Cost Of Living For a Student in Tonga 2025
Average Monthly Expenditure
Currency: TOP
Average monthly spending for students in Tonga
How much money does a student need in a month to survive in Tonga?
Students in Tonga spend around 920 TOP per month on average. Depending on the lifestyle, a student can survive with a monthly budget as low as 140 TOP or as high as 6,100 TOP. Location is a very important factor and has a huge influence on expenditure and budget.
Prices and cost of goods and services in Tonga
Dining, food, and beverages costs
Fast food combo meal
Restaurant meal for one
Fine dining meal for one
Cappuccino or latte
Grocery and market costs
Milk large bottle
12 eggs
Fresh whole chicken
Pack of beef
Medium bag of rice
Bag of tomatos
| 0.37 TOP | 0.49 TOP | 0.91 TOP |
Bag of apples
| 0.65 TOP | 0.85 TOP | 1.4 TOP |
Commute, travel, and transportation costs
20 minutes taxi ride
Average car full tank
Average car 1-day rental
Average car price
| 4,600 TOP | 9,100 TOP | 12,000 TOP |
Bus ticket one way
| 0.31 TOP | 0.46 TOP | 0.91 TOP |
Car Service
Utility cost (monthly)
Utility Bill - Student
Internet and cable
Mobile phone charges
Leisure and activities costs
Movie ticket
One month gym membership
Cloths and accessories costs
Pair of jeans or pants
Woman dress
Woman shoes
Men's shoes
Men suit
Regular t-shirt
Housing costs / monthly rent
Studio apartment
1-bedroom apartment
2-bedroom apartment
| 300 TOP | 460 TOP | 1,200 TOP |
Housing costs / Buying
Studio apartment
| 30,000 TOP | 46,000 TOP | 91,000 TOP |
1-bedroom apartment
| 37,000 TOP | 61,000 TOP | 230,000 TOP |
2-bedroom apartment
| 61,000 TOP | 180,000 TOP | 370,000 TOP |
Furniture Costs
King Size Bed
Double Bed
Single Bed
Living Room
Dining Table
Sofa or Couch
Electronics and House Appliance Costs
TV Set
Fridge or Freezer
Washing Machine
Stove or Cooker
Mobile Phone
Laptop or Computer
How do students spend their money in Tonga?
We asked thousands of students about their spending habits and expenditure break down.
Housing and accomodation expenditure for students
Accomodation Cost18%
18% of total expenses on average (13% to 24%)
| LOW | $14 33 TOP |
| AVERAGE | $93 220 TOP |
| HIGH | $620 1,500 TOP |
| Per Month |
Students in Tonga typically spend from 13% to 24% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 18% being the average. The average monthly spend on housing is 220 TOP with expenditure ranging from 33 TOP to 1,500 TOP. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses.
Electricity, utilities, energy, water, internet, and mobile expenditure for students
Cost of utilities6%
6% of total expenses on average (4% to 10%)
| LOW | $2.3 5.5 TOP |
| AVERAGE | $15 37 TOP |
| HIGH | $100 250 TOP |
| Per Month |
Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Tonga ranges from 4% to 10% of total expenses with 6% being the average for most students. The average monthly cost of utilities is 37 TOP with 5.5 TOP and 250 TOP being the upper and lower limits for a student of four.
Transport, fuel, and commute expenditure for students
Cost of transport and fuel4%
4% of total expenses on average (4% to 10%)
| LOW | $4.1 9.7 TOP |
| AVERAGE | $27 64 TOP |
| HIGH | $180 430 TOP |
| Per Month |
Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether a student resides near school and work, but roughly speaking a student would expect to spend from 9.7 TOP to 430 TOP in a month on commuting with 64 TOP being the norm for most students. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 4% of total spending on average but can go as low as 4% or as high as 10%.
