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: $964 in Suva versus $490 in Ba.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,795 in Suva versus $806 in Ba.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,626 in Suva versus $1,122 in Ba.

Living in Suva is roughly 97% more expensive than in Ba, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Suva 28% lower, Ba 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.26 FJD 11.76

$1.96 FJD 4.38

168.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.35 FJD 102

$30.04 FJD 67.2

50.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.62 FJD 14.81

$5.88 FJD 13.17

12.59%

Cappuccino

$3.26 FJD 7.30

$2.05 FJD 4.58

59.02%

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

$1.41 FJD 3.15

$1.02 FJD 2.29

38.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.67 FJD 1.49

$0.66 FJD 1.48

1.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.05 FJD 6.82

$3.19 FJD 7.14

-4.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 FJD 8.20

$3.53 FJD 7.90

3.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.28 FJD 2.87

$1.29 FJD 2.89

-0.78%

White Bread (500g)

$0.50 FJD 1.11

$0.49 FJD 1.10

2.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 FJD 2.58

$1.21 FJD 2.70

-4.96%

Eggs

$3.30 FJD 7.38

$3.35 FJD 7.50

-1.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.09 FJD 20.35

$9.51 FJD 21.29

-4.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.25 FJD 16.22

$7.08 FJD 15.85

2.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.56 FJD 16.91

$7.54 FJD 16.88

0.27%

Apples (1kg)

$2.56 FJD 5.73

$2.53 FJD 5.67

1.19%

Banana (1kg)

$2.53 FJD 5.67

$2.52 FJD 5.64

0.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.57 FJD 7.99

$3.38 FJD 7.57

5.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.25 FJD 7.27

$3.29 FJD 7.37

-1.22%

Potato (1kg)

$1.49 FJD 3.33

$1.54 FJD 3.44

-3.25%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 FJD 2.62

$1.18 FJD 2.64

-0.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.21 FJD 2.71

$1.21 FJD 2.70

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 FJD 1.71

$0.82 FJD 1.83

-7.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.87 FJD 22.10

$9.86 FJD 22.07

0.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.47 FJD 16.71

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 FJD 4.80

$2.12 FJD 4.73

1.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.35 FJD 7.49

$3.41 FJD 7.63

-1.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 FJD 2.08

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.89 FJD 48.98

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 FJD 2.03

$0.85 FJD 1.90

7.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 FJD 0.99

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.83 FJD 19.76

$8.67 FJD 19.41

1.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 FJD 3.10

$1.40 FJD 3.13

-0.71%

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

$24.3K FJD 54.4K

$24.4K FJD 54.7K

-0.48%

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

$25.0K FJD 56.0K

$25.2K FJD 56.3K

-0.63%

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

$45.01 FJD 101

$45.95 FJD 103

-2.05%

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

$13.15 FJD 29.44

$13.03 FJD 29.16

0.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.78 FJD 53.2

$23.83 FJD 53.3

-0.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.58 FJD 66.2

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.07 FJD 15.83

Cinema Ticket

$4.51 FJD 10.10

$4.34 FJD 9.71

3.92%

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

$230 FJD 514

$229 FJD 514

0.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.4K FJD 32.1K

$14.3K FJD 31.9K

0.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.53 FJD 57.1

$26.30 FJD 58.9

-2.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.96 FJD 60.4

$27.42 FJD 61.4

-1.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.6 FJD 156

$70.0 FJD 157

-0.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$61.5 FJD 138

$61.3 FJD 137

0.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$588 FJD 1,315

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$383 FJD 858

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,070 FJD 4,633

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,222 FJD 2,736

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,350 FJD 3,021

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$838 FJD 1,875

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$949 FJD 2,125

$388 FJD 869

144.57%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Ba: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Suva pays 145% 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: $45.00 in Suva vs $30.00 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 97% 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 145% higher in Suva, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Childcare runs $230 in Suva versus $229 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 $30.00 versus $45.00 in Suva. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $490 in Ba versus $964 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 97% less than in Suva. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.