Cost of Living Comparison Between Suva and Ba Cost of Living Comparison Between Suva and Ba

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $989 in Suva versus $481 in Ba.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,806 in Suva versus $817 in Ba.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,623 in Suva versus $1,152 in Ba.

Living in Suva is roughly 105% more expensive than Ba, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Suva 26% lower, Ba 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.23 FJD 11.46

$1.95 FJD 4.29

168.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.87 FJD 96.2

$29.50 FJD 64.7

48.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.79 FJD 14.90

$5.85 FJD 12.84

16.07%

Cappuccino

$3.11 FJD 6.82

$1.95 FJD 4.28

59.49%

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

$1.49 FJD 3.26

$0.98 FJD 2.14

52.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.66 FJD 1.44

$0.65 FJD 1.42

1.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.06 FJD 6.71

$3.04 FJD 6.66

0.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 FJD 7.92

$3.43 FJD 7.52

5.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.29 FJD 2.84

$1.33 FJD 2.93

-3.01%

White Bread (500g)

$0.49 FJD 1.07

$0.52 FJD 1.15

-5.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 FJD 2.61

$1.17 FJD 2.57

1.71%

Eggs

$3.34 FJD 7.32

$3.47 FJD 7.60

-3.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.39 FJD 20.59

$9.37 FJD 20.55

0.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.35 FJD 16.12

$7.15 FJD 15.69

2.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.50 FJD 16.44

$7.41 FJD 16.25

1.21%

Apples (1kg)

$2.47 FJD 5.41

$2.45 FJD 5.36

0.82%

Banana (1kg)

$2.42 FJD 5.31

$2.55 FJD 5.59

-5.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.41 FJD 7.49

$3.40 FJD 7.45

0.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.16 FJD 6.93

$3.22 FJD 7.06

-1.86%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 FJD 3.34

$1.46 FJD 3.19

4.79%

Onion (1kg)

$1.18 FJD 2.59

$1.23 FJD 2.71

-4.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 FJD 2.59

$1.22 FJD 2.67

-3.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 FJD 1.63

$0.76 FJD 1.66

-2.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.73 FJD 21.34

$9.96 FJD 21.84

-2.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.66 FJD 16.81

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.23 FJD 4.89

$2.20 FJD 4.83

1.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 FJD 7.57

$3.45 FJD 7.56

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 FJD 1.90

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.82 FJD 47.85

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 FJD 1.88

$0.92 FJD 2.01

-6.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 FJD 0.97

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.88 FJD 19.47

$8.84 FJD 19.39

0.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 FJD 2.94

$1.37 FJD 3.01

-2.19%

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

$24.4K FJD 53.4K

$24.1K FJD 52.8K

1.16%

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

$24.9K FJD 54.6K

-0.02%

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

$45.88 FJD 101

$45.80 FJD 100

0.17%

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

$12.94 FJD 28.37

$13.27 FJD 29.10

-2.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.25 FJD 53.2

$24.01 FJD 52.7

1.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.82 FJD 65.4

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.95 FJD 15.24

Cinema Ticket

$4.40 FJD 9.65

$4.55 FJD 9.97

-3.30%

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

$225 FJD 493

$228 FJD 501

-1.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.0K FJD 30.8K

$14.2K FJD 31.2K

-1.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.11 FJD 57.3

$26.29 FJD 57.7

-0.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.95 FJD 59.1

$27.70 FJD 60.8

-2.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.8 FJD 153

$70.6 FJD 155

-1.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$61.7 FJD 135

$62.2 FJD 136

-0.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$582 FJD 1,277

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 FJD 855

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,039 FJD 4,471

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,208 FJD 2,649

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,369 FJD 3,003

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$852 FJD 1,868

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$988 FJD 2,168

$392 FJD 859

152.28%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Ba: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Suva pays 152% 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: $44.00 in Suva vs $29.00 in Ba for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $234 vs $219 per month, with Ba 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

Suva vs Ba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ba wins on cost – living expenses run 105% 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.

Suva pays 152% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Childcare runs $225 in Suva versus $228 in Ba. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Ba – a meal for two runs $29.00 versus $44.00 in Suva. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $481 in Ba versus $989 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 105% less than in Suva. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.