Food, groceries, and basic shopping expenditure for students
Food and Groceries Cost23%
23% of total expenses on average (17% to 27%)
| LOW | $12 28 TOP |
| AVERAGE | $77 180 TOP |
| HIGH | $520 1,200 TOP |
| Per Month |
The average outlay on groceries and basic houshold items for a typical student in a month in Tonga is 180 TOP. The cost of groceries can range between 28 TOP to 1,200 TOP. Students spend on average about 23% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 17% and 27% respectively.
Healthcare and medical services expenditure for students
Cost of healthcare9%
9% of total expenses on average (6% to 12%)
| LOW | $3.5 8.3 TOP |
| AVERAGE | $23 55 TOP |
| HIGH | $150 370 TOP |
| Per Month |
Students in Tonga allocate 6% to 12% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending on medical services and clinic visits is around 9%. The range of medical expenses range from 8.3 TOP to 370 TOP with 55 TOP being the norm for most students.
Leisure and shopping expenditure for students
Cost of leisure and shopping3%
3% of total expenses on average (2% to 7%)
| LOW | $2.9 6.9 TOP |
| AVERAGE | $19 46 TOP |
| HIGH | $130 310 TOP |
| Per Month |
This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 6.9 TOP to 310 TOP with 46 TOP being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 2% to 7% of total expenses with an average of 3% for most students.
Education and schooling expenditure for students
Cost of education and schooling18%
18% of total expenses on average (11% to 23%)
| LOW | $11 26 TOP |
| AVERAGE | $74 170 TOP |
| HIGH | $490 1,200 TOP |
| Per Month |
Spending on education can vary drastically between different students. On average, education constitutes 18% of the monthly expenditure of students with 11% and 23% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 170 TOP per month with 26 TOP being the minimum spent amount and 1,200 TOP being the maximum.
Other Expenses18%
18% of total expenses on average (12% to 24%)
| LOW | $8.8 21 TOP |
| AVERAGE | $58 140 TOP |
| HIGH | $390 920 TOP |
| Per Month |
Affordable living in Tonga
Income and cost of living compatibility
We asked students one simple question and recorded their answers.
Is it affordable or economical to live in Tonga?
Around 54% of surveyed students think that living in Tonga is affordable with proper budgeting while 46% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.
A typical and healthy budgeting structure
The 50/30/20 rule
Spending among different people can vary significantly based on factors such as their income, lifestyle,
location, and personal preferences. A commonly used guideline for budgeting is the 50/30/20 rule,
which suggests allocating your income into three main categories in the following percentages.
50% for needs and financial obligations
This category includes essential expenses like housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, and healthcare.
30% for wants and discretionary spending
This category covers discretionary spending on non-essential items, such as dining out, entertainment, travel, and other lifestyle choices.
20% for savings and emergency fund
This is the percentage that must be allocated to savings, emergency funds, and retirement accounts.
About financial planning, money management, and household budgeting
The 50/30/20 rule is used as a general guideline but may not be the best choice for all people. There are in fact many budgeting plans out there like the 70/20/10 and the 60/20/20 rules, all claiming to be the best. More important than all of this is to establish financial discipline by creating a budget tailored to your specific financial goals and situation. It is very important that your financial outflow be less than your income to maintain a healthy cash flow.
Low-cost alternatives in Tonga
People are always looking for ways to cut down expenses and reduce expenditures. The hallmark of any affordable place is the availability of discount stores, bargain deals, smart or secondhand shopping, refurbished items, and couponing. We asked students how easily cost-cutting is and the answers were distributed as follows:
Plenty of low-cost options56%
Few low-cost options44%
Based on the survey, 56% of the students living in Tonga have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 44% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.
Emergency Funds For Students
An emergency fund is a financial safety net comprised of easily accessible savings set aside to cover unexpected expenses or financial emergencies, typically amounting to three to six months' worth of living expenses. We asked students whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.
Yes53%
No47%
Based on the survey, 47% of the students living in Tonga said that they don't have an emergency fund while 53% said that they do.
Financial Literacy in
Financial literacy is the knowledge of concepts and principles related to personal finance that allow individuals to make informed decisions regarding their money such as budgeting, saving, investing, borrowing, managing debt, financial risk management, and planning.
