For one person, living is cheaper in Suva: $946 a month against $2,223 in Lisbon, rent and utilities included – about $15,300 less a year. Rent and utilities 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 Lisbon and in Suva actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,223 in Lisbon versus $946 in Suva.
Lisbon $2,223
Suva $946
Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,271 in Lisbon versus $1,717 in Suva.
Lisbon $3,271
Suva $1,717
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,319 in Lisbon versus $2,489 in Suva.
Lisbon $4,319
Suva $2,489
🌍
Living in Lisbon is roughly 135% more expensive than in Suva, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.
📊
The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Suva is 30% below.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Suva
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.50€14.67
$5.93FJD 13.28
178.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.3€54.5
$44.78FJD 100
36.78%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.27€10.03
$7.51FJD 16.81
50.07%
Cappuccino
$3.06€2.72
$2.85FJD 6.37
7.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26€2.01
$1.50FJD 3.36
50.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73€1.54
$0.75FJD 1.67
130.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.39€3.02
$3.56FJD 7.98
-4.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40€3.02
$4.57FJD 10.24
-25.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Suva
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.12€1.00
$1.33FJD 2.97
-15.79%
White Bread(500g)
$1.86€1.65
$0.57FJD 1.28
226.32%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.53€1.36
$1.13FJD 2.53
35.40%
Eggs
$3.96€3.53
$3.38FJD 7.57
17.16%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.76€11.35
$10.18FJD 22.78
25.34%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.90€7.02
$6.34FJD 14.19
24.61%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.97€15.09
$7.96FJD 17.82
113.19%
Apples(1kg)
$2.27€2.02
$2.49FJD 5.58
-8.84%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75€1.55
$2.43FJD 5.43
-27.98%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85€1.64
$3.55FJD 7.94
-47.89%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.57€2.28
$3.17FJD 7.11
-18.93%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86€1.65
$1.26FJD 2.83
47.62%
Onion(1kg)
$2.02€1.80
$1.06FJD 2.37
90.57%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.44€1.28
$1.16FJD 2.61
24.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82€0.73
$0.69FJD 1.54
18.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.56€5.83
$9.89FJD 22.15
-33.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.62€5.00
$7.19FJD 16.10
-21.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.28€1.14
$2.11FJD 4.74
-39.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07€1.84
$3.39FJD 7.60
-38.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Suva
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.35€2.09
$0.88FJD 1.97
167.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$44.18€39.30
$22.34FJD 50.0
97.76%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.99€3.55
$0.92FJD 2.05
333.70%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.09€0.97
$0.45FJD 1.01
142.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$16.64€14.81
$8.80FJD 19.70
89.09%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.28€2.03
$1.43FJD 3.21
59.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.7K€30.0K
$24.3KFJD 54.5K
38.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€35.0K
$24.7KFJD 55.3K
59.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Suva
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$167€149
$46.26FJD 104
262.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.80€16.72
$12.75FJD 28.54
47.45%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.09€29.43
$24.21FJD 54.2
36.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Suva
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.01€40.93
$36.81FJD 82.4
24.99%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.19€17.07
$11.31FJD 25.32
69.67%
Cinema Ticket
$9.84€8.75
$3.42FJD 7.65
187.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Suva
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$677€602
$225FJD 503
201.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.9K€15.1K
$13.4KFJD 30.0K
26.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Suva
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101€90.1
$33.29FJD 74.5
204.12%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.76€40.70
$39.64FJD 88.8
15.44%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$100.0€88.9
$68.6FJD 154
45.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123€109
$59.9FJD 134
104.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Suva
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,614€1,436
$889FJD 1,992
81.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,197€1,065
$329FJD 736
264.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,862€2,545
$2,589FJD 5,797
10.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,990€1,770
$999FJD 2,236
99.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,577€6,740
$1,310FJD 2,933
478.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,307€3,831
$820FJD 1,836
425.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Suva
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,588€1,412
$965FJD 2,160
64.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.85
7.7
-50.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: October 11, 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
Lisbon
$1.2K 53.9%
Suva
$329 34.7% ↓ 72.5%$868
🛒Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
$269 12.1%
Suva
$231 24.4% ↓ 14.3%$39
🍽Eating Out
Lisbon
$242 10.9%
Suva
$140 14.8% ↓ 42.2%$102
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
$219 9.9%
Suva
$83 8.8% ↓ 62.1%$136
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
$166 7.5%
Suva
$91 9.6% ↓ 45.5%$76
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
$66 3%
Suva
$44 4.6% ↓ 33.6%$22
🚌Getting Around
Lisbon
$63 2.8%
Suva
$29 3.1% ↓ 53.9%$34
🏠Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
$2K 46.1%
Suva
$999 40.1% ↓ 49.8%$991
🛒Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
$642 14.9%
Suva
$537 21.6% ↓ 16.3%$104
🍽Eating Out
Lisbon
$798 18.5%
Suva
$497 20% ↓ 37.7%$301
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
$238 5.5%
Suva
$96 3.9% ↓ 59.7%$142
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
$370 8.6%
Suva
$201 8.1% ↓ 45.5%$168
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
$151 3.5%
Suva
$99 4% ↓ 34.5%$52
🚌Getting Around
Lisbon
$131 3%
Suva
$60 2.4% ↓ 54.3%$71
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,614 in Lisbon and $889 in Suva. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 65% 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: $61.0 in Lisbon vs $45.00 in Suva for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $231 per month, with Suva 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
Lisbon vs Suva: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Suva?
Lisbon and Suva differ by about 135% in total monthly costs ($2,223 vs $946 including rent). Suva is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Suva?
Average pay runs 65% higher in Lisbon, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and in Suva?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,614 in Lisbon versus $889 in Suva. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Lisbon and Suva?
Childcare runs $677 in Lisbon versus $225 in Suva. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 17% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $946 in Suva versus $2,223 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Suva but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Suva the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and 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.
Is Lisbon or Suva safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon 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.
Where should expats move: Lisbon or Suva?
Expats usually find Suva gentler on the wallet – expenses run 135% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.