For one person, living is cheaper in Fiji: $696 a month against $946 in Suva, rent and utilities included – about $3,000 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Fiji and in Suva actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $696 in Fiji versus $946 in Suva.
Fiji $696
Suva $946
Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,151 in Fiji versus $1,717 in Suva.
Fiji $1,151
Suva $1,717
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,606 in Fiji versus $2,489 in Suva.
Fiji $1,606
Suva $2,489
🌍
Living in Fiji costs roughly 26% less than in Suva, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.
📊
Both cities sit below the global median: Fiji48% lower, Suva30% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Fiji
Suva
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.49FJD 10.06
$5.93FJD 13.28
-24.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.82FJD 73.5
$44.78FJD 100
-26.71%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.36FJD 14.24
$7.51FJD 16.81
-15.31%
Cappuccino
$2.51FJD 5.61
$2.85FJD 6.37
-11.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40FJD 3.13
$1.50FJD 3.36
-6.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.98FJD 2.20
$0.75FJD 1.67
30.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.05FJD 9.08
$3.56FJD 7.98
13.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.93FJD 8.80
$4.57FJD 10.24
-14.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Fiji
Suva
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.22FJD 2.74
$1.33FJD 2.97
-8.27%
White Bread(500g)
$0.23FJD 0.51
$0.57FJD 1.28
-59.65%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.93FJD 2.09
$1.13FJD 2.53
-17.70%
Eggs
$3.12FJD 6.99
$3.38FJD 7.57
-7.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.73FJD 24.02
$10.18FJD 22.78
5.40%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.28FJD 11.82
$6.34FJD 14.19
-16.72%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$7.96FJD 17.82
-
Apples(1kg)
$1.29FJD 2.89
$2.49FJD 5.58
-48.19%
Banana(1kg)
$0.91FJD 2.04
$2.43FJD 5.43
-62.55%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.73FJD 3.87
$3.55FJD 7.94
-51.27%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37FJD 3.06
$3.17FJD 7.11
-56.78%
Potato(1kg)
$0.70FJD 1.56
$1.26FJD 2.83
-44.44%
Onion(1kg)
$0.68FJD 1.51
$1.06FJD 2.37
-35.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.92FJD 2.06
$1.16FJD 2.61
-20.69%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51FJD 1.14
$0.69FJD 1.54
-26.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.31FJD 25.32
$9.89FJD 22.15
14.36%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.21FJD 13.90
$7.19FJD 16.10
-13.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.11FJD 9.20
$2.11FJD 4.74
94.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.08FJD 9.13
$3.39FJD 7.60
20.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Fiji
Suva
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.88FJD 1.96
$0.88FJD 1.97
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$22.34FJD 50.0
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.10FJD 2.45
$0.92FJD 2.05
19.57%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$0.45FJD 1.01
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$8.80FJD 19.70
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31FJD 2.93
$1.43FJD 3.21
-8.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$45.7KFJD 102.2K
$24.3KFJD 54.5K
87.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$24.7KFJD 55.3K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fiji
Suva
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$53.9FJD 121
$46.26FJD 104
16.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.22FJD 29.60
$12.75FJD 28.54
3.69%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.78FJD 39.81
$24.21FJD 54.2
-26.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Fiji
Suva
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.61FJD 50.6
$36.81FJD 82.4
-38.58%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.51FJD 10.10
$11.31FJD 25.32
-60.12%
Cinema Ticket
$3.92FJD 8.77
$3.42FJD 7.65
14.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Fiji
Suva
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$43.80FJD 98.1
$225FJD 503
-80.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$13.4KFJD 30.0K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Fiji
Suva
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.57FJD 43.81
$33.29FJD 74.5
-41.21%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$39.64FJD 88.8
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$30.21FJD 67.7
$68.6FJD 154
-55.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$59.9FJD 134
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Fiji
Suva
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$673FJD 1,507
$889FJD 1,992
-24.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$262FJD 587
$329FJD 736
-20.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,105FJD 2,474
$2,589FJD 5,797
-57.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$612FJD 1,370
$999FJD 2,236
-38.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,296FJD 2,901
$1,310FJD 2,933
-1.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,320FJD 2,955
$820FJD 1,836
60.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Fiji
Suva
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$537FJD 1,202
$965FJD 2,160
-44.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6
7.7
-22.08%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Fiji: October 12, 2026
Last update for Suva: October 10, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Fiji
$262 37.6%
Suva
$329 34.7% ↑ 25.5%$67
🛒Groceries & Markets
Fiji
$169 * 24.3%
Suva
$231 24.4% ↑ 36.3%$61
🍽Eating Out
Fiji
$123 17.6%
Suva
$140 14.8% ↑ 14.1%$17
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fiji
$85 12.2%
Suva
$83 8.8% ↓ 2%$1.7
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Fiji
$30 4.4%
Suva
$44 4.6% ↑ 43.3%$13
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Fiji
$22 * 3.2%
Suva
$91 9.6% ↑ 305%$68
🚌Getting Around
Fiji
$4.6 * 0.7%
Suva
$29 3.1% ↑ 531%$24
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Fiji
$612 38.1%
Suva
$999 40.1% ↑ 63.2%$387
🛒Groceries & Markets
Fiji
$370 * 23%
Suva
$537 21.6% ↑ 45.2%$167
🍽Eating Out
Fiji
$399 24.9%
Suva
$497 20% ↑ 24.4%$97
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fiji
$98 6.1%
Suva
$96 3.9% ↓ 2.2%$2.2
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Fiji
$65 4.1%
Suva
$99 4% ↑ 50.7%$33
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Fiji
$50 * 3.1%
Suva
$201 8.1% ↑ 305%$152
🚌Getting Around
Fiji
$11 * 0.7%
Suva
$60 2.4% ↑ 446%$49
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $673 in Fiji and $889 in Suva. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Suva pays 80% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $33.00 in Fiji vs $45.00 in Suva for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $169 vs $231 per month, with Fiji cheaper across the board.
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Fiji vs Suva: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Suva cheaper than Fiji?
Fiji is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and utilities. The 36% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Fiji or Suva?
On paper, salaries run 80% lower in Suva. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Fiji and Suva?
Rent for a central apartment: $673 in Fiji versus $889 in Suva. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Fiji and in Suva?
Supermarket bills run roughly 36% higher in Suva. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Fiji and in Suva?
All in, you'll spend $696 per month in Fiji versus $946 in Suva – a 36% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Fiji or in Suva?
At $696 in Fiji versus $946 in Suva, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Fiji but tight or insufficient in Suva. The gap between the two cities makes Fiji the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Fiji or in Suva?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is safer, Fiji or Suva?
Safety-wise, Fiji and Suva are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Fiji gentler on the wallet – expenses run 36% less than in Suva. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.