Costs in Tonga

The HIES is Tonga's Household Income and Expenditure Survey. Its 2021 results covered 2,130 households over an 11-month seasonal period and reported six areas: Tongatapu urban and rural, Vava'u, Ha'apai, Eua and Ongo Niua. Average monthly expenditure ranged from TOP 5,465 in urban Tongatapu to TOP 3,050 in Ongo Niua. The median was TOP 4,774 in urban areas and TOP 3,782 in rural areas, compared with a national median of TOP 4,003. Tonga has no official standard household budget, so these figures are reference points rather than minimum income requirements or guaranteed costs. Food was the largest recorded spending group, accounting for about 33% of household expenditure. Average food, beverages and catering expenditure was TOP 2,081 per month, with a median of TOP 1,774. Imported food, local crops, fish and seafood, home production, gifts and purchases at places such as Talamahu Market all affect the result. Imported food has strong exposure to freight, fuel and exchange-rate changes. The Food Price Index (FPI) helps track food-price movements, while the Consumer Price Index (CPI) tracks broader price changes. Housing, water and energy averaged TOP 655 per month, with a median of TOP 570. Actual rent was much lower across all households because many households own their home or occupy housing free of charge: the reported average actual rent was TOP 32, compared with TOP 71 in urban areas and TOP 22 in rural areas. The survey also recorded an average imputed rent of TOP 959, representing the estimated value of owner-occupied or otherwise non-rented housing, and average maintenance costs of TOP 63. A cash budget can therefore look lower without housing being economically cost-free. Electricity, water and fuel require separate checks. HIES recorded average electricity, gas and fuel expenditure of TOP 347 and water-supply and water-service expenditure of TOP 79. Tonga Power Limited is the sole electricity provider, and the Tonga Energy Commission oversees regulated electricity tariffs. For low-use customers consuming up to 150 kWh per month, the concessionary electricity rate is 70 seniti per kWh in financial year 2025/26, 65 seniti in 2026/27 and 60 seniti in 2027/28. Electricity tariffs can change quarterly with diesel costs and annually with inflation. Tonga Water Board tariffs and current island-specific charges need to be checked with the provider because a complete current nationwide tariff table is not centrally available. Transport averaged TOP 385 per month, with a median of TOP 230, and 86% of households reported transport expenditure. Private vehicles are common, while buses, domestic flights, ships and island freight serve different areas. Urban households reported transport expenditure more often than households in Ongo Niua, where the reported shares were 90% and 49% respectively. Fuel prices, vehicle ownership, distance and inter-island availability can change the budget substantially. Communication averaged TOP 296 per month, including TOP 236 for telephone and fax services. The reported averages were TOP 349 in urban areas and TOP 280 in rural areas. TCC, Digicel Tonga, Tonga Cable Limited and Starlink provide different combinations of mobile, fixed, broadband and satellite services. Prepaid data, device numbers, coverage and outages can matter more than the advertised price of one plan. Education costs remain even where public tuition is free through Form 5 from 2025. Uniforms, learning materials, food, transport, devices and examination fees can still create recurring or one-off expenses. The 2025 examination fees were TOP 101.25 for Form 5, TOP 150 for Form 6 and TOP 300 for Form 7. In HIES 2021, 36% of people incurred education-related costs, and 99% of people currently attending school reported such costs; the average was TOP 116 per month, compared with TOP 170 in urban areas and TOP 101 in rural areas. Scholarships reached about 3% of people aged 15 and over. Health spending was reported by 21% of people, with a monthly average of TOP 24 and a relative standard error of 14%. The share was 29% in urban areas and 19% in rural areas. Public services through Vaiola Hospital, Prince Ngu Hospital and village health centres form the formal care pathway, while private clinics and pharmacies provide alternatives. Illness, disability, chronic conditions, private treatment and exceptional overseas referrals can produce costs far above the average, so a cash reserve is useful even when routine spending is low. Family and community obligations also affect household costs. HIES reported that 83% of households gave financial support, including support connected with churches, family events and relatives. Church support was reported by 64% of households, family-event support by 49% and direct family support by 27%. Transfers represented about 13% of household expenditure. At the same time, 90% of households received cash remittances, with New Zealand accounting for about 32% and Australia about 31% of reported remittance origins. Remittances can reduce current cash pressure but also create dependence on income received from abroad. Leisure is discretionary but still appears in household spending. Recreation and culture averaged TOP 174 per month, with a higher urban average of TOP 217 and a rural average of TOP 162. Restaurants and hotels averaged TOP 1,169. Church, sports, community activities, beaches and fishing can have low or irregular direct costs, while restaurants, events, equipment and travel require more cash. Ceremony-related spending is usually a family or community obligation rather than ordinary leisure spending. A useful Tonga household budget separates recurring costs from one-off costs. Recurring lines can include food, housing or utilities, transport, communication, school expenses, medicines and family support. One-off lines can include repairs, appliances, vehicle work, examination fees, inter-island travel and a reserve for storms or other disruptions. Record cash payments separately from home production, gifts, barter, remittances and the value of free or owner-occupied housing. In HIES 2021, more than 66% of expenditure resources were cash, gifts represented about 16%, imputed or actual rent about 9%, home production about 5% and barter less than 1%. Use HIES figures for structure and comparison, then update them with current prices from the Tonga Statistics Department, CPI and FPI releases, fuel notices, electricity information and provider price lists. The 2025 HIES was still ongoing when these figures were compiled, so it did not yet provide final replacement results. Health, recreation and cash-transfer estimates have higher uncertainty, and detailed island comparisons should be treated cautiously. The most reliable budget reflects the household's island, number of members, children, housing status, vehicle access, health needs, school level, family obligations and expected remittances.