Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Upper Hutt and Gizo

For one person, living is cheaper in Upper Hutt: $1,830 a month against $2,164 in Gizo, rent and utilities included – about $4,000 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Gizo outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Upper Hutt
🇳🇿 New Zealand
$1,830
/mo nomad
Gizo
🇸🇧 Solomon Islands
$2,164
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Upper Hutt and in Gizo

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Upper Hutt and in Gizo actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,830 in Upper Hutt versus $2,164 in Gizo.

  • Upper Hutt $1,830
  • Gizo $2,164

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,844 in Upper Hutt versus $3,051 in Gizo.

  • Upper Hutt $2,844
  • Gizo $3,051

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,857 in Upper Hutt versus $3,938 in Gizo.

  • Upper Hutt $3,857
  • Gizo $3,938

Living in Upper Hutt costs roughly 15% less than in Gizo, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Upper Hutt 36% above, Gizo 60% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Upper Hutt
Gizo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.28 NZ$14.64
$3.01 SBD 24.25
175.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$55.8 NZ$98.7
$54.7 SBD 441
1.94%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.43 NZ$14.91
$15.57 SBD 126
-45.86%
Cappuccino
$2.83 NZ$5.00
$2.85 SBD 22.95
-0.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 NZ$4.38
$1.26 SBD 10.13
96.83%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69 NZ$2.98
$1.21 SBD 9.79
39.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.36 NZ$13.02
$2.47 SBD 19.88
197.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.55 NZ$11.58
$2.41 SBD 19.41
171.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Upper Hutt
Gizo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.85 NZ$3.27
$3.27 SBD 26.35
-43.43%
White Bread (500g)
$2.13 NZ$3.77
$1.39 SBD 11.19
53.24%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.89 NZ$3.35
$1.40 SBD 11.30
35.00%
Eggs
$6.72 NZ$11.88
$7.24 SBD 58.4
-7.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.49 NZ$9.71
$8.47 SBD 68.3
-35.18%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.71 NZ$17.17
$6.20 SBD 50.0
56.61%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.01 NZ$26.55
$8.41 SBD 67.8
78.48%
Apples (1kg)
$3.14 NZ$5.55
$6.88 SBD 55.5
-54.36%
Banana (1kg)
$2.14 NZ$3.78
$6.34 SBD 51.1
-66.25%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.96 NZ$5.23
$6.06 SBD 48.84
-51.16%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.54 NZ$11.56
$3.02 SBD 24.32
116.56%
Potato (1kg)
$2.09 NZ$3.69
$3.07 SBD 24.74
-31.92%
Onion (1kg)
$1.23 NZ$2.18
$2.41 SBD 19.45
-48.96%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.08 NZ$3.68
$2.53 SBD 20.39
-17.79%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 NZ$2.11
$1.34 SBD 10.79
-11.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$25.35 NZ$44.83
$4.25 SBD 34.29
496.47%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.10 NZ$19.63
$12.36 SBD 99.6
-10.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.13 NZ$5.53
$1.83 SBD 14.77
71.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81 NZ$4.97
$2.19 SBD 17.66
28.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Upper Hutt
Gizo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.49 NZ$2.63
$0.39 SBD 3.11
282.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$82.7 NZ$146
$31.36 SBD 253
163.71%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.86 NZ$3.29
$1.25 SBD 10.09
48.80%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.74 NZ$3.08
$2.43 SBD 19.56
-28.40%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$33.07 NZ$58.5
$12.52 SBD 101
164.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.87 NZ$3.31
$1.75 SBD 14.10
6.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.2K NZ$44.6K
$20.7K SBD 166.9K
21.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.1K NZ$44.3K
$21.9K SBD 176.9K
14.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Upper Hutt
Gizo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$109 NZ$192
$750 SBD 6,048
-85.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.17 NZ$44.52
$13.42 SBD 108
87.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.1 NZ$93.9
$123 SBD 989
-56.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Upper Hutt
Gizo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.65 NZ$64.8
$18.49 SBD 149
98.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.14 SBD 49.54
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.00 NZ$21.22
$4.20 SBD 33.87
185.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Upper Hutt
Gizo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,074 NZ$1,899
$126 SBD 1,014
753.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.8K NZ$22.7K
$1,242 SBD 10.0K
933.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Upper Hutt
Gizo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$78.5 NZ$139
$25.29 SBD 204
210.48%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.14 NZ$49.77
$94.4 SBD 761
-70.17%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 NZ$183
$99.8 SBD 804
3.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$155 NZ$274
$90.6 SBD 730
71.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Upper Hutt
Gizo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$910 NZ$1,609
$599 SBD 4,833
51.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$795 NZ$1,407
$580 SBD 4,678
37.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,733 NZ$3,065
$630 SBD 5,081
174.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,537 NZ$2,719
$1,217 SBD 9,809
26.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,062 NZ$8,953
$85.9K SBD 692.3K
-94.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,581 NZ$6,332
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Upper Hutt
Gizo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$389 SBD 3,140
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.39
16.33
-66.99%

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

Last update for Upper Hutt: October 11, 2026

Last update for Gizo: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Upper Hutt
$795
Gizo
$580 27.1% $215
Groceries & Markets
Upper Hutt
$332
Gizo
$353 6.3% $21
Eating Out
Upper Hutt
$192
Gizo
$132 31.3% $60
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Upper Hutt
$187
Gizo
$886 375% $700
Clothing & Footwear
Upper Hutt
$164
Gizo
$139 15.1% $25
Getting Around
Upper Hutt
$99
Gizo
$46 53.3% $53
Sport & Entertainment
Upper Hutt
$61
Gizo
$27 55.7% $34

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $910 in Upper Hutt and $599 in Gizo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $56.0 in Upper Hutt vs $55.0 in Gizo. Groceries flip the comparison at $332 vs $353, with Upper Hutt cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇳🇿 Upper Hutt
🇸🇧 Gizo
🕒 Local time
07:52 7:52 AM
05:52 5:52 AM
2 h behind Upper Hutt
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
44,600
7,177
Exchange rates and currency converter

SBD, USD, EUR to NZD – New Zealand Dollar Converter

New Zealand Dollar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 1.77 NZD (1 NZD = 0.565 USD). 1 EUR = 1.99 NZD (1 NZD = 0.503 EUR).

Solomon Islands Dollar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 8.06 SBD (1 SBD = 0.124 USD). 1 EUR = 9.06 SBD (1 SBD = 0.11 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Upper Hutt Gizo 4,090 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Upper Hutt
  • Gizo

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
Upper Hutt vs Gizo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Upper Hutt or Gizo?
Upper Hutt wins on cost – living expenses run 18% lower than in Gizo. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Upper Hutt the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Upper Hutt and in Gizo?
You'd need roughly $2,746 in Upper Hutt and $3,246 in Gizo to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Upper Hutt compared to Gizo?
Rent for a central apartment: $910 in Upper Hutt versus $599 in Gizo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Upper Hutt or in Gizo?
Supermarket bills run roughly 6% higher in Gizo. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Upper Hutt and in Gizo?
Dining out is cheaper in Upper Hutt – a meal for two runs $56.0 versus $55.0 in Gizo. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Upper Hutt or in Gizo?
At $1,830 in Upper Hutt versus $2,164 in Gizo, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Upper Hutt but tight or insufficient in Gizo. The gap between the two cities makes Upper Hutt the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Upper Hutt or Gizo?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
How safe is Upper Hutt compared to Gizo?
Safety-wise, Upper Hutt and Gizo are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Upper Hutt gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Gizo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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