Cost of living in Honiara

Honiara, the capital city of the Solomon Islands, offers a unique blend of cultural heritage and modern living. Understanding the cost of living in Honiara is crucial for anyone considering moving to or visiting this vibrant city.

This guide provides a detailed breakdown of the expenses you can expect, from dining and groceries to housing and transportation, helping you plan your budget effectively.

Cost of Living Summary

Dining and Restaurants

  • Inexpensive Restaurant Meal - A meal at a casual restaurant will typically cost $5.98 on average.
  • Mid-Range Restaurant (Three-Course Meal for Two) - For a more upscale dining experience, expect to pay around $62.83, with prices ranging from $53.86 to $71.81.
  • Fast Food (e.g., McDonald's) - A McMeal or equivalent combo meal averages $14.96, with a range between $14.36 and $15.56.
  • Beverages (e.g., Domestic Beer, Imported Beer, Cappuccino, Coke/Pepsi) - Domestic beer ranges from $1.56 to $2.99, imported beer $2.39 to $5.39, cappuccino $1.8 to $5.39, and Coke/Pepsi $1.2 to $1.8.

Grocery Prices

  • Milk - Milk is priced between $2.15 and $2.99 per liter, averaging $2.39.
  • Bread (Loaf of Fresh White Bread) - A loaf of fresh white bread costs between $1.2 and $1.56, with an average price of $1.36.
  • Eggs (Dozen) - A dozen eggs range from $3.59 to $6.46, averaging $4.71.
  • Fruits (e.g., Apples, Oranges) - Apples cost $2.75 to $11.97 per kg, while oranges range from $4.31 to $11.97 per kg.
  • Vegetables (e.g., Potatoes, Lettuce) - Potatoes are priced between $1.2 and $2.87 per kg, and lettuce costs $0.6 to $4.19 per head.

Transportation

  • Public Transport (One-Way Ticket) - A one-way local transport ticket costs between $0.36 and $0.72.
  • Fuel (Gasoline) - Gasoline is priced between $1.2 and $1.62 per liter.
  • Taxi Fares - Taxi fares start at $1.2, with a cost of $1.2 per km and $11.97 per hour of waiting.

Housing Costs

  • 1-Bedroom Apartment Rent (City Centre) - Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in the city centre ranges from $418.88 to $718.09, averaging $538.57.
  • 1-Bedroom Apartment Rent (Outside Centre) - Outside the centre, rent ranges from $359.04 to $1196.81, averaging $628.33.
  • 3-Bedroom Apartment Rent (City Centre) - Rent for a 3-bedroom apartment in the city centre ranges from $777.93 to $4787.25, averaging $1232.72.
  • 3-Bedroom Apartment Rent (Outside Centre) - Outside the centre, rent ranges from $478.72 to $2992.03, averaging $837.77.
  • Buying Price per Square Meter (City Centre) - The price per square meter to buy an apartment in the city centre is $83776.84.
  • Buying Price per Square Meter (Outside Centre) - Outside the centre, the price per square meter is $59840.54.

Utilities

  • Basic Utilities (Electricity, Heating, Water, etc.) - Basic utilities for an 85m2 apartment average $718.09.
  • Internet - Internet services average $119.68.

Cost of Living Data

The following pricing data has been gathered from 15 user contributions, as of the most recent update in November, 2024.
Restaurants
Avg / Range
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant
$5.98
Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course
$62.83
McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal)
$14.96
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.27
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39
Coke/Pepsi (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.20
Cappuccino (regular)
$3.79
Markets
Avg / Range
Milk (regular), (1 liter)
$2.39
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g)
$1.36
Eggs (regular) (12)
$4.71
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.55
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.03
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)
$8.08
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.87
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.67
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro)
$3.83
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.77
Apples (1kg)
$8.08
Oranges (1kg)
$9.77
Potato (1kg)
$2.06
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.35
Rice (white), (1kg)
$1.46
Tomato (1kg)
$3.43
Banana (1kg)
$2.69
Onion (1kg)
$3.35
Beef Round (1kg) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)
$18.75
Transportation
Avg / Range
One-way Ticket (Local Transport)
$0.36
Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.92
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.38
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.20
Taxi 1km (Normal Tariff)
$1.20
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.97
Rent Per Month
Avg / Range
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre
$538.57
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre
$628.33
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre
$1,232.72
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre
$837.77
Utilities (Monthly)
Avg / Range
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 85m2 Apartment
$718.09
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL)
$119.68
Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data
$14.36
Sports And Leisure
Avg / Range
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.98
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat
$3.29
Clothing And Shoes
Avg / Range
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$20.27
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...)
$89.76
1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range)
$75.80
1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes
$75.80
Buy Apartment Price
Avg / Range
Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment in City Centre
$83,776.84
Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre
$59,840.54
Salaries And Financing
Avg / Range
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$572.48
Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate
15.67%
Childcare
Avg / Range
Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child
$95.74
International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child
$2,752.67
OverviewJob Market
Honiara Cost of Living

"Key Takeaways"

Honiara offers relatively affordable dining options, with inexpensive meals costing around $5.98.

Grocery prices vary, with essentials like milk and bread being moderately priced.

Transportation is economical, with public transport tickets costing as low as $0.36.

Housing costs can be high, especially for purchasing property, with city centre prices reaching $83776.84 per square meter.

Utilities are a significant expense, averaging $718.09 per month for basic services.

Conclusion

The cost of living in Honiara, Solomon Islands, presents a mixed picture with affordable dining and transportation but higher housing and utility costs.

Prospective residents should budget carefully, especially if planning to purchase property or rent in the city centre.

Overall, Honiara offers a unique living experience with its cultural richness and economic opportunities, balanced by the need for mindful financial planning.

Honiara

Nearby Cities

We don't have any relevant "Quality of life" data on cities with a 200 mile radius of Honiara
All cities in Solomon Islands