Financial Leteracy49%
We asked student guardians and parents in Tonga whether they acquired any adequate personal financial training in their lives. Approximately 51% of the people who participated in the survey said that they are not well informed about the topics of budgeting, saving, etc., and just manage things based on their own experience, while 49% said that they know about the general principles of personal finance from sources other than their own experience.
Difficulty in Budgeting and Financial Planning
We wanted to understand whether students of have problems or difficulties in managing their expenditures and savings so we asked people one simple question: do you struggle with your personal finances? 44% of the participants reported that they indeed struggle in creating budgets and in organizing their finances while 56% said that they have everything under control.
Struggles with finance44%
Easily manages finances56%
Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in Tonga
Rental costs and house/apartment prices can vary drastically between different areas and locations.
Rent Cost in Tonga
Monthly Rent Prices
Studio apartment monthly rent cost
1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 300 TOP | 460 TOP | 1,200 TOP |
3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 370 TOP | 610 TOP | 1,700 TOP |
Furnished apartment monthly rent cost
| 730 TOP | 1,800 TOP | 3,700 TOP |
Townhouse monthly rent cost
| 610 TOP | 910 TOP | 2,600 TOP |
House monthly rent cost
| 730 TOP | 1,800 TOP | 3,700 TOP |
Villa monthly rent cost
| 910 TOP | 2,300 TOP | 3,700 TOP |
The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Tonga ranges between 150 TOP and 610 TOP, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 230 TOP to 910 TOP. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 300 TOP and 1,200 TOP per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 370 TOP to 1,700 TOP. The average rent of a townhouse in Tonga is around 910 TOP while house rental costs can be as high as 1,800 TOP per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 910 TOP to 3,700 TOP per month.
Apartment and house prices in Tonga
Cost of buying a property
Studio apartment price
| 30,000 TOP | 46,000 TOP | 91,000 TOP |
1-bedroom apartment price
| 37,000 TOP | 61,000 TOP | 230,000 TOP |
2-bedroom apartment price
| 61,000 TOP | 180,000 TOP | 370,000 TOP |
3-bedroom apartment price
| 200,000 TOP | 300,000 TOP | 910,000 TOP |
| $86,000 | $130,000 | $380,000 |
Townhouse price
| 260,000 TOP | 610,000 TOP | 2.3M TOP |
| $110,000 | $260,000 | $960,000 |
House price
| 300,000 TOP | 1.8M TOP | 2.6M TOP |
Villa price
| 370,000 TOP | 2M TOP | 3M TOP |
The average price of a studio apartment in Tonga can range from 30,000 TOP to 91,000 TOP depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 37,000 TOP to 230,000 TOP. A villa can cost you 2M TOP on average with prices ranging from 370,000 TOP to 3M TOP.
If you're leasing or purchasing, housing costs in Tonga will probably constitute your biggest expenditure, yet it's an area where you wield considerable influence. This is due to the substantial variance in housing prices across communities. Keep in mind the location of your workplace and the accessibility of essential amenities to prevent negating the savings from lower rental rates with increased transportation expenses.
House / apartment prices to income ratio
Property price to income ratio
( average property price / average monthly income ) x 100
| 33 | x95 monthly income | 197 |
Property prices in Tonga can be x95 to x197 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x95 multiples of the average monthly salary in Tonga.
Rent to income ratio
Rent to income ratio
( monthly rental / monthly income ) x 100
The average rent-to-income ratio in Tonga is around 29%. This means that people pay 29% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 19% to 39% depending on the salary, location, and type of property.
The housing-to-income ratio is a very important metric to evaluate and measure how affordable living is in a particular area, city, or country since housing comprises the biggest chunk of expenditure. A higher housing to income ratio means that the place is relatively expensive. The figure by itself does tell much. It only starts to make sense when comparing the housing to income ratio across different locations.
