Cost of Living in Solomon Islands - Updated Prices & Insights

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends around $2,108 per month with rent on average in Solomon Islands.

A couple spends around $2,859 per month with rent on average in Solomon Islands.

A family of three spends around $3,609 per month with rent on average in Solomon Islands.

Across 2 cities in Solomon Islands, monthly living costs range from $2,097 to $2,120 – a $23.00 difference that makes location a key factor.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cost
Range
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.47 SBD 36.01
$2.97 SBD 23.98
$5.96 SBD 48.03
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.0 SBD 427
$41.24 SBD 332
$82.5 SBD 665
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.11 SBD 97.7
$10.29 SBD 83.0
$15.14 SBD 122
Cappuccino
$3.04 SBD 24.53
$1.77 SBD 14.29
$5.31 SBD 42.78
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46 SBD 11.79
$1.17 SBD 9.43
$2.34 SBD 18.87
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23 SBD 9.88
$1.23 SBD 9.88
$1.23 SBD 9.88
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.36 SBD 19.02
$1.53 SBD 12.36
$6.60 SBD 53.2
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33 SBD 26.88
$2.43 SBD 19.61
$6.07 SBD 48.93
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cost
Range
Milk (1 liter)
$2.77 SBD 22.31
$2.21 SBD 17.78
$3.67 SBD 29.55
White Bread (500g)
$1.39 SBD 11.25
$1.17 SBD 9.44
$1.76 SBD 14.16
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.45 SBD 11.69
$1.18 SBD 9.55
$1.78 SBD 14.32
Eggs
$5.69 SBD 45.87
$3.69 SBD 29.78
$6.66 SBD 53.7
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.98 SBD 48.25
$2.43 SBD 19.59
$8.50 SBD 68.5
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.25 SBD 66.5
$4.76 SBD 38.38
$9.77 SBD 78.7
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.12 SBD 114
$8.40 SBD 67.7
$29.98 SBD 242
Apples (1kg)
$8.70 SBD 70.2
$1.23 SBD 9.92
$12.28 SBD 99.0
Banana (1kg)
$2.67 SBD 21.55
$2.38 SBD 19.15
$5.93 SBD 47.81
Oranges (1kg)
$7.57 SBD 61.0
$1.84 SBD 14.82
$12.23 SBD 98.6
Tomato (1kg)
$3.26 SBD 26.31
$1.22 SBD 9.84
$6.09 SBD 49.10
Potato (1kg)
$2.24 SBD 18.02
$1.18 SBD 9.49
$2.93 SBD 23.63
Onion (1kg)
$3.27 SBD 26.38
$2.45 SBD 19.72
$6.11 SBD 49.23
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.48 SBD 11.92
$1.22 SBD 9.87
$2.45 SBD 19.73
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 SBD 8.73
$0.59 SBD 4.72
$1.17 SBD 9.44
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.04 SBD 32.54
$3.80 SBD 30.62
$4.75 SBD 38.30
Wine (Bottle)
$12.56 SBD 101
$6.28 SBD 50.6
$18.84 SBD 152
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.88 SBD 15.13
$1.59 SBD 12.82
$2.59 SBD 20.88
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93 SBD 23.65
$2.12 SBD 17.09
$3.52 SBD 28.40
🚌 Getting Around
Cost
Range
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 SBD 2.77
$0.34 SBD 2.77
$0.69 SBD 5.53
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.94 SBD 241
$17.96 SBD 145
$29.94 SBD 241
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.17 SBD 9.46
$1.17 SBD 9.46
$1.17 SBD 9.46
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.18 SBD 9.48
$1.18 SBD 9.48
$1.18 SBD 9.48
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$12.18 SBD 98.2
$12.18 SBD 98.2
$12.18 SBD 98.2
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.40 SBD 11.32
$1.22 SBD 9.84
$1.65 SBD 13.29
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.3K SBD 163.7K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.7K SBD 166.6K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cost
Range
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$730 SBD 5,885
$730 SBD 5,885
$730 SBD 5,885
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.08 SBD 186
$11.99 SBD 96.7
$47.96 SBD 387
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$98.7 SBD 796
$54.4 SBD 438
$121 SBD 974
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cost
Range
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$18.21 SBD 147
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.97 SBD 48.11
$5.97 SBD 48.11
$5.97 SBD 48.11
Cinema Ticket
$4.16 SBD 33.55
$2.38 SBD 19.21
$4.16 SBD 33.55
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cost
Range
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$121 SBD 977
$121 SBD 977
$121 SBD 977
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,261 SBD 18.2K
$1,211 SBD 9,763
$3,149 SBD 25.4K
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cost
Range
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.84 SBD 200
$11.87 SBD 95.7
$36.34 SBD 293
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$88.4 SBD 712
$88.4 SBD 712
$88.4 SBD 712
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.8 SBD 788
$36.66 SBD 296
$122 SBD 985
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.3 SBD 704
$47.19 SBD 380
$118 SBD 951
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cost
Range
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$515 SBD 4,152
$413 SBD 3,327
$707 SBD 5,704
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$473 SBD 3,810
$360 SBD 2,903
$1,200 SBD 9,676
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,108 SBD 8,930
$588 SBD 4,741
$1,764 SBD 14.2K
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$902 SBD 7,273
$475 SBD 3,828
$2,968 SBD 23.9K
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$85.8K SBD 691.6K
$85.8K SBD 691.6K
$85.8K SBD 691.6K
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$61.2K SBD 493.5K
$61.2K SBD 493.5K
$61.2K SBD 493.5K
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cost
Range
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$459 SBD 3,699
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
16.33
10
20

