😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,467 in Mexico City versus $989 in Suva.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,371 in Mexico City versus $1,806 in Suva.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,274 in Mexico City versus $2,623 in Suva.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 48% more expensive than Suva, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 10% above, Suva is 26% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Suva
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.18MX$228
$5.23FJD 11.46
152.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9MX$932
$43.87FJD 96.2
22.86%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42MX$163
$6.79FJD 14.90
38.73%
Cappuccino
$3.55MX$61.4
$3.11FJD 6.82
14.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.98
$1.49FJD 3.26
8.72%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11MX$19.27
$0.66FJD 1.44
68.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12MX$54.0
$3.06FJD 6.71
1.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63MX$80.1
$3.61FJD 7.92
28.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Suva
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.43
$1.29FJD 2.84
31.78%
White Bread(500g)
$2.72MX$47.02
$0.49FJD 1.07
455.10%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91MX$33.07
$1.19FJD 2.61
60.50%
Eggs
$2.54MX$43.86
$3.34FJD 7.32
-23.95%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.03MX$174
$9.39FJD 20.59
6.82%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.09MX$140
$7.35FJD 16.12
10.07%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.62MX$201
$7.50FJD 16.44
54.93%
Apples(1kg)
$2.97MX$51.3
$2.47FJD 5.41
20.24%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.24
$2.42FJD 5.31
-25.21%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.82
$3.41FJD 7.49
-41.06%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03MX$35.20
$3.16FJD 6.93
-35.76%
Potato(1kg)
$2.12MX$36.75
$1.53FJD 3.34
38.56%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.25
$1.18FJD 2.59
92.37%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.22
$1.18FJD 2.59
18.64%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.55
$0.74FJD 1.63
52.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27MX$73.9
$9.73FJD 21.34
-56.12%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.56MX$269
$7.66FJD 16.81
103.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.39
$2.23FJD 4.89
-21.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60MX$62.2
$3.45FJD 7.57
4.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Suva
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.62
$0.87FJD 1.90
-56.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.18MX$332
$21.82FJD 47.85
-12.10%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.79
$0.86FJD 1.88
60.47%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.78
$0.44FJD 0.97
-36.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.45MX$94.2
$8.88FJD 19.47
-38.63%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30MX$22.55
$1.34FJD 2.94
-2.99%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7KMX$323.2K
$24.4KFJD 53.4K
-23.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1KMX$400.1K
$24.9KFJD 54.6K
-7.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Suva
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.86MX$707
$45.88FJD 101
-10.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.81MX$464
$12.94FJD 28.37
107.19%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.96MX$518
$24.25FJD 53.2
23.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Suva
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$900
$29.82FJD 65.4
74.45%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.84MX$464
$6.95FJD 15.24
286.19%
Cinema Ticket
$6.30MX$109
$4.40FJD 9.65
43.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Suva
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,544
$225FJD 493
94.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.4KMX$180.2K
$14.0KFJD 30.8K
-25.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Suva
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7MX$980
$26.11FJD 57.3
116.97%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.38MX$768
$26.95FJD 59.1
64.68%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,780
$69.8FJD 153
47.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106MX$1,825
$61.7FJD 135
71.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Suva
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,022MX$17.7K
$582FJD 1,277
75.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$631MX$10.9K
$390FJD 855
61.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,136MX$36.9K
$2,039FJD 4,471
4.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,243MX$21.5K
$1,208FJD 2,649
2.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,903MX$67.5K
$1,369FJD 3,003
185.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,064MX$35.7K
$852FJD 1,868
142.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Suva
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,115MX$19.3K
$988FJD 2,168
12.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
7.7
47.27%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Last update for Suva: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,022 in Mexico City and $582 in Suva. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 13% 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: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $44.00 in Suva for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 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
Mexico City vs Suva: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and Suva?
Mexico City and Suva differ by about 48% in total monthly costs ($1,467 vs $989 including rent). Suva is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mexico City or Suva?
Mexico City pays 13% more on average, 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 Mexico City and Suva?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,022 in Mexico City versus $582 in Suva. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and Suva?
A monthly transit pass in Suva runs roughly 14% less than in Mexico City. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Mexico City and Suva?
Childcare runs $436 in Mexico City versus $225 in Suva. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $989 in Suva versus $1,467 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Suva but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Suva the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City 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 Mexico City or Suva safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City 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: Mexico City or Suva?
Expats usually find Suva gentler on the wallet – expenses run 48% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Mexico City vs other spots: cost of living compared