Cost Of Living in Tonga 2025

Average monthly spending for singles, couples, students, and families in Tonga

Whether you're living in Tonga or planning to move there, it is very important to know the cost of living and the prices of things. Here we list the average spending for the four main population groups.

Affordable living in Tonga

Income and cost of living compatibility

We asked residents one simple question and recorded their answers.

Is it affordable or economical to live in Tonga?

Around 54% of surveyed residents 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.

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 residents of 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 residents 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%

Saving Challenges in Tonga

Reasons that make it difficult for people to save money

We wanted to understand what is stopping people from maximizing their savings in Tonga. Listed below are the answers given by the survey participants.

Around 5% of the people said that their salary is too low to accommodate a portion for savings while 8% said that the high cost of living leaves little room for savings. 15% of the residents said that they are burdened with debt and find it challenging to save money. 11% reported that they just don't have the knowledge or discipline to create and stick to a budget, leading to overspending and an inability to save. 11% blamed impulsive spending as the reason for saving inability. Around 7% said that unexpected expenses like medical bills or car repairs are derailing their savings goals. 6% bluntly said that they don't see the purpose of it and prefer to live each day to the fullest. 20% reported that they understand the value of saving but are putting off saving for the future, thinking they have plenty of time to start later. 12% blamed inflation, saying that every time they save some money they end up using it immediately. A surprising 3% said that social pressure and keeping up with peers or social expectations makes them overspend. Lastly, 2% blamed market instability and price fluctuations.

Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Tonga

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

1.8 TOP

3.7 TOP

6.1 TOP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.77

$1.5

$2.6

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

6.1 TOP

9.1 TOP

18 TOP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2.6

$3.8

$7.7

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

12 TOP

18 TOP

73 TOP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$5.1

$7.7

$31

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..

1.5 TOP

2.4 TOP

3.7 TOP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.64

$1

$1.5

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

1.2 TOP

1.5 TOP

1.8 TOP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.51

$0.62

$0.77

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

0.91 TOP

1.2 TOP

1.8 TOP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.38

$0.51

$0.77

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

2.1 TOP

2.7 TOP

3.8 TOP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.87

$1.1

$1.6

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

2.4 TOP

3.7 TOP

7.3 TOP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1

$1.5

$3.1

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

0.98 TOP

1.3 TOP

1.9 TOP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.41

$0.57

$0.80

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

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.15

$0.21

$0.38

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

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.27

$0.36

$0.59

A bag of apples costs 0.85 TOP on average. A bag of apples denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Grocery and food expenditure to income ratio

The average grocery-to-income ratio in Tonga is around 27%. This means that people spend 27% of their income on grocery and basic household items. The expenditure can range from 19% to 33% depending on salary and location.

Expenditure on food and grocery for every population group

A single person living alone spends approximately 200 TOP per month on grocery and food with expenditure fluctuating between 28 TOP and 1,300 TOP depending on location and the type of person. The average cost of food and groceries for a couple is around 290 TOP per month. That number can be get as low as 97 TOP or a high as 1,600 TOP. Families' spending on grocery ranges from 170 TOP to 3,200 TOP with the location, income, and size of the family being the most determinite factors.

How do people spend their money in Tonga?

We asked thousands of people about their spending habits and expenditure breaks. Below are their answers.

People living in Tonga typically spend from 13% to 32% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 24% being the average. The average spend on housing is 540 TOP with expenditure ranging from 42 TOP to 5,400 TOP. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses. Housing costs are highest for families and lowest for students as expected.

Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Tonga ranges from 4% to 11% of total expenses with 7% being the average. The average monthly cost of utilities is 90 TOP with 6.9 TOP and 900 TOP being the upper and lower limits.

Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether you live near your work or school, but roughly speaking you would expect to spend from 14 TOP to 1,800 TOP on commuting with 180 TOP being the norm for most people in one month. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 7% of total spending on average but can go as low as 3% or as high as 11%.

The average outlay on groceries in a month in Tonga is 450 TOP. The cost of groceries can range between 35 TOP to 4,500 TOP. People spend on average about 28% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 20% and 34% respectively.

People in Tonga allocate 5% to 13% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending is around 10%. The range of medical expenses range from 9.7 TOP to 1,300 TOP with 130 TOP being the norm.

This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 5.5 TOP to 720 TOP with 72 TOP being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 2% to 9% of total expenses with an average of 5% for most residents.

Spending on education can vary drastically between different people. While working singles can spend 0% on education, families and students' expenditure can reach up to 22%. On average, education constitutes 5% of the monthly expenditure with 3% and 11% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 110 TOP per month with 8.3 TOP being the minimum spent amount and 1,100 TOP being the maximum.

Emergency Funds

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 residents whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.