Housing affordability index
The housing affordability index measures how affordable accommodation is in a particular place. This can measured in multiple ways, the most common being housing expenditure to total expenditure ratio and the rent to income ratio. The housing expenditure ratio is a figure reported by individuals on the percentage they allocate for housing. Rent to income ratio is calculated by dividing the average monthly rent by the average income. Because these values are both percentages, we can find their average and get the best of the two worlds.
Housing Affordability Index
27% Property Taxes
Real estate owners pay property taxes to local tax authorities, which are determined by the assessed value of their property. Typically, these taxes are paid once a year. Property tax funds contribute to community development, financing infrastructure improvements, public services, and local education initiatives.
Home Maintenance Costs
Home maintenance costs encompass various expenses associated with the upkeep and repair of a residence. These expenditures include regular tasks such as lawn care, pest control, and HVAC system servicing, as well as occasional repairs and renovations like fixing leaks, painting, or replacing appliances.
Urban vs. rural living costs
Urban living typically entails higher housing and transportation costs due to demand and limited space, while rural areas generally offer lower housing expenses but may have higher prices for goods and services. The differnce in rental rates between urban areas and rural areas can be as high as 300% in some cases.
Monthly costs and expenses of energy and basic utilities in Tonga
Utilities expenditure can vary slightly between different areas and locations.
Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in Tonga
Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Student
Internet and cable cost
Mobile phone bill and charges
Because most utility bills club electricity, water, and gas costs in one bill, we can't provide a breakup for each type of utility and will display electricity, gas, and water as single cost.
The average monthly energy and water consumption of students is around 37 TOP. The cost of internet and WiFi ranges from 9.1 TOP to 24 TOP with 18 TOP being the average internet bill. Finally, the average monthly mobile charges is around 12 TOP but can range between 7.3 TOP and 37 TOP depending on consumption. Mobile charges include both calling minutes as well as data packages.
Energy / Utility expense to income ratio
( monthly utility expenses / monthly income ) x 100
The average utility-to-income ratio in Tonga is around 6%. This means that people pay 6% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 3% to 10% depending on salary and location.
Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Tonga
Grocery / Food expenditure and prices can vary drastically between different areas and locations.
Prices and cost of goods and services in Tonga
Dining out, food, and beverages costs. Price variations for common food items.
Fast food combo meal price
The average price of a regular combo meal at a fast food outlet or chain like McDonald's, Pizzahut, or KFC in Tonga is approximatly 3.7 TOP with meal cost ranging from 1.8 TOP to 6.1 TOP. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.
Restaurant meal for one price
If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 6.1 TOP and 18 TOP with 9.1 TOP being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Tonga.
Fine dining meal for one price
The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 12 TOP to 73 TOP with the average cost being 18 TOP for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Tonga.
Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..
The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in Tonga is around 2.4 TOP. Price ranges between 1.5 TOP and 3.7 TOP depending on the type of beverage, the size, and optional add-ons.
Grocery and market costs
Large bottle of milk price
The average price of a large bottle of milk in Tonga is 1.5 TOP. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 1.8 TOP and the minimum being 1.2 TOP depending on the brand of milk and other properties.
12 eggs price
A dozen eggs costs around 1.2 TOP on average with 0.91 TOP and 1.8 TOP being the lower and upper limits respectively.
Fresh whole chicken price
The price range of a fresh whole chicken in Tonga is between 2.1 TOP and 3.8 TOP depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 2.7 TOP.
Pack of beef price
The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 3.7 TOP. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.
Medium bag of rice price
A bag of rice in Tonga costs around 1.3 TOP on average with prices rangeing between 0.98 TOP and 1.9 TOP depending on the brand and quality.
Bag of tomatos price
| 0.37 TOP | 0.49 TOP | 0.91 TOP |
A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 0.37 TOP to 0.91 TOP. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.
Bag of apples price
| 0.65 TOP | 0.85 TOP | 1.4 TOP |
A bag of apples costs 0.85 TOP on average. A bag of apples denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.
Expenditure on food and grocery for students
Students' spending on grocery ranges from 28 TOP to 1,200 TOP with the location, income, and size of the student being the most determinite factors.
