Last update: Nov 2026 108K

Cost of Living in Tonga

Name: Tonga
Address: TO

Across Tonga, living costs for one person average $1,068 a month, including rent and utilities, which take less than a third of the total. Other living expenses average about $27 a day.

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🇹🇴 Tonga

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Tonga

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

Average monthly costs for a single person come to about $1,068 including rent across Tonga.

$1,068 /mo

Estimated average monthly cost for a couple: $1,895 including rent across Tonga.

$1,895 /mo

Average monthly costs for a family of three come to about $2,722 including rent across Tonga.

$2,722 /mo

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.49 TOP 20.15

$4.24 TOP 10.06

$10.61 TOP 25.17

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$62.1 TOP 147

$74.5 TOP 177

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.27 TOP 24.38

Cappuccino

$2.85 TOP 6.76

$2.04 TOP 4.83

$7.32 TOP 17.36

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

$2.77 TOP 6.57

$1.62 TOP 3.84

$4.45 TOP 10.57

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.51 TOP 5.96

$1.28 TOP 3.03

$5.08 TOP 12.06

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.37 TOP 8.00

$2.53 TOP 6.00

$4.21 TOP 10.00

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.93 TOP 11.69

$2.88 TOP 6.83

$6.16 TOP 14.63

Milk (1 liter)

$1.52 TOP 3.60

$1.41 TOP 3.35

$1.62 TOP 3.84

White Bread (500g)

$1.01 TOP 2.40

$0.81 TOP 1.91

$1.13 TOP 2.67

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.09 TOP 4.97

$1.47 TOP 3.50

$2.11 TOP 5.02

Eggs

$5.06 TOP 12.00

$4.62 TOP 10.96

$5.29 TOP 12.54

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.87 TOP 21.06

$3.69 TOP 8.75

$16.38 TOP 38.86

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.82 TOP 13.81

$2.06 TOP 4.89

$12.34 TOP 29.27

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.71 TOP 18.29

$7.09 TOP 16.82

$8.34 TOP 19.79

Apples (1kg)

$2.78 TOP 6.61

$2.09 TOP 4.96

$4.17 TOP 9.90

Banana (1kg)

$2.80 TOP 6.65

$2.10 TOP 4.99

$4.20 TOP 9.96

Oranges (1kg)

$2.87 TOP 6.82

$2.05 TOP 4.87

$4.10 TOP 9.72

Tomato (1kg)

$3.77 TOP 8.95

$2.10 TOP 4.98

$5.02 TOP 11.91

Potato (1kg)

$3.09 TOP 7.33

$2.42 TOP 5.74

$4.03 TOP 9.56

Onion (1kg)

$2.61 TOP 6.20

$1.24 TOP 2.94

$4.12 TOP 9.78

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.27 TOP 5.40

$2.13 TOP 5.06

$2.55 TOP 6.05

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.37 TOP 3.24

$0.82 TOP 1.95

$2.47 TOP 5.85

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.08 TOP 23.91

$9.87 TOP 23.42

$10.28 TOP 24.38

Wine (Bottle)

