Solomon Islands · Cost of living

Living in Honiara

What it really costs to live in Honiara, what you can earn, the visas that get you in, and the taxes you'll pay — for Solomon Islands, updated 2026. Honiara lies in Melanesia. The main language is English. The currency is the Solomon dollar.

€1 380–€1 510Single / month
42/100Safety
10.2%Tax @ €90k
5 yrsTo residency
Monthly cost

Cost of Living in Honiara

€450
1BR centre/mo
€320
1BR outside/mo
€400
Groceries/mo
€60
Transport/mo
€150
Utilities/mo
€80
Internet/mo
Breakdown

Full Monthly Breakdown for Honiara

1BR Apartment (Centre)€450/mo
1BR Apartment (Outside)€320/mo
3BR Apartment (Centre)€900/mo
Groceries (single)€400/mo
Transport pass€60/mo
Utilities€150/mo
Internet€80/mo
Health insurance€120/mo
Entertainment & dining€250/mo
Total single (centre)€1 510/mo
Family of 4 (centre)€3 200/mo
Earnings

What You Can Earn in Solomon Islands

Typical gross annual salaries in Solomon Islands by sector (entry · median · senior). Honiara pay usually sits around the national median.

SectorEntryMedianSenior
it€12 500€18 000€25 000
retail€4 000€5 500€7 500
finance€10 000€14 000€19 500
education€6 000€8 500€12 000
healthcare€9 000€12 500€17 500
engineering€10 500€15 000€21 000
hospitality€4 500€6 500€9 000
construction€6 500€9 500€13 500
Daily life

Living in Honiara: Safety, Health & Climate

Honiara shares Solomon Islands's wider quality-of-life profile. Honiara has a tropical climate. Here is what daily life looks like on the things that matter most when you relocate.

🛡️
42/100
Safety index
🏥
51/100
Healthcare
🗣️
High
English
🌤️
28°C
Summer avg
📶
8.2Mbps
Internet
😊
6.2/10
Expat satisfaction
Getting in

Visa Routes to Solomon Islands

Affording Honiara is only half the question — you also need a visa that lets you stay in Solomon Islands. The main routes:

  • A job offer is normally required for the main work route.
  • Permanent residence after about 5 years.
  • Citizenship after ~5 years — dual nationality allowed.
  • Investment route from about €15 000 (USD).

See all Solomon Islands visa routes compared →

Money kept

Taxes in Solomon Islands

10.2%
Effective @ €90k

Top marginal rate 20%, VAT 10%.

Setting up

Settling into Honiara

  • Foreigners can open a local bank account in Solomon Islands.
  • Budget around €1 800 for first-month setup in Honiara.
  • Regulated professions needing credential recognition: Medicine, Law, Engineering.

Get Your Solomon Islands Emigration Report

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FAQ

Honiara FAQ

How much does it cost to live in Honiara?

A single person in central Honiara should budget about €1 510/month, roughly €1 380 outside the centre. A family of four needs around €3 200/month.

Can I get a visa to live in Solomon Islands?

Yes — the main route usually needs a job offer, with permanent residence reachable in about 5 years. See the full Solomon Islands visa comparison for the route that fits you.

Sources: salaries, taxes, safety, healthcare and visa data from World Bank, OECD, the Global Peace Index and official government portals. Cost-of-living figures are community-sourced benchmarks — a guide, not a quote. Last reviewed 2026-05.

Related: Solomon Islands Guide · Visa Comparison · All Countries