Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Suva Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Suva

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,291 in Lisbon versus $964 in Suva.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,322 in Lisbon versus $1,795 in Suva.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,354 in Lisbon versus $2,626 in Suva.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 138% more expensive than in Suva, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 71% above, Suva is 28% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Suva
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19 €14.15
$5.26 FJD 11.76
207.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3 €55.3
$45.35 FJD 102
39.65%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.32 €9.02
$6.62 FJD 14.81
55.89%
Cappuccino
$2.83 €2.47
$3.26 FJD 7.30
-13.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 €2.00
$1.41 FJD 3.15
62.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58 €1.38
$0.67 FJD 1.49
135.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.40 €2.97
$3.05 FJD 6.82
11.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03 €3.52
$3.67 FJD 8.20
9.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Suva
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 €0.95
$1.28 FJD 2.87
-14.84%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 €1.53
$0.50 FJD 1.11
250.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.54
$1.15 FJD 2.58
53.04%
Eggs
$3.17 €2.77
$3.30 FJD 7.38
-3.94%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.19 €11.53
$9.09 FJD 20.35
45.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.97 €6.96
$7.25 FJD 16.22
9.93%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.53 €13.57
$7.56 FJD 16.91
105.42%
Apples (1kg)
$2.37 €2.07
$2.56 FJD 5.73
-7.42%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 €1.49
$2.53 FJD 5.67
-32.41%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 €1.75
$3.57 FJD 7.99
-43.70%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.43 €2.12
$3.25 FJD 7.27
-25.23%
Potato (1kg)
$1.76 €1.54
$1.49 FJD 3.33
18.12%
Onion (1kg)
$2.03 €1.78
$1.17 FJD 2.62
73.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.92 €1.68
$1.21 FJD 2.71
58.68%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85 €0.74
$0.76 FJD 1.71
11.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58 €5.75
$9.87 FJD 22.10
-33.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.58 €4.87
$7.47 FJD 16.71
-25.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 €1.16
$2.15 FJD 4.80
-38.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 €2.60
$3.35 FJD 7.49
-11.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Suva
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.28 €1.99
$0.93 FJD 2.08
145.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.79 €40.01
$21.89 FJD 48.98
109.18%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.23 €3.69
$0.91 FJD 2.03
364.84%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.81 €0.71
$0.44 FJD 0.99
84.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.44 €16.11
$8.83 FJD 19.76
108.83%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.08 €1.82
$1.39 FJD 3.10
49.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K €30.3K
$24.3K FJD 54.4K
42.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K €34.2K
$25.0K FJD 56.0K
56.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Suva
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €129
$45.01 FJD 101
228.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.46 €17.88
$13.15 FJD 29.44
55.59%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.56 €34.56
$23.78 FJD 53.2
66.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Suva
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.99 €41.93
$29.58 FJD 66.2
62.24%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.60 €16.25
$7.07 FJD 15.83
163.08%
Cinema Ticket
$9.22 €8.06
$4.51 FJD 10.10
104.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Suva
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$616 €538
$230 FJD 514
168.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.4K €14.4K
$14.4K FJD 32.1K
14.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Suva
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103 €89.7
$25.53 FJD 57.1
302.27%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.74 €36.47
$26.96 FJD 60.4
54.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.8 €82.8
$69.6 FJD 156
36.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 €107
$61.5 FJD 138
98.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Suva
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,633 €1,426
$588 FJD 1,315
177.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,232 €1,077
$383 FJD 858
221.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,098 €2,707
$2,070 FJD 4,633
49.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,031 €1,775
$1,222 FJD 2,736
66.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,831 €6,842
$1,350 FJD 3,021
480.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,389 €3,835
$838 FJD 1,875
424.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Suva
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,607 €1,404
$949 FJD 2,125
69.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
7.7
-50.52%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026

Last update for Suva: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,633 in Lisbon and $588 in Suva. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 69% 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: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $45.00 in Suva for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $234 per month, with Suva cheaper across the board.

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 138% in total monthly costs ($2,291 vs $964 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 69% 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: $1,633 in Lisbon versus $588 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 $616 in Lisbon versus $230 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 14% 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 $964 in Suva versus $2,291 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 138% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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