For one person, living is cheaper in Suva: $927 a month against $2,410 in Noumea, rent and utilities included – about $17,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half 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 Noumea and in Suva actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,410 in Noumea versus $927 in Suva.
Noumea $2,410
Suva $927
Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,800 in Noumea versus $1,681 in Suva.
Noumea $3,800
Suva $1,681
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,190 in Noumea versus $2,435 in Suva.
Noumea $5,190
Suva $2,435
🌍
Living in Noumea is roughly 160% more expensive than in Suva, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.
📊
The two cities straddle the global median: Noumea is 80% above, Suva is 31% below.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Noumea
Suva
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.86CFPF 2,220
$5.72FJD 12.81
264.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$114CFPF 12.1K
$44.13FJD 98.8
157.63%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.85CFPF 1,474
$7.76FJD 17.37
78.48%
Cappuccino
$4.68CFPF 498
$2.91FJD 6.52
60.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01CFPF 214
$1.50FJD 3.36
34.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27CFPF 135
$0.73FJD 1.64
73.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$9.50CFPF 1,011
$3.67FJD 8.21
158.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.26CFPF 773
$4.33FJD 9.70
67.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Noumea
Suva
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.17CFPF 125
$1.28FJD 2.86
-8.59%
White Bread(500g)
$3.58CFPF 381
$0.56FJD 1.26
539.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.16CFPF 230
$1.13FJD 2.52
91.15%
Eggs
$6.13CFPF 653
$3.39FJD 7.60
80.83%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$30.21CFPF 3,215
$10.04FJD 22.48
200.90%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$27.65CFPF 2,942
$6.06FJD 13.57
356.27%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$28.19CFPF 3,000
$7.82FJD 17.50
260.49%
Apples(1kg)
$4.58CFPF 487
$2.47FJD 5.54
85.43%
Banana(1kg)
$7.29CFPF 776
$2.42FJD 5.43
201.24%
Oranges(1kg)
$6.27CFPF 668
$3.48FJD 7.79
80.17%
Tomato(1kg)
$7.98CFPF 849
$3.12FJD 6.99
155.77%
Potato(1kg)
$5.55CFPF 591
$1.22FJD 2.72
354.92%
Onion(1kg)
$3.86CFPF 411
$1.07FJD 2.39
260.75%
Lettuce(1 head)
$4.04CFPF 430
$1.22FJD 2.73
231.15%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.50CFPF 160
$0.73FJD 1.64
105.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$19.46CFPF 2,070
$9.66FJD 21.62
101.45%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.03CFPF 1,812
$7.33FJD 16.41
132.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$5.54CFPF 590
$2.07FJD 4.64
167.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.43FJD 7.69
-
🚌 Getting Around
Noumea
Suva
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.62CFPF 491
$0.94FJD 2.11
391.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$22.37FJD 50.1
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.96CFPF 741
$0.87FJD 1.94
700.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.11CFPF 119
$0.42FJD 0.94
164.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$21.46CFPF 2,284
$8.95FJD 20.04
139.78%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.63CFPF 174
$1.46FJD 3.26
11.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.5KCFPF 3.5M
$24.4KFJD 54.6K
33.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.3KCFPF 4.0M
$25.6KFJD 57.4K
45.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Noumea
Suva
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$205CFPF 21.8K
$46.38FJD 104
341.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$44.24CFPF 4,707
$12.79FJD 28.65
245.90%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$48.09CFPF 5,117
$23.98FJD 53.7
100.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Noumea
Suva
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.48CFPF 5,158
$36.85FJD 82.5
31.56%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.25CFPF 878
$11.30FJD 25.29
-26.99%
Cinema Ticket
$14.26CFPF 1,517
$3.43FJD 7.68
315.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Noumea
Suva
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$759CFPF 80.8K
$228FJD 509
233.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,318CFPF 991.4K
$13.4KFJD 30.0K
-30.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Noumea
Suva
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$111CFPF 11.9K
$33.19FJD 74.3
235.67%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$65.0CFPF 6,912
$40.53FJD 90.8
60.28%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$100CFPF 10.7K
$68.9FJD 154
45.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$247CFPF 26.3K
$61.4FJD 138
301.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Noumea
Suva
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$761CFPF 80.9K
$891FJD 1,995
-14.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$761CFPF 81.0K
$330FJD 740
130.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,520CFPF 161.7K
$2,641FJD 5,913
-42.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,349CFPF 143.6K
$1,001FJD 2,241
34.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,777CFPF 508.3K
$1,320FJD 2,956
261.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,453CFPF 367.4K
$818FJD 1,832
322.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Noumea
Suva
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,726CFPF 290.1K
$961FJD 2,151
183.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.13
7.7
-59.35%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Noumea: October 3, 2026
Last update for Suva: October 5, 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
Noumea
$761 31.9%
Suva
$330 34.9% ↓ 56.6%$431
🛒Groceries & Markets
Noumea
$646 * 27.1%
Suva
$228 24.1% ↓ 64.7%$418
🍽Eating Out
Noumea
$340 14.2%
Suva
$140 14.8% ↓ 58.8%$200
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Noumea
$297 12.4%
Suva
$83 8.8% ↓ 72%$214
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Noumea
$236 9.9%
Suva
$92 9.7% ↓ 61%$144
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Noumea
$77 3.2%
Suva
$44 4.6% ↓ 43.2%$33
🚌Getting Around
Noumea
$31 * 1.3%
Suva
$29 3.1% ↓ 6.1%$1.9
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Noumea
$1.3K 25.9%
Suva
$1K 40.3% ↓ 25.8%$348
🛒Groceries & Markets
Noumea
$1.5K * 29%
Suva
$530 21.4% ↓ 64.9%$981
🍽Eating Out
Noumea
$1.3K 24%
Suva
$492 19.8% ↓ 60.6%$758
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Noumea
$341 6.6%
Suva
$96 3.9% ↓ 71.9%$245
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Noumea
$523 10.1%
Suva
$204 8.2% ↓ 61%$319
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Noumea
$162 3.1%
Suva
$99 4% ↓ 39.2%$64
🚌Getting Around
Noumea
$71 * 1.4%
Suva
$60 2.4% ↓ 15.6%$11
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 $761 in Noumea and $891 in Suva. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Noumea pays 184% 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: $114 in Noumea vs $44.00 in Suva for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $646 vs $228 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
Noumea vs Suva: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Suva cheaper than Noumea?
Suva is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 160% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Noumea or Suva?
Average pay runs 184% higher in Noumea, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Noumea and Suva?
Rent for a central apartment: $761 in Noumea versus $891 in Suva. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $759 in Noumea versus $228 in Suva. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Noumea or in Suva?
Dining out is cheaper in Suva – a meal for two runs $44.00 versus $114 in Noumea. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Noumea or in Suva?
At $927 in Suva versus $2,410 in Noumea, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Suva but tight or insufficient in Noumea. The gap between the two cities makes Suva the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Noumea or Suva more family-friendly?
For families, Suva is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Noumea, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Noumea or Suva?
Safety-wise, Noumea 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 Suva gentler on the wallet – expenses run 160% less than in Noumea. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.