Oceania · Melanesia
Solomon Islands
The Solomon Islands are among the least developed countries here, and that shapes everything about a stay. Honiara is the only place with meaningful services, and even there you need backup connectivity and patience with outages. The outer islands offer untouched diving, but travel between them depends on unreliable transport. Imported goods are expensive, and there is no nomad visa. Everyday crime is low, though there have been periods of unrest in the capital, so check current conditions. This suits a defined trip more than an open-ended stay, in the drier months from May to October.
Nomad quick facts
$1880/mo
$3010/mo
25.0 Mbps
1.90 (#85 of 190)
Limited
May–Oct
Not available
57.6 / 100
Score breakdown
Untouched diving and beaches, remote and uncrowded, low everyday crime.
Very poor internet, minimal amenities and infrastructure, expensive imported goods, unreliable inter-island transport, no nomad visa.
Cost of living in the Solomon Islands
The Solomon Islands is moderately expensive by Pacific standards, with imported food, fuel and consumer goods driving up prices. Honiara is the main practical base and offers the widest range of accommodation and services. Local seafood and produce can be relatively affordable, helping offset some of the higher costs of imported goods.
Estimated monthly cost
Single
$1,880/mo
Couple
$3,010/mo
Cost score inputs
Livingcost
70/100
WB PLI
91.8
Score blends a nomad-realistic monthly cost estimate (built from livingcost.org data, adjusted for short-term nomad spending like furnished housing, coworking, and eating out) with the World Bank's Household Consumption Price Level Index, a broader cross-country cost benchmark. Countries without World Bank price-level data are scored on the livingcost estimate alone. Prices displayed in USD.
The nomad cost estimate reflects a realistic single/couple monthly budget, not a bare local cost of living — actual spending still varies with lifestyle and location within a country.
Sources: livingcost.org · World Bank Household Consumption Price Level Index · Independent nomad cost estimates
Internet in the Solomon Islands
The Solomon Islands has modest download speed with no reliable ul/latency data, and internet is generally poor and inconsistent; Honiara is the best bet for remote work, but a backup connection is advisable.
Download speed
25.0 Mbps
Blends download speed (Ookla Speedtest Global Index) with upload speed and latency (Cloudflare Radar). Speeds are scored between 10 Mbps (0) and 200 Mbps (100); latency counts the opposite way — lower is better. A missing metric doesn't penalize a country, it's scored on whatever data is available.
A national average — city and neighbourhood speeds vary, especially outside major hubs.
Get an eSIM for arrival →Sources: Ookla Speedtest Global Index · Cloudflare Radar
Safety in the Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands is generally safe for visitors, with low everyday crime in Honiara and the outer islands; periodic social unrest has occurred in the capital in recent years, so it's worth checking current conditions before basing there long-term.
Global safety rank
#85 of 190
Estimated safety score
1.90 (lower = safer; not covered by the Global Peace Index)
Blends three published safety indices: the Global Peace Index, the WJP Rule of Law Index (Order & Security factor), and the Gallup Global Law and Order Index. Places the Global Peace Index doesn't cover use our own estimate, based on regional peers and crime data. Each is rescaled 0-100 and combined with weights favoring GPI and Gallup slightly over WJP. Not every country is tracked by all three — the blend adjusts to whichever are available (weights are renormalized) rather than penalizing a country for a missing source, though a country tracked by fewer sources carries lower confidence.
As this is national average data, be aware that safety varies significantly by city and region within a country.
Get nomad insurance →Sources: Global Peace Index (Institute for Economics & Peace) · WJP Rule of Law Index (World Justice Project) · Gallup Global Law and Order Index
Tourism & infrastructure in the Solomon Islands
Guadalcanal's WWII history and world-class wreck diving around Gizo and Munda give the Solomon Islands genuine appeal for adventurous divers. This is a destination for the truly adventurous rather than a practical remote-work base, given very poor internet and minimal infrastructure.
Within-city transit
Limited
Between-city transit
Limited
Tropical; hot and humid year-round with a wetter season Nov–Apr (cyclone risk).
Best months: May–Oct
The Solomon Islands' transit consists of privately run minibuses and taxis in Honiara that ply the main road cheaply but informally, with no rail. Travel between the scattered islands relies on ferries, small boats and domestic flights. Renting a vehicle or using taxis is common; Honiara is walkable along its single main strip but services are basic.
A weighted blend of published indices: the World Economic Forum's Travel & Tourism Development Index (weighted highest — the strongest predictor of appeal), Numbeo's Quality of Life Index, the World Happiness Report, Gallup's day-to-day enjoyment data, the EF English Proficiency Index, and a public transit assessment covering both within-city and between-city transport. Not every country is scored on all six — the blend adjusts to whichever are available rather than penalizing a country for a missing one.
Sources: WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index · Numbeo Quality of Life Index · World Happiness Report · Gallup · EF English Proficiency Index · Public transit assessment
Solomon Islands visa and entry rules for digital nomads
Tourist entry — USA passport
Visa-free — 90 days
Tourism Visa Note
US citizens are completely exempt from the new online eVisa system. Upon arrival, they receive a free Visitor's Permit valid for up to 90 days total within a rolling 12-month period. Entry requires a passport valid for at least 6 months beyond the departure date, a confirmed return or onward ticket, and proof of sufficient funds.
Digital nomad visa
No dedicated digital-nomad route
Other long-stay options
Residence Permit, Work Permit
Visa and entry requirements can change. Check the latest information from official government sources before travelling; eligibility, documents and permitted activities depend on your nationality and personal circumstances.
Tax & residency in the Solomon Islands
Tax-residency timing
More than six months, where the individual resides or intends to reside in Solomon Islands
How the day count works
The tax authority describes duration as a stay or intention to stay longer than six months; exact day-count mechanics are not stated
Other residency triggers
Residing in the country or an intention to reside there for longer than six months
Remote work before residence
May be taxable. A nonresident who derives Solomon Islands income remains liable to local tax; services performed there may be local-source
If you become tax resident
Residents are generally taxed on worldwide income; nonresidents are taxed on Solomon Islands-source income, subject to statutory rules
What this usually means for nomads
Residing or intending to reside for more than six months can create tax residence. Solomon Islands-source income can be taxable before residence. Local work, a home or a longer planned stay increases the risk; the tax authority does not specify a day-count formula
Tax rules can change and depend on your residency status, income structure, time spent in the country and applicable tax treaties. This information is general only and is not financial or tax advice. Consult a qualified tax professional before relying on it.
Top cities for nomads in Solomon Islands
Honiara is the only real base, with basic amenities and the country's best internet. Gizo and Munda, in the Western Province, are the diving centres, with wartime wrecks and lagoons.
Capital & largest; the only real base; most (basic) amenities & internet, but limited & can be unstable.
Western Province hub; world-class diving & WWII wrecks, laid-back; remote.
Diving & WWII-history town; lagoons, wrecks, eco-lodges; very off-grid.
Malaita's main town; traditional culture, markets, very basic amenities.
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