Budget/Backpacker Travel Guide: Funafuti

Accommodation

$25-60 per night

Basic guesthouses, family-run lodges, shared bathroom facilities, simple rooms with fans

Food & Dining

$15-35 per day

Local home-cooking, fish and rice meals, coconut-based dishes, eating with local families

Transportation

$3-12 per day

Walking, bicycle rental, shared boat transfers, occasional motorbike rides

Activities

$5-20 per day

Swimming, snorkeling with own gear, beach walking, cultural site visits, fishing with locals

Arrange accommodation through local contacts rather than international booking sites (typically 20-40% cheaper)

Eat with local families or at community gatherings instead of hotel dining (usually 50-70% savings)

Bring your own snorkeling gear and basic equipment to avoid rental fees (saves $10-25 per day)

Travel during shoulder seasons when boat transfers and activities offer better rates (generally 15-30% lower)

Book longer stays directly with guesthouses for weekly discounts (often 10-20% off nightly rates)

Use bicycle transport instead of motorbikes for short distances (typically 70-80% cheaper)

Join group activities rather than private tours when available (usually 40-60% less expensive)

Not bringing enough cash - limited banking facilities mean running out of money can be extremely expensive to resolve

Underestimating food costs - most ingredients are imported making meals more expensive than other Pacific islands (typically 100-150% higher than expected)

Booking only short stays - accommodation becomes much more expensive per night for stays under 3-4 days