Budget/Backpacker Travel Guide: Solomon Islands
Experience authentic local culture on a shoestring budget with hostels, street food, and public transport
Daily Budget: SBD 330-900 per day ($45-122)
Complete breakdown of costs for budget/backpacker travel in Solomon Islands
Accommodation
SBD 150-400 per night ($20-55)
You'll bunk in Honiara hostels on dorm beds, sleep in village homestays on outer islands, or crash in basic beach bungalows where the bathroom's down the sand path.
Browse budget/backpacker accommodation →Food & Dining
SBD 80-200 per day ($11-27)
Grab fresh fish and taro from market stalls, pick up roadside BBQ on sticks, or stock supermarket rice and canned goods when you want to cook for yourself.
Transportation
SBD 50-150 per day ($7-20)
Hop on Honiara's public minibuses, thumb shared truck rides between towns, then switch to local banana boats that bounce you from island to island.
Activities
SBD 50-150 per day ($7-20)
Stretch out on public beaches, poke around WWII relics like Guadalcanal battle sites, wander village paths, and snorkel straight off the sand.
Currency: SBD Solomon Islands Dollar
Money-Saving Tips
Eat at Honiara Central Market instead of hotel restaurants, typically 60-70% cheaper, and you'll smell fresh breadfruit and grilled tuna before you see them.
Ride public minibuses (SBD 3-5 per ride) rather than taxis (SBD 30-50) for 80-90% transport savings around Honiara.
Stay in village homestays on outer islands instead of resorts, usually 50-70% less while experiencing local life.
Book domestic flights 2+ months ahead for 25-40% discounts on Solomon Airlines routes.
Bring snorkel gear instead of renting, saves SBD 50-100 per day, and you'll hear the reef fish nibbling coral right off the beach.
Common Budget Mistakes to Avoid
Booking last-minute domestic flights between islands, typically 50-80% more expensive than advance bookings.
Eating exclusively at hotel restaurants, generally 100-150% markup compared to local spots serving the same fresh fish.
Taking taxis everywhere in Honiara, works out to 3-4x more than using the minibus system, though you'll share space with locals and their market produce.