Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Suva and Ba

For one person, living is cheaper in Ba: $92.7 a month against $946 in Suva, rent and utilities included – about $10,200 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

46

Cost of Living Index in Suva
Learn more

Suva Living Index
25

Cost of Living Index in Ba
Learn more

Ba Living Index

Jump to prices

Suva

🇫🇯 Fiji

$946

/mo nomad

🇫🇯 Fiji

$92.7

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Suva and in Ba

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Suva and in Ba actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $946 in Suva versus $92.7 in Ba.

Suva $946
Ba $92.7

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,717 in Suva versus $207 in Ba.

Suva $1,717
Ba $207

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,489 in Suva versus $321 in Ba.

Suva $2,489
Ba $321

Living in Suva is roughly 920% more expensive than in Ba, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Suva 30% lower, Ba 93% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.93 FJD 13.28

$2.05 FJD 4.59

189.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.78 FJD 100

$29.78 FJD 66.7

50.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.51 FJD 16.81

$6.10 FJD 13.66

23.11%

Cappuccino

$2.85 FJD 6.37

$1.96 FJD 4.39

45.41%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 FJD 3.36

$0.98 FJD 2.20

53.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 FJD 1.67

$0.98 FJD 2.19

-23.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.56 FJD 7.98

$3.95 FJD 8.84

-9.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.57 FJD 10.24

$3.45 FJD 7.72

32.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 FJD 2.97

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 FJD 1.28

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.13 FJD 2.53

Eggs

$3.38 FJD 7.57

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.18 FJD 22.78

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.34 FJD 14.19

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.96 FJD 17.82

Apples (1kg)

$2.49 FJD 5.58

Banana (1kg)

$2.43 FJD 5.43

Oranges (1kg)

$3.55 FJD 7.94

Tomato (1kg)

$3.17 FJD 7.11

Potato (1kg)

$1.26 FJD 2.83

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 FJD 2.37

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.16 FJD 2.61

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 FJD 1.54

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.89 FJD 22.15

Wine (Bottle)

$7.19 FJD 16.10

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.11 FJD 4.74

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.39 FJD 7.60

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 FJD 1.97

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.34 FJD 50.0

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 FJD 2.05

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 FJD 1.01

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.80 FJD 19.70

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 FJD 3.21

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$24.3K FJD 54.5K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$24.7K FJD 55.3K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$46.26 FJD 104

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$12.75 FJD 28.54

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.21 FJD 54.2

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.81 FJD 82.4

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.31 FJD 25.32

Cinema Ticket

$3.42 FJD 7.65

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$225 FJD 503

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.4K FJD 30.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$33.29 FJD 74.5

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.64 FJD 88.8

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.6 FJD 154

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$59.9 FJD 134

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$889 FJD 1,992

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$329 FJD 736

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,589 FJD 5,797

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$999 FJD 2,236

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,310 FJD 2,933

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$820 FJD 1,836

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$965 FJD 2,160

$385 FJD 863

150.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.7

92.50%

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

Last update for Suva: October 10, 2026

Last update for Ba: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Suva

$329 34.7%

- * 0% 100%

Groceries & Markets

Suva

$231 24.4%

- * 0% 100%

Eating Out

Suva

$140 14.8%

$93 100% 33.8% $47

Clothing & Footwear

Suva

$91 9.6%

- * 0% 100%

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Suva

$83 8.8%

- * 0% 100%

Sport & Entertainment

Suva

$44 4.6%

- * 0% 100%

Getting Around

Suva

$29 3.1%

- * 0% 100%

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

Suva pays 150% 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 at a mid-range restaurant: $45.00 in Suva vs $30.00 in Ba for two.

Good to know

🇫🇯 Suva

🇫🇯 Ba

🕒 Local time

17:06 5:06 PM

Same time as Suva

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

100,000 Capital

15,000

💱 Currency

Fijian Dollar FJD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 FJD = 0.447 USD

1 FJD = 0.397 EUR

1 FJD = 0.447 USD

1 FJD = 0.397 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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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

Suva vs Ba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ba wins on cost – living expenses run 920% lower than in Suva. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ba the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 150% higher in Suva, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Dining out is cheaper in Ba – a meal for two runs $30.00 versus $45.00 in Suva. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $946 per month in Suva versus $92.7 in Ba – a 920% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $92.7 in Ba versus $946 in Suva, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ba but tight or insufficient in Suva. The gap between the two cities makes Ba the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Suva and Ba are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Ba gentler on the wallet – expenses run 920% less than in Suva. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.