Exact Cost of Living Index is unavailable. Estimated to be moderate (around 50.0) compared to NYC baseline. Rent (19.9) and restaurant prices (33.7) are relatively low, while groceries (79.3) are more expensive.

The property price to income ratio is very high at 55.2 years, indicating a very expensive housing market. The rent index is significantly lower at 19.9, suggesting renting is more affordable than buying.

Purchasing power index is unavailable. Estimated to be low, reflecting Kiribati's status as a small island developing state with a public sector-dominated economy and reliance on foreign aid and remittances.

Kiribati has a progressive income tax system with a tax-free threshold of AUD 6,500. Rates range from 25% to 35% for higher incomes. A Value Added Tax (VAT) is in place, but specific standard rates were not readily available. Property taxation is very limited due to customary land ownership, though a 2% tax on Annual Rental Value exists for some properties.

Kiribati's business environment is challenging, ranking 164 out of 190 economies in the 2019 Ease of Doing Business index. The economy is considered 'mostly unfree' (2026 Index of Economic Freedom), characterized by a dominant public sector, rudimentary and inconsistently enforced commercial regulations, and a lack of dynamism in the private sector.

Kiribati has a social security system with mandatory 7.5% employee and employer contributions to the Kiribati Provident Fund. It offers a non-contributory old-age pension for citizens over 67 (AUD 50-60/month) and a widely accessible Support Fund for the Unemployed, indicating a relatively strong social safety net.

Kiribati does not have a central bank and uses the Australian Dollar. The Kiribati Financial Supervisory Authority exists but is not yet fully operational, and there is no explicit national deposit insurance scheme in place, meaning deposits are not protected by a government-backed guarantee. The banking sector is limited, with one commercial bank and two public financial institutions.