Yes53%

No47%

Based on the survey, 47% of the people living in Tonga said that they don't have an emergency fund while 53% said that they do.

Financial goals of people in Tonga

In an attempt to understand the economic situation in Tonga, we asked participants about their financial targets. By knowing what the population in general is trying to achieve, we can shed light on the economic outlook, cost of living, and quality of life in general.

Around 8% of those who participated in the survey said that their main goal is to establish an emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses while 40% said their number one priority is to pay off high-interest debt or loans and improve credit. 9% of surveyed people confirmed that saving for retirement to ensure a comfortable lifestyle in the final years is their main target. Around 7% reported that their priority is saving for the tuition fees and education costs of their children while 18% choose to buy a home or pay off existing mortgage before other things. 7% of the population would like to build wealth through investments such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or real estate. For 8% of people, saving for vacations or upgrading their lifestyle is the number one concern. Approximately 12% of the residents said that saving for healthcare expenses including insurance premiums is their main goal.

Singles

The average monthly expense for a single person living in Tonga is 1,200 TOP. Expenses can range from 180 TOP at the minimum level to 8,300 TOP at the highest end.

Couples

The average monthly spending of couples in Tonga is 2,100 TOP. Expenditure can range from 690 TOP to 11,000 TOP per month.

Families

The average cost of living for families in Tonga is 2,800 TOP per month. Families spend anywhere from 970 TOP to 18,000 TOP.

Students

The average monthly expenditure for students in Tonga is 920 TOP. Students spend from 140 TOP to 6,100 TOP per month.

Expenditure to Income Ratio in Tonga

One of the most definite ways to determine how affordable a place is measuring the ratio of expenses to salary. A high expense-to-income to ratio indicates a high cost-of-living index while a low expenditure-to-salary ratio means the place is affordable to live in.

Expense to income distribution levels

Interpretation and Analysis

The average spending-to-salary ratio in Tonga is 86% This means that on average, people spend around 86% of their income for living. According to the distribution table, 16% of the population spend approximately 60% to 70% of their income every month.

Individual
77%
Spending-Income-Ratio

---

71%

86%

Couple
82%
Spending-Income-Ratio

---

75%

90%

Family
90%
Spending-Income-Ratio

---

83%

100%

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 residents 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 people 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.

Retirement, pension plans, and life after work in Tonga

What does the retirement lifestyle look like in Tonga and how much retirement savings are required?

Retirement age

The retirement age for most employees in is 65 years. Specific retirement ages can vary based on factors like occupation, gender, years of contribution, and location. It is not entirely unlikely for people to retire either before or after this age.

Retirement planning and savings

There are many retirement saving options, some are personally initiated and others are government-sponsered. Regardless of the source of savings, the minimum amount of money that needs to be put aside to ensure a peaceful and comfortable retirement at each age can be found in the table below. This data is largely approximated and can vary drastically based on individual needs and situations. Treat these figures as a general guideline.

Retirement Income Distribution

We asked residents about their retirement income sources and below are the results.

Retirement Monthly Expenses in Tonga

SingleSpending habits, consumption analysis, and expenditure patterns for a single person living in Tonga

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

Typical saving choices for people in Tonga

Where do people choose to put their savings?

How much money can you save in Tonga every month?

We asked thousands of people what percentage of their income can they save in a month. Below are the answers.

What percentage of people in Tonga manage to save money from their income every month?

Almost 58% of the surveyed people in Tonga said that they can save some money at the end of each month while 42% said that aren't saving anything.

Percentage of people saving money by population group in Tonga

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

For most people, 9% to 29% of their monthly income is what they can allocate to their savings, with 16% being the average. The amount of money that people can save is approximately 570 TOP on average with savings ranging from 44 TOP to 5,700 TOP.

60% of surveyed singles reported some of their income going to savings while 55% of couples said the same. 50% of families confirmed their ability to save money.

How much money do people actually save in Tonga?

Singles

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for singles

Interpretation and Analysis

Singles who can afford to save reported that they allocate from 12% to 31% of their monthly income to savings, with 20% being the average for most singles. The average amount of money that singles are able to save is 400 TOP with 44 TOP and 2,600 TOP being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Couples

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for couples

Interpretation and Analysis

Couples who confirmed their ability to save reported saving equivalent to 10% to 30% of their monthly income, with 18% being the average for most couples. The average amount of money that couples can save is 660 TOP with 220 TOP and 3,500 TOP being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Families

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for families

Interpretation and Analysis

Families in Tonga can save anywhere between 9% to 27% of their monthly income, with 16% being the average for most families. The average amount of money that families can put aside is 880 TOP with 310 TOP and 5,700 TOP being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Debt, loans, and mortgages in Tonga

Percentage of people who are in debt

According to the survey, 28% of the people in Tonga have some kind of debt, loan, mortgage, or credit card payments while 72% reported that they don't have financial obligations to banks.

