Living in Tarawa
What it really costs to live in Tarawa, what you can earn, the visas that get you in, and the taxes you'll pay — for Kiribati, updated 2026. Tarawa lies in Micronesia. Kiribati's capital is South Tarawa. The main languages are English, Gilbertese. The currency is the dollar.
Cost of Living in Tarawa
Full Monthly Breakdown for Tarawa
What You Can Earn in Kiribati
Typical gross annual salaries in Kiribati by sector (entry · median · senior). Tarawa pay usually sits around the national median.
| Sector | Entry | Median | Senior |
|---|---|---|---|
| it | €13 000 | €18 500 | €26 000 |
| retail | €7 500 | €10 500 | €14 500 |
| finance | €11 000 | €16 000 | €22 500 |
| education | €9 500 | €13 500 | €19 000 |
| healthcare | €10 000 | €14 000 | €20 000 |
| engineering | €12 000 | €17 000 | €23 500 |
| hospitality | €8 000 | €11 000 | €15 500 |
| construction | €9 500 | €14 000 | €19 500 |
Living in Tarawa: Safety, Health & Climate
Tarawa shares Kiribati's wider quality-of-life profile. Tarawa has a tropical climate. Here is what daily life looks like on the things that matter most when you relocate.
Visa Routes to Kiribati
Affording Tarawa is only half the question — you also need a visa that lets you stay in Kiribati. The main routes:
- A job offer is normally required for the main work route.
- Permanent residence after about 5 years.
- Investment route from about €15 000 (USD).
Taxes in Kiribati
Top marginal rate 15%, VAT 10%.
Settling into Tarawa
- Foreigners can open a local bank account in Kiribati.
- Budget around €2 100 for first-month setup in Tarawa.
- Regulated professions needing credential recognition: Medicine, Teaching.
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How much does it cost to live in Tarawa?
A single person in central Tarawa should budget about €1 115/month, roughly €1 055 outside the centre. A family of four needs around €2 450/month.
Can I get a visa to live in Kiribati?
Yes — the main route usually needs a job offer, with permanent residence reachable in about 5 years. See the full Kiribati 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: Kiribati Guide · Visa Comparison · All Countries