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: $1,974 in Solomon Islands versus $1,745 in Kiribati.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,006 in Solomon Islands versus $2,746 in Kiribati.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,037 in Solomon Islands versus $3,746 in Kiribati.

Living in Solomon Islands is roughly 13% more expensive than in Kiribati on average.

Both countries sit above the global median: Solomon Islands 43% above, Kiribati 27% above.

Internal cost variation is higher in Solomon Islands: monthly costs span $1,756 to $2,191, compared to $1,745$1,745 in Kiribati. City choice carries more weight in Solomon Islands.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Solomon Islands
Kiribati
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.15 SBD 49.24
$5.29 KID 7.35
16.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$66.1 SBD 530
$28.68 KID 39.86
130.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.64 SBD 101
$10.79 KID 14.99
17.15%
Cappuccino
$3.34 SBD 26.77
$3.22 KID 4.47
3.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43 SBD 11.46
$1.05 KID 1.46
36.19%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13 SBD 9.03
$0.76 KID 1.06
48.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.75 SBD 22.03
$3.92 KID 5.45
-29.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.67 SBD 37.39
$6.34 KID 8.81
-26.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Solomon Islands
Kiribati
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.84 SBD 22.77
$2.33 KID 3.24
21.89%
White Bread (500g)
$1.47 SBD 11.74
$2.11 KID 2.93
-30.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.53 SBD 12.29
$1.54 KID 2.15
-0.65%
Eggs
$5.88 SBD 47.08
$6.86 KID 9.54
-14.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.19 SBD 57.6
$17.99 KID 25.01
-60.03%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.19 SBD 65.6
$6.10 KID 8.48
34.26%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.89 SBD 119
$20.39 KID 28.34
-26.97%
Apples (1kg)
$6.84 SBD 54.8
$6.93 KID 9.63
-1.30%
Banana (1kg)
$2.80 SBD 22.44
$3.69 KID 5.13
-24.12%
Oranges (1kg)
$8.24 SBD 66.0
$6.42 KID 8.92
28.35%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.66 SBD 29.34
$5.77 KID 8.02
-36.57%
Potato (1kg)
$2.11 SBD 16.90
$4.95 KID 6.88
-57.37%
Onion (1kg)
$3.29 SBD 26.36
$3.01 KID 4.19
9.30%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.64 SBD 13.17
$3.32 KID 4.61
-50.60%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 SBD 9.55
$0.36 KID 0.50
230.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.47 SBD 35.77
$6.54 KID 9.09
-31.65%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.27 SBD 98.3
$13.90 KID 19.33
-11.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.81 SBD 14.47
$1.79 KID 2.49
1.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.29 SBD 26.33
$3.71 KID 5.16
-11.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Solomon Islands
Kiribati
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.38 SBD 3.05
$1.84 KID 2.56
-79.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$31.51 SBD 252
$78.9 KID 110
-60.06%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.28 SBD 10.27
$2.11 KID 2.93
-39.34%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.24 SBD 9.91
$1.92 KID 2.66
-35.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$12.52 SBD 100
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.42 SBD 11.35
$2.10 KID 2.92
-32.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.8K SBD 158.8K
$29.2K KID 40.5K
-32.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.0K SBD 223.9K
$24.9K KID 34.6K
12.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Solomon Islands
Kiribati
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$533 SBD 4,267
$320 KID 445
66.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.09 SBD 193
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$104 SBD 833
$3.55 KID 4.94
2828.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Solomon Islands
Kiribati
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$28.04 SBD 225
$35.29 KID 49.06
-20.54%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.27 SBD 74.3
$24.80 KID 34.47
-62.62%
Cinema Ticket
$4.46 SBD 35.71
$4.59 KID 6.38
-2.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Solomon Islands
Kiribati
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$123 SBD 986
$280 KID 389
-55.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,335 SBD 18.7K
$5,756 KID 8,001
-59.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Solomon Islands
Kiribati
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.16 SBD 218
$54.5 KID 75.8
-50.17%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$94.4 SBD 756
$53.5 KID 74.3
76.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.0 SBD 777
$86.0 KID 120
12.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$100 SBD 805
$64.5 KID 89.6
55.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Solomon Islands
Kiribati
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$610 SBD 4,883
$851 KID 1,183
-28.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$529 SBD 4,234
$605 KID 841
-12.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,621 SBD 13.0K
$1,529 KID 2,126
5.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,375 SBD 11.0K
$1,396 KID 1,940
-1.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$87.4K SBD 700.2K
$4,520 KID 6,282
1834.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$63.0K SBD 504.4K
$3,396 KID 4,720
1754.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Solomon Islands
Kiribati
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$465 SBD 3,729
$364 KID 506
27.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
15.83
0
-

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

Last update for Solomon Islands: September 5, 2026

Last update for Kiribati: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National salary averages: $553 in Solomon Islands, $353 in Kiribati. 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
Solomon Islands vs Kiribati: 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.

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