$17.28 TOP 41.00

$16.85 TOP 39.99

$17.69 TOP 41.98

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.13 TOP 7.44

$2.45 TOP 5.82

$4.09 TOP 9.70

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.24 TOP 7.68

$2.43 TOP 5.76

$4.05 TOP 9.60

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.10 TOP 4.99

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.18 TOP 97.7

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.12 TOP 5.04

$4.24 TOP 10.06

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.13 TOP 5.05

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.14 TOP 97.6

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 TOP 3.39

$1.23 TOP 2.92

$1.64 TOP 3.88

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

$5,734 TOP 13.6K

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

$8,293 TOP 19.7K

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

$187 TOP 444

$83.1 TOP 197

$291 TOP 690

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

$21.82 TOP 51.8

$14.32 TOP 33.98

$28.64 TOP 68.0

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$125 TOP 296

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.96 TOP 73.5

$20.64 TOP 48.98

$41.27 TOP 97.9

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$41.65 TOP 98.8

Cinema Ticket

$41.23 TOP 97.8

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

$160 TOP 379

$109 TOP 259

$210 TOP 498

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$254 TOP 602

$84.6 TOP 201

$423 TOP 1,003

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.52 TOP 34.45

$4.14 TOP 9.83

$24.88 TOP 59.0

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.74 TOP 42.09

$10.43 TOP 24.76

$25.05 TOP 59.4

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$20.59 TOP 48.85

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.98 TOP 68.8

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$618 TOP 1,465

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$50.8 TOP 121

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$816 TOP 1,936

$408 TOP 968

$1,224 TOP 2,905

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$573 TOP 1,359

$272 TOP 645

$826 TOP 1,961

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$411 TOP 976

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$249 TOP 590

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$686 TOP 1,628

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

Last update: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Tonga $1,068

Monthly Utilities & Internet

$333 31.2%

Groceries & Markets

$291 27.2%

Eating Out

$181 16.9%

Sport & Entertainment

$113 10.6%

Getting Around

$62 5.8%

Accommodation & Living

$51 4.8%

Clothing & Footwear

$37 3.5%

Cost Breakdown

National average salary: $675. With average costs at $1,068, it doesn’t cover a typical monthly budget. Expats and remote workers with foreign income benefit most.

Expect to spend about $292 monthly on groceries. Dining out at a mid-range restaurant averages $61 for two.

Cost Highlights

Overall cost of living ($1,068) is 21% below the global median of $1,352.

Dinner for two at a restaurant ($61) is 30% above the global median of $47.

Public transport ($42) is 27% above the global median of $33.

Good to know

🕒 Local time

14:07 2:07 PM

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

108,020

💱 Currency

Tongan Paʻanga TOP T$

📈 Exchange rate

1 TOP = 0.421 USD

1 TOP = 0.375 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

By City in Tonga

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	Neiafu	4000						150.99	138.68
2	Nuku'alofa	24500	49	$829	$1,013	$1,956	$2,694	112.98	99.25
3	Vava'u	501						140.17	53.61

Tonga 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 Tonga - Frequently Asked Questions

Cost of Living in Tonga is moderate by Pacific island standards. You’ll find affordable options if you lean into local solutions – guesthouses, simple apartments, and family-run stays can feel budget-friendly, while imported goods and resort-style experiences push costs higher. The vibe favors a relaxed, outdoor-oriented lifestyle with community and safety as daily perks. Seasonal tourism can affect availability more than price, so planning ahead matters. Tip: start with a longer stay in one area to build familiarity and negotiate favorable terms.

Daily life blends fresh local produce, simple rentals, and pragmatic transport. When you search housing, a local contact helps you find straightforward rentals or homestays in Tongatapu, with more seclusion on outer islands. For food, frequent local markets and home cooking stretch budgets; Western groceries exist but can be pricier and farther to reach. Transport options include short rides and ferries between islands, with occasional buses in towns. Co-working spaces and wifi-enabled cafes are growing, though connectivity can vary by area. Tonga living cost awareness helps you plan groceries and errands efficiently. Tip: build a regular errands route to save time and energy.

Quality of life here hinges on a laid-back pace, outdoor activities, and safety. Use a simple budgeting framework: separate essentials (housing, utilities, groceries) from discretionary spends (eating out, activities) and review weekly. For neighborhood fit, Tongatapu city centers offer services and coworking, while outer islands deliver tranquility and strong community ties. Seasonality influences travel plans, outdoor options, and some availability of services, so align your schedule with calmer periods if possible. Ways to save: buy locally, cook at home, barter or trade favors, and use shared resources. Tip: keep a small stash of essentials for quick weekend getaways.

Nuku’alofa sits at the top of the rental market in Tonga, with regional cities offering noticeably better value. Even moving a short distance from major urban centers can save you a significant amount on housing.