Debt-to-income ratio in Tonga

Interpretation

The debt-to-income ratio measures the percentage of income being paid as debt settlement across the population. It is calculated by dividing the monthly debt settlement payment of an individual by their monthly income. Based on collected data, approximately 31% of the people's monthly income in Tonga goes to debt settlement.

Debt levels

Monthly debt settlement payment as percentage of monthly income

According to our data, 3% of the debtors in Tonga pay 60%+ of their income as debt settlement while 16% of the people pay 50% to 60% of their income for the same, which is quite an alarming financial situation for those individuals. 14% of people in debt dedicate 40% to 50% of their income to loan and mortgage payments while 16% dedicated 30% to 40% of income for same. Things are looking brighter for 12% of individuals as they only pay 20% to 30% of their income for loan and credit card repayment.

Distribution by type of debt in Tonga

10% of debtors in Tonga confirm that real estate mortgages constitutes the main part of their outstanding debt while 28% say that credit card payments are the reason they are in debt. Auto loans were the main type of debt for 17% of people and personal loans rose at 41%. Lastly, student loans are the main source of debt for 4% of debtors in Tonga.

Good debt vs. Bad debt

Not all debt is bad. Good debt typically refers to borrowing money for investments that can increase in value or generate income over time like purchasing a home or acquiring student loans. On the other hand, bad debt involves borrowing for things that fail to generate lasting value like high-interest credit card debt used for non-essential expenses like luxury items or vacations.

Loan Affordability Index in Tonga

Besides measuring the loan-to-income ratio, we asked residents how many times in a year they defaulted or were unable to pay their due credit card or loan payments on time. Understanding how often people default on their due payments is one of the indicators of the cost of living and economic situation.

Frequency and percentage of people who failed to pay their monthly credit card or loan payments on time last year.

CoupleAverage monthly living expenditure breaks and spending patterns for couples in Tonga

Monthly costs and expenses of energy and basic utilities in Tonga

Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in Tonga

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Individual

11 TOP

75 TOP

500 TOP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$4.4

$32

$210

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Couple

28 TOP

94 TOP

610 TOP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$12

$39

$260

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Family

49 TOP

140 TOP

900 TOP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$20

$58

$380

Internet and cable cost

9.1 TOP

18 TOP

24 TOP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$3.8

$7.7

$10

Mobile phone bill and charges

7.3 TOP

12 TOP

37 TOP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$3.1

$5.1

$15

The average monthly expenditure for individuals on electricty, water, and gas in Tonga ranges between 11 TOP and 500 TOP with average being 75 TOP, meanwhile the expenditure of couples is slightly higher at 94 TOP with 28 TOP and 610 TOP being the upper and lower limits respectively. As expected, the energy and water consumption of families is the highest among the three groups with an average of 140 TOP. The cost of internet and WiFi is unchanged among the three groups and 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

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.

Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in Tonga

Rent Cost in Tonga

Monthly Rent Prices

Studio apartment monthly rent cost

150 TOP

230 TOP

610 TOP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$64

$96

$260

1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

230 TOP

370 TOP

910 TOP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$96

$150

$380

2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

300 TOP

460 TOP

1,200 TOP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$130

$190

$510

3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

370 TOP

610 TOP

1,700 TOP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$150

$260

$700

Furnished apartment monthly rent cost

730 TOP

1,800 TOP

3,700 TOP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$310

$770

$1,500

Townhouse monthly rent cost

610 TOP

910 TOP

2,600 TOP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$260

$380

$1,100

House monthly rent cost

730 TOP

1,800 TOP

3,700 TOP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$310

$770

$1,500

Villa monthly rent cost

910 TOP

2,300 TOP

3,700 TOP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$380

$960

$1,500

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

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$13,000

$19,000

$38,000

1-bedroom apartment price

37,000 TOP

61,000 TOP

230,000 TOP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$15,000

$26,000

$96,000

2-bedroom apartment price

61,000 TOP

180,000 TOP

370,000 TOP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$26,000

$77,000

$150,000

3-bedroom apartment price

200,000 TOP

300,000 TOP

910,000 TOP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$86,000

$130,000

$380,000

Townhouse price

260,000 TOP

610,000 TOP

2.3M TOP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$110,000

$260,000

$960,000

House price

300,000 TOP

1.8M TOP

2.6M TOP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$130,000

$770,000

$1.1M

Villa price

370,000 TOP

2M TOP

3M TOP

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$150,000

$860,000

$1.3M

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.

House / apartment prices to income ratio

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

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.

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.

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.

FamilyAverage monthly expenses and break out of spending for families living in Tonga

StudentCost of living and expenses break down for students living in Tonga