For one person, living is cheaper in Fiji: $696 a month against $946 in Suva, rent and utilities included – about $3,000 less a year. Other living expenses account for most 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 Suva and in Fiji actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $946 in Suva versus $696 in Fiji.
Suva $946
Fiji $696
Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,717 in Suva versus $1,151 in Fiji.
Suva $1,717
Fiji $1,151
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,489 in Suva versus $1,606 in Fiji.
Suva $2,489
Fiji $1,606
🌍
Living in Suva is roughly 36% more expensive than in Fiji, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.
📊
Both cities sit below the global median: Suva30% lower, Fiji48% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Suva
Fiji
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.93FJD 13.28
$4.49FJD 10.06
32.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.78FJD 100
$32.82FJD 73.5
36.44%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.51FJD 16.81
$6.36FJD 14.24
18.08%
Cappuccino
$2.85FJD 6.37
$2.51FJD 5.61
13.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50FJD 3.36
$1.40FJD 3.13
7.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75FJD 1.67
$0.98FJD 2.20
-23.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.56FJD 7.98
$4.05FJD 9.08
-12.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.57FJD 10.24
$3.93FJD 8.80
16.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Suva
Fiji
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.33FJD 2.97
$1.22FJD 2.74
9.02%
White Bread(500g)
$0.57FJD 1.28
$0.23FJD 0.51
147.83%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.13FJD 2.53
$0.93FJD 2.09
21.51%
Eggs
$3.38FJD 7.57
$3.12FJD 6.99
8.33%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.18FJD 22.78
$10.73FJD 24.02
-5.13%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.34FJD 14.19
$5.28FJD 11.82
20.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.96FJD 17.82
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.49FJD 5.58
$1.29FJD 2.89
93.02%
Banana(1kg)
$2.43FJD 5.43
$0.91FJD 2.04
167.03%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.55FJD 7.94
$1.73FJD 3.87
105.20%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.17FJD 7.11
$1.37FJD 3.06
131.39%
Potato(1kg)
$1.26FJD 2.83
$0.70FJD 1.56
80.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.06FJD 2.37
$0.68FJD 1.51
55.88%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.16FJD 2.61
$0.92FJD 2.06
26.09%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.69FJD 1.54
$0.51FJD 1.14
35.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.89FJD 22.15
$11.31FJD 25.32
-12.56%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.19FJD 16.10
$6.21FJD 13.90
15.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.11FJD 4.74
$4.11FJD 9.20
-48.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39FJD 7.60
$4.08FJD 9.13
-16.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Suva
Fiji
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.88FJD 1.97
$0.88FJD 1.96
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.34FJD 50.0
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.92FJD 2.05
$1.10FJD 2.45
-16.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.45FJD 1.01
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.80FJD 19.70
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.43FJD 3.21
$1.31FJD 2.93
9.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.3KFJD 54.5K
$45.7KFJD 102.2K
-46.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.7KFJD 55.3K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Suva
Fiji
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$46.26FJD 104
$53.9FJD 121
-14.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.75FJD 28.54
$13.22FJD 29.60
-3.56%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.21FJD 54.2
$17.78FJD 39.81
36.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Suva
Fiji
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.81FJD 82.4
$22.61FJD 50.6
62.80%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.31FJD 25.32
$4.51FJD 10.10
150.78%
Cinema Ticket
$3.42FJD 7.65
$3.92FJD 8.77
-12.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Suva
Fiji
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$225FJD 503
$43.80FJD 98.1
413.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.4KFJD 30.0K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Suva
Fiji
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$33.29FJD 74.5
$19.57FJD 43.81
70.11%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.64FJD 88.8
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$68.6FJD 154
$30.21FJD 67.7
127.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$59.9FJD 134
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Suva
Fiji
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$889FJD 1,992
$673FJD 1,507
32.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$329FJD 736
$262FJD 587
25.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,589FJD 5,797
$1,105FJD 2,474
134.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$999FJD 2,236
$612FJD 1,370
63.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,310FJD 2,933
$1,296FJD 2,901
1.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$820FJD 1,836
$1,320FJD 2,955
-37.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Suva
Fiji
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$965FJD 2,160
$537FJD 1,202
79.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.7
6
28.33%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Suva: October 10, 2026
Last update for Fiji: October 12, 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
Suva
$329 34.7%
Fiji
$262 37.6% ↓ 20.3%$67
🛒Groceries & Markets
Suva
$231 24.4%
Fiji
$169 * 24.3% ↓ 26.6%$61
🍽Eating Out
Suva
$140 14.8%
Fiji
$123 17.6% ↓ 12.4%$17
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Suva
$91 9.6%
Fiji
$22 * 3.2% ↓ 75.3%$68
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Suva
$83 8.8%
Fiji
$85 12.2% ↑ 2%$1.7
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Suva
$44 4.6%
Fiji
$30 4.4% ↓ 30.2%$13
🚌Getting Around
Suva
$29 3.1%
Fiji
$4.6 * 0.7% ↓ 84.1%$24
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Suva
$999 40.1%
Fiji
$612 38.1% ↓ 38.7%$387
🛒Groceries & Markets
Suva
$537 21.6%
Fiji
$370 * 23% ↓ 31.1%$167
🍽Eating Out
Suva
$497 20%
Fiji
$399 24.9% ↓ 19.6%$97
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Suva
$201 8.1%
Fiji
$50 * 3.1% ↓ 75.3%$152
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Suva
$96 3.9%
Fiji
$98 6.1% ↑ 2.3%$2.2
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Suva
$99 4%
Fiji
$65 4.1% ↓ 33.7%$33
🚌Getting Around
Suva
$60 