93
$3.53 KID 5.05
-33.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.28 SBD 26.46
$5.90 KID 8.43
-44.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Solomon Islands
Kiribati
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.68 SBD 21.65
$2.18 KID 3.12
22.94%
White Bread (500g)
$1.47 SBD 11.85
$1.85 KID 2.64
-20.54%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.44 SBD 11.59
$1.34 KID 1.92
7.46%
Eggs
$5.64 SBD 45.52
$6.34 KID 9.06
-11.04%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.79 SBD 46.69
$16.29 KID 23.30
-64.46%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.16 SBD 65.8
$5.64 KID 8.06
44.68%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.84 SBD 112
$17.86 KID 25.53
-22.51%
Apples (1kg)
$8.55 SBD 69.0
$6.16 KID 8.81
38.80%
Banana (1kg)
$2.66 SBD 21.45
$3.32 KID 4.75
-19.88%
Oranges (1kg)
$7.52 SBD 60.7
$6.34 KID 9.06
18.61%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.15 SBD 25.45
$5.88 KID 8.40
-46.43%
Potato (1kg)
$2.25 SBD 18.13
$4.51 KID 6.44
-50.11%
Onion (1kg)
$3.13 SBD 25.25
$2.99 KID 4.28
4.68%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.46 SBD 11.80
$3.46 KID 4.95
-57.80%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 SBD 8.79
$0.37 KID 0.52
194.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.01 SBD 32.35
$5.68 KID 8.12
-29.40%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.62 SBD 102
$13.18 KID 18.84
-4.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.88 SBD 15.20
$1.67 KID 2.39
12.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 SBD 23.60
$3.19 KID 4.57
-8.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Solomon Islands
Kiribati
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.35 SBD 2.82
$1.60 KID 2.29
-78.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.46 SBD 246
$69.4 KID 99.3
-56.11%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.22 SBD 9.85
$1.96 KID 2.81
-37.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.16 SBD 9.35
$1.85 KID 2.64
-37.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.84 SBD 95.5
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.37 SBD 11.05
$1.91 KID 2.72
-28.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.4K SBD 165.0K
$26.1K KID 37.4K
-21.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.1K SBD 170.4K
$23.1K KID 33.0K
-8.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Solomon Islands
Kiribati
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$732 SBD 5,903
$289 KID 413
153.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.24 SBD 188
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$99.1 SBD 799
$3.20 KID 4.58
2995.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Solomon Islands
Kiribati
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$17.98 SBD 145
$34.58 KID 49.45
-48.00%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.09 SBD 49.13
$24.62 KID 35.21
-75.26%
Cinema Ticket
$4.16 SBD 33.59
$4.66 KID 6.66
-10.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Solomon Islands
Kiribati
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$118 SBD 949
$252 KID 360
-53.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,218 SBD 17.9K
$5,779 KID 8,264
-61.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Solomon Islands
Kiribati
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.46 SBD 197
$49.75 KID 71.2
-50.83%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$89.1 SBD 718
$48.94 KID 70.0
81.96%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.8 SBD 773
$77.6 KID 111
23.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.6 SBD 723
$57.6 KID 82.4
55.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Solomon Islands
Kiribati
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$517 SBD 4,170
$770 KID 1,100
-32.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$473 SBD 3,820
$546 KID 781
-13.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,122 SBD 9,050
$1,377 KID 1,969
-18.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$918 SBD 7,406
$1,237 KID 1,770
-25.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$88.4K SBD 713.6K
$4,582 KID 6,552
1830.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$61.2K SBD 494.1K
$3,441 KID 4,921
1679.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Solomon Islands
Kiribati
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$468 SBD 3,775
$350 KID 501
33.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
16.33
0
-

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

Last update for Solomon Islands: July 13, 2026

Last update for Kiribati: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National salary averages: $546 in Solomon Islands, $344 in Kiribati. 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
Solomon Islands vs Kiribati: 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.

Solomon Islands vs other spots: cost of living compared

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