Cost of Living Comparison Between United States and Solomon Islands Cost of Living Comparison Between United States and Solomon Islands

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,643 per month in United States vs $2,117 in Solomon Islands, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,857 per month in United States vs $2,846 in Solomon Islands, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,070 per month in United States vs $3,574 in Solomon Islands, rent included.

United States costs about 25% more than Solomon Islands on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Both United States and Solomon Islands are pricier than the global median – United States by 97%, Solomon Islands by 58%.

United States has a wider regional cost range ($1,343$5,081) than Solomon Islands ($2,103$2,132), so location matters more when choosing where to live in United States.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
United States
Solomon Islands
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.04 $20.04
$4.45 SBD 35.74
350.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$76.0 $76.0
$54.3 SBD 435
40.13%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.42 $11.42
$12.00 SBD 96.3
-4.83%
Cappuccino
$5.39 $5.39
$3.02 SBD 24.23
78.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55 $2.55
$1.51 SBD 12.15
68.87%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 $2.04
$1.17 SBD 9.38
74.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.14 $6.14
$2.46 SBD 19.77
149.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.18 $7.18
$3.24 SBD 26.00
121.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
United States
Solomon Islands
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$2.63 SBD 21.13
-60.46%
White Bread (500g)
$3.65 $3.65
$1.47 SBD 11.76
148.30%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.73 $4.73
$1.43 SBD 11.49
230.77%
Eggs
$4.38 $4.38
$5.43 SBD 43.55
-19.34%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.76 $12.76
$5.86 SBD 47.03
117.75%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.42 $12.42
$8.30 SBD 66.6
49.64%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.41 $16.41
$14.33 SBD 115
14.52%
Apples (1kg)
$5.42 $5.42
$8.29 SBD 66.5
-34.62%
Banana (1kg)
$1.65 $1.65
$2.65 SBD 21.23
-37.74%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.59 $4.59
$7.34 SBD 58.9
-37.47%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.91 $4.91
$3.23 SBD 25.95
52.01%
Potato (1kg)
$2.92 $2.92
$2.31 SBD 18.53
26.41%
Onion (1kg)
$3.13 $3.13
$3.14 SBD 25.18
-0.32%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.26 $2.26
$1.47 SBD 11.76
53.74%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.30 $2.30
$1.14 SBD 9.15
101.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.89 $9.89
$3.96 SBD 31.79
149.75%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.10 $15.10
$12.63 SBD 101
19.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.91 $1.91
$1.85 SBD 14.85
3.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 $3.66
$2.92 SBD 23.41
25.34%
🚌 Getting Around
United States
Solomon Islands
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.48 $2.48
$0.34 SBD 2.75
629.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$64.8 $64.8
$29.78 SBD 239
117.70%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.84 $3.84
$1.19 SBD 9.55
222.69%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.76 $1.76
$1.22 SBD 9.80
44.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.58 $30.58
$11.92 SBD 95.6
156.54%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.96 $0.96
$1.39 SBD 11.17
-30.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.5K $30.5K
$19.8K SBD 158.6K
54.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K $26.4K
$21.3K SBD 170.7K
24.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
Solomon Islands
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$204 $204
$728 SBD 5,838
-71.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$57.3 $57.3
$23.37 SBD 188
145.06%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.2 $71.2
$97.2 SBD 780
-26.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
United States
Solomon Islands
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.67 $46.67
$18.03 SBD 145
158.85%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.12 $22.12
$5.88 SBD 47.15
276.19%
Cinema Ticket
$13.84 $13.84
$4.30 SBD 34.52
221.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
United States
Solomon Islands
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,384 $1,384
$119 SBD 958
1058.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.7K $22.7K
$2,249 SBD 18.0K
909.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
United States
Solomon Islands
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.0 $53.0
$24.41 SBD 196
117.08%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.17 $43.17
$89.1 SBD 715
-51.55%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.6 $90.6
$96.2 SBD 772
-5.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 $114
$90.0 SBD 722
27.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
United States
Solomon Islands
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,766 $1,766
$523 SBD 4,193
238.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,459 $1,459
$474 SBD 3,802
207.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,832 $2,832
$1,106 SBD 8,875
156.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,411 $2,411
$910 SBD 7,305
164.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,287 $3,287
$86.7K SBD 695.6K
-96.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,650 $2,650
$61.6K SBD 494.0K
-95.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
United States
Solomon Islands
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,379 $4,379
$472 SBD 3,790
826.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
16.33
-60.13%

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

Last update for United States: May 30, 2026

Last update for Solomon Islands: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,637 in United States vs $563 in Solomon Islands. For reference, capital cities sit at $2,591 in Washington, DC and $547 in Honiara.

Average salary: $4,500 in United States vs $545 in Solomon Islands. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 191% higher in United States.

Dining out costs 38% more in United States.

Salaries are 726% higher in United States, giving United States stronger purchasing power.

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
United States vs Solomon Islands: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Solomon Islands more expensive than United States?
Solomon Islands is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 52% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in United States, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but United States consistently has higher rents.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Solomon Islands, contributing to the overall 52% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget in Solomon Islands or United States?
$2,500 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Solomon Islands, but in United States it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Solomon Islands or United States?
Solomon Islands 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.

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