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

Last update: June 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom averages $563 nationally. In Honiara, expect around $543, while Honiara – the country's most affordable city overall – comes in at $543.

The average net salary in Solomon Islands is $549 – below average monthly costs of $2,108. Many locals rely on dual incomes or shared housing. Remote workers earning abroad find strong purchasing power here.

Groceries average around $338 per month nationally. A mid-range dinner for two costs about $53.0.

Most affordable: Honiara at $2,097 per month. The capital, Honiara, sits at $2,097. Across the country, monthly costs span roughly $23.00 between the cheapest and priciest cities.

Cost Highlights

Overall living costs ($2,108) is 57% above the global median of $1,339.

Public transport ($27.00) is 18% below the global median of $33.00.

By City in Solomon Islands
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
-
105 $894 $2,120 $1,656 $3,893
38.3
59.47
2
54600
105 $757 $2,097 $1,615 $3,324
218.36
76.17
Solomon Islands Median Internet Speeds (Updated April 2026)

Mobile

Download
Mbps
Upload
Mbps
Latency
ms

Fixed Broadband

Download
Mbps
Upload
Mbps
Latency
ms
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 Solomon Islands - Frequently Asked Questions
How affordable is Solomon Islands for travelers, expats, and digital nomads, and who tends to find value there?
Compared with major capitals, Solomon Islands offers relatively gentle everyday costs, especially for housing, local food, and outdoor activities. In urban centers like Honiara you may find practical apartments and a range of eateries that keep dining affordable, while imported goods and specialty items push up prices. Rural isles tend to be even more budget-friendly if you adapt shopping and transport to local routines. Cost of Living in Solomon Islands varies by island and lifestyle, so you can design a simple yet comfortable setup with careful planning around markets and ferries. Tip: Look for guesthouses with kitchen access and flexible leases to stay nimble.
What does daily life look like on the ground in the Solomon Islands, including housing, food, transport, and coworking options?
Daily life centers on flexible schedules and close access to nature. Housing search favors long-term rentals in urban zones near markets or harbors, with basic apartments to fit different budgets. Food options range from grand markets with fresh produce to simple eateries that cater to local tastes; for cooking at home, local staples are reliable. Transport most commonly involves buses, ferries, or shared taxis; plan for slower timetables and occasional delays. Solomon Islands living cost tends to be influenced by location, so pick a base that minimizes long commutes and keeps errands manageable. Tip: Test the area with a weekend reconnaissance walk and chat with locals about transit times.
What are practical budgeting strategies and neighborhood considerations to maximize quality of life in the Solomon Islands?
Quality of life in Solomon Islands centers on community, outdoor access, and a slower pace. Build a simple budgeting framework: separate essentials (housing, food, transport) from discretionary spending (e.g., weekend trips, coworking). Save by choosing local markets, using shared transport, and staying in homes with kitchen facilities. Seasonality affects weather and goods availability; plan around the rainy season and local harvest cycles to maintain steady grocery options. To find the right neighborhood, consider proximity to markets, clinics, and reliable internet if you work remotely. Tip: Start with a short-term stay in a few areas to test fit before committing long-term.
What are living expenses in Solomon Islands in 2026?
In 2026, monthly costs in Solomon Islands range from $2,097 in smaller cities to $2,120 in major hubs. Where you choose to live makes a dramatic difference – the gap between cheapest and most expensive cities is huge.
How do living costs vary between cities in Solomon Islands?
Living costs across Solomon Islands vary hugely by location. In 2026, monthly expenses range from $2,097 in affordable regions to $2,120 in major cities. Capitals and tourist spots are at the top; smaller provincial towns are significantly cheaper.
How much does housing cost in Solomon Islands?
Rent in Solomon Islands varies a lot – Honiara has the highest prices, and the gap between capital and provincial rents can be 50% or more. Choosing which city to live in is one of the biggest financial decisions you'll make.
Is $2,500 enough for living in Solomon Islands?
In regional cities, $2,500 is plenty. In Honiara? You'll need to plan carefully, especially around housing. Shared apartments or outer neighborhoods are the usual workarounds.
How affordable is living in Solomon Islands?
Solomon Islands is mid-range globally, with more affordable cities starting around $2,097 per month. Not the cheapest option out there, but far from the most expensive – a reasonable balance of cost and quality of life.

Solomon Islands vs other spots: cost of living compared

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