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

Name: Micronesia
Address: FM

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,117 per month in Solomon Islands vs $1,289 in Micronesia, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,846 per month in Solomon Islands vs $1,823 in Micronesia, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,574 per month in Solomon Islands vs $2,356 in Micronesia, rent included.

Solomon Islands costs about 64% more than Micronesia on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Solomon Islands sits 58% above the global median, while Micronesia is 4% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Micronesia has a wider regional cost range ($18.00–$1,864) than Solomon Islands ($2,103–$2,132), so location matters more when choosing where to live in Micronesia.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.45 SBD 35.74

$29.56 $29.56

-84.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$54.3 SBD 435

$44.98 $44.98

20.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.00 SBD 96.3

$6.88 $6.88

74.42%

Cappuccino

$3.02 SBD 24.23

$3.94 $3.94

-23.35%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 SBD 12.15

$1.48 $1.48

2.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.17 SBD 9.38

$3.06 $3.06

-61.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.46 SBD 19.77

$0.97 $0.97

153.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.24 SBD 26.00

$2.49 $2.49

30.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.63 SBD 21.13

$0.23 $0.23

1043.48%

White Bread (500g)

$1.47 SBD 11.76

$3.04 $3.04

-51.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.43 SBD 11.49

$3.40 $3.40

-57.94%

Eggs

$5.43 SBD 43.55

$7.10 $7.10

-23.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.86 SBD 47.03

$6.36 $6.36

-7.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.30 SBD 66.6

$4.68 $4.68

77.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.33 SBD 115

$10.98 $10.98

30.51%

Apples (1kg)

$8.29 SBD 66.5

$5.36 $5.36

54.66%

Banana (1kg)

$2.65 SBD 21.23

$3.83 $3.83

-30.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.34 SBD 58.9

$5.10 $5.10

43.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.23 SBD 25.95

$3.69 $3.69

-12.47%

Potato (1kg)

$2.31 SBD 18.53

$4.56 $4.56

-49.34%

Onion (1kg)

$3.14 SBD 25.18

$3.00 $3.00

4.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.47 SBD 11.76

$3.09 $3.09

-52.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 SBD 9.15

$1.34 $1.34

-14.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.96 SBD 31.79

$13.55 $13.55

-70.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.63 SBD 101

$6.85 $6.85

84.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 SBD 14.85

$2.53 $2.53

-26.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 SBD 23.41

$2.84 $2.84

2.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 SBD 2.75

$1.02 $1.02

-66.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.78 SBD 239

$28.41 $28.41

4.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.19 SBD 9.55

$6.22 $6.22

-80.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.22 SBD 9.80

$1.21 $1.21

0.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.92 SBD 95.6

$4.90 $4.90

143.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 SBD 11.17

$3.10 $3.10

-55.16%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$19.8K SBD 158.6K

$3,957 $3,957

399.46%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$21.3K SBD 170.7K

$3,940 $3,940

439.83%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$728 SBD 5,838

$116 $116

527.55%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$23.37 SBD 188

$31.09 $31.09

-24.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$97.2 SBD 780

$224 $224

-56.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.03 SBD 145

$30.20 $30.20

-40.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.88 SBD 47.15

$34.40 $34.40

-82.91%

Cinema Ticket

$4.30 SBD 34.52

$6.94 $6.94

-38.04%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$119 SBD 958

$149 $149

-19.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,249 SBD 18.0K

$1,685 $1,685

33.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.41 SBD 196

$41.51 $41.51

-41.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$89.1 SBD 715

$57.0 $57.0

56.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.2 SBD 772

$85.0 $85.0

13.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.0 SBD 722

$91.0 $91.0

-1.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$523 SBD 4,193

$953 $953

-45.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$474 SBD 3,802

$746 $746

-36.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,106 SBD 8,875

$1,417 $1,417

-21.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$910 SBD 7,305

$1,178 $1,178

-22.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$86.7K SBD 695.6K

$1,164 $1,164

7346.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$61.6K SBD 494.0K

$846 $846

7174.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$472 SBD 3,790

$293 $293

61.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

16.33

390000

-100.00%

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

Last update for Solomon Islands: June 1, 2026

Last update for Micronesia: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $563 in Solomon Islands vs $652 in Micronesia. For reference, capital cities sit at $547 in Honiara and $706 in Palikir.

Average salary: $545 in Solomon Islands vs $287 in Micronesia. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 16% higher in Micronesia.

Dining out costs 39% more in Solomon Islands.

Public transport is 93% more expensive in Solomon Islands.

Salaries are 90% 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 Micronesia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Micronesia is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 125% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.

Housing costs more in Solomon Islands, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Solomon Islands consistently has higher rents.

Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Micronesia, contributing to the overall 125% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.

$2,500 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Micronesia, but in Solomon Islands it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.

Micronesia is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.