Last update: Oct 2026 119.4K

Cost of Living in Kiribati

Name: Kiribati
Address: KI

Across Kiribati, living costs for one person average $1,713 a month, including rent and utilities, which take more than half of the total. Other living expenses average about $27 a day.

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🇰🇮 Kiribati

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Kiribati

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

Average monthly costs for a single person come to about $1,713 including rent across Kiribati.

$1,713 /mo

Estimated average monthly cost for a couple: $2,652 including rent across Kiribati.

$2,652 /mo

Average monthly costs for a family of three come to about $3,590 including rent across Kiribati.

$3,590 /mo

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.14 KID 7.30

$4.92 KID 6.99

$5.36 KID 7.61

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.31 KID 40.20

$24.77 KID 35.17

$31.85 KID 45.23

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.40 KID 14.77

Cappuccino

$3.25 KID 4.61

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

$1.03 KID 1.46

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 KID 1.07

$0.68 KID 0.97

$0.82 KID 1.17

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.87 KID 5.49

$2.00 KID 2.84

$5.72 KID 8.13

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.27 KID 8.90

$3.49 KID 4.95

$9.06 KID 12.87

Milk (1 liter)

$2.29 KID 3.25

White Bread (500g)

$2.08 KID 2.95

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.45 KID 2.05

Eggs

$6.82 KID 9.69

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.40 KID 24.71

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 KID 8.22

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.46 KID 27.64

Apples (1kg)

$6.87 KID 9.75

Banana (1kg)

$3.57 KID 5.07

Oranges (1kg)

$6.07 KID 8.62

Tomato (1kg)

$5.61 KID 7.97

Potato (1kg)

$4.71 KID 6.68

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 KID 4.38

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.27 KID 4.64

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.33 KID 0.47

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.18 KID 8.78

Wine (Bottle)

$13.14 KID 18.66

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 KID 2.52

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 KID 4.89

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.72 KID 2.44

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.1 KID 108

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.16 KID 3.07

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.83 KID 2.59

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.05 KID 2.91

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

$28.4K KID 40.4K

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

$24.2K KID 34.4K

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

$317 KID 450

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$3.61 KID 5.13

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.10 KID 49.85

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.51 KID 34.81

Cinema Ticket

$4.52 KID 6.41

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

$270 KID 384

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,640 KID 8,009

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.1 KID 74.0

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 KID 74.0

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.3 KID 120

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$64.2 KID 91.2

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 KID 1,189

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$587 KID 834

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,479 KID 2,100

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,317 KID 1,870

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,576 KID 6,497

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,434 KID 4,876

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$348 KID 495

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

Last update: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Kiribati $1,713

Accommodation & Living

$587 34.3%

Groceries & Markets

$404 23.6%

Monthly Utilities & Internet

$320 * 18.7%

Eating Out

$150 8.8%

Clothing & Footwear

$114 6.6%

Getting Around

$94 5.5%

Sport & Entertainment

$44 2.6%

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

National average salary: $348. With average costs at $1,713, it doesn’t cover a typical monthly budget. Expats and remote workers with foreign income benefit most.

Expect to spend about $405 monthly on groceries. Dining out at a mid-range restaurant averages $32 for two.

Cost Highlights

Overall cost of living ($1,713) is 26% above the global median of $1,361.

Average rent ($829) is 25% above the global median of $661.

Dinner for two at a restaurant ($32) is 33% below the global median of $48.

Public transport ($75) is 127% above the global median of $33.

Good to know

🕒 Local time

08:17 8:17 AM

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

119,438

💱 Currency

Kiribati Dollar KID $

📈 Exchange rate

1 KID = 0.704 USD

1 KID = 0.628 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

By City in Kiribati

Lowest

Highest

Rank	City	Population	Living Index	Solo costs (no rent) / month	Solo costs (with rent) / month	Family of 3 costs (no rent) / month	Family of 3 costs (with rent) / month	Mobile download speed (Mbps)	Internet download speed (Mbps)
1	Bikenibeu	6500	82	$795	$1,694	$1,948	$3,588	67.85	72.57

Kiribati Median Internet Speeds (Updated April 2026)

Mobile

Mbps

Fixed Broadband

Mbps

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Cost of Living in Kiribati - Frequently Asked Questions

For travelers and digital nomads, Kiribati offers a trade-off: you may find value in slower pace and family-owned markets, but everyday goods can be pricier due to imports. Cost of Living in Kiribati varies by island and access to supplies; Tarawa tends to have more options, while outer islands limit choices. Those who are budget-conscious may stretch value by grocery shopping at local markets, cooking at home, and choosing guesthouses with shared kitchens. Expect longer shopping trips and occasional stockouts. Tip: Budget for slower logistics and use local markets to stretch your dollars.

Daily life in Kiribati centers on island rhythms: housing options range from simple guesthouses to modest rentals; you may not find high-rise apartments. Food tends to rely on imported staples plus fresh fish; local markets offer cheaper options if you cook at home. For transport, expect boats and limited internal flights, with biking or walking practical in small towns. Co-working spaces exist in select towns, but connectivity can be spotty; plan backup data. Kiribati living cost varies by island and lifestyle; outer islands can be leaner but more isolated, while Tarawa offers more choice but higher competition for goods. Tip: Map supply hubs ahead of time and schedule purchases before stock runs out.

Quality of life in Kiribati blends natural beauty with logistical realities. A practical budgeting framework is to separate essentials (housing, food, transport) from discretionary spending, and to build a buffer for import-dependent items. Save tips: buy staples in bulk at markets, favor fresh fish and locally grown greens when available, and negotiate longer-term stays for lower rates on lodging. Seasonality affects availability of fresh produce and travel options; plan ahead for shipping delays if you’re stocking up. Neighborhood fit depends on your pace: Tarawa’s busier centers suit social nomads, while outer islands offer quiet and strong community ties. Tip: set flexible plans and build routines that reduce back-and-forth trips.

$3,000 a month goes far in Kiribati, especially outside the big cities. It’s a realistic single-person budget that covers housing, food, transport, and leisure comfortably.