The Solomon Islands is a Pacific archipelago of nearly 1,000 islands offering pristine diving sites, WWII history, traditional Melanesian culture, and untouched natural beauty. From the bustling capital Honiara to remote coral atolls, this destination provides authentic South Pacific experiences far from mass tourism.
Local currency: Solomon Islands Dollar (SBD).
Daily budget by traveller style
Typical per-person daily spend in Solomon Islands.
Cost breakdown
Typical price ranges across major spending categories.
Accommodation
- Hostel
- $30-40 USD
- Budget
- $40-65 USD (basic guesthouse)
- Midrange
- $90-160 USD
- Luxury
- $200-380+ USD
Food
- Street
- $5-8 USD (market stall meal)
- Local
- $8-15 USD (local restaurant)
- Midrange
- $20-40 USD (hotel restaurant)
- Fine
- $60-100+ USD (Capitana, Club Havana)
Transport
- Bus
- $0.50-1.50 USD (PMV within Honiara)
- Taxi
- $6-12 USD (city trip)
- Airport
- $18-25 USD (taxi to Henderson Airport)
- Daytrip
- $60-100 USD (taxi full day hire for sightseeing)
Activities
- Museum
- $3-4 USD (National Museum)
- Sites
- $4-6 USD (Vilu War Museum)
- Tour
- $60-100 USD (guided day tour)
- Excursion
- $80-150 USD (diving, boat day trip)
Trip budgets by length
What a typical trip to Solomon Islands costs end-to-end.
Budget traveller
$560-700 USD/week (guesthouse, market food, PMVs, free sites)
Midrange traveller
$1,260-1,750 USD/week (mid-range hotel, restaurant dining, occasional tours)
Luxury traveller
$2,450-3,500+ USD/week (top hotels, fine dining, private charters, diving)
Money-saving tips
Practical ways to stretch your budget further.
Eat at the Central Market food stalls for genuine local food at SBD 20-40 per meal — the freshest and most authentic food in Honiara at a fraction of restaurant prices
Share a taxi for the day with other travellers (SBD 800 full day split 2-4 ways) rather than taking individual trips — covers all major sites for $25-50 USD per person
Stay in Chinatown guesthouses (Grace Hotel, similar) for basic but safe budget accommodation from $45-70 USD rather than Mendana Avenue hotels
Buy water and snacks at Kukum Highway supermarkets rather than hotel minibar prices
Fly with Solomon Airlines domestic connections booked well in advance for better pricing on island-hopping routes
Free things to do
Memorable experiences that cost nothing.
Guadalcanal American Memorial
Free admission to the most impressive WWII memorial in the Pacific, with panoramic views over Iron Bottom Sound. One of the country's most moving and significant sites.
Honiara Waterfront Walk
Walk the Mendana Avenue waterfront from the Central Market to Point Cruz Yacht Club, watching fishing boats, traditional canoes, and stunning sunsets over Iron Bottom Sound.
Central Market Exploration
Browse the vibrant Central Market for free, experiencing the colour and chaos of Pacific island market life with tropical produce, fish, and handicraft vendors.
Point Cruz Sunset Viewing
Watch the sunset over Iron Bottom Sound from the Point Cruz waterfront — consistently stunning and completely free.
Honiara Botanical Gardens
A peaceful garden with native Solomon Islands plants and endemic bird species. Pleasant for morning walks and birdwatching with no admission charge.
Henderson Field History Walk
Walk around the perimeter of Henderson International Airport, the original WWII airfield whose control was the primary strategic objective of the Guadalcanal Campaign.