Honiara: what to see and whether to move there

What the city lives on and who it suits

Honiara is the capital of Solomon Islands on the north coast of Guadalcanal. The city has about 90,000 residents, more with the suburbs. It grew after the Second World War next to the former American airfield fought over fiercely in 1942-1943. It holds the government, the port, banks, embassies and international organisations. People who move to Honiara are embassy and aid programme staff, contractors on construction and mining projects, and divers. For moving on your own without a job the city is hardly suitable.

Districts and housing

• Point Cruz - the centre with the port, ministries, banks and shops.
• Chinatown - the old trading quarter, badly damaged in the 2021 riots and rebuilt.
• The hills above the centre - the Lengakiki and Tasahe areas with sea views, where most foreigners live.
• The east of the city - areas near the airport and the stadium built for the 2023 Pacific Games.

Western-standard housing is scarce and taken by embassies and international organisations, so rent is usually paid by the employer.

Cost of living

• Rent - expensive for a small town because good houses are scarce.
• Groceries - almost everything is imported and expensive; fish, fruit and vegetables from the local market are cheap.
• Electricity - among the highest tariffs in the Pacific.
• Connectivity - an undersea cable made the internet faster, but it still costs more than in Australia.
• Currency - the Solomon Islands dollar; large contracts are often priced in US or Australian dollars.

Practicalities: climate, language, health

• Climate. Hot and humid all year, about +30 by day. Rain and cyclones are most frequent from November to April.
• Language. English is official, but daily life runs in the local Pijin.
• Health. Malaria and dengue fever are widespread, so prevention and mosquito protection are needed.
• Flights. The international airport has flights to Brisbane, about three hours, as well as to Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu.
• Safety. Calm in normal times, but the city saw riots and arson in 2006 and 2021, so people watch the situation around elections.

Entry and legal status

• Visits - a visitor permit is issued on arrival: up to 90 days for citizens of the Commonwealth, the European Union, the US and some other countries, 30 days for others, and no more than 90 days in 12 months in total.
• Entry conditions - a passport valid for at least 6 months, a return ticket, funds for the trip and an address to stay.
• Work - the work permit is issued by the Commissioner of Labour, and without it you cannot work for more than 30 days; the employer attaches the contract, diplomas, references and a plan for training local staff.
• Your own business - a foreign investor registers in the foreign investment register, then obtains work and residence permits.
• Residence or citizenship by investment - there are no such programmes.

We assemble and file the documents for the work permit and investor registration end to end.

Taxes

Income tax is charged on a progressive scale up to 40%, and resident companies pay 30% corporate tax. Goods tax is 10% on local goods and 15% on imports, and the government is preparing a move to value added tax at a single 15% rate. If the employer is an international organisation, part of the income may be exempt under its agreement with the country, which is checked before signing the contract.

Work and economy

• Timber - the country's main export, though logging is rapidly depleting the forests.
• Fishing - tuna and its processing.
• Mining - gold and exploration for other metals on Guadalcanal.
• Development aid - Australia, New Zealand, China, Japan and international organisations fund roads, hospitals and schools, and this is the main employer of foreigners.

Family and healthcare

• Schools - one international primary school and a few private ones; older children are often sent to school in Australia.
• Healthcare - the national hospital is overloaded and private clinics are small; complex cases fly to Brisbane, so insurance with evacuation is essential.
• Leisure - diving on Second World War wrecks in Iron Bottom Sound, memorials on the hills, and islands and villages by boat.

Is it worth living here

Pros: a warm sea, some of the world's best wreck diving, the calm life of a small town and interesting work on development projects. Cons: expensive groceries and electricity, malaria, weak healthcare and the risk of unrest. Honiara suits only those under contract with an employer providing housing and insurance with evacuation. Write in the chat and we will explain how to get a work permit or compare Solomon Islands with more convenient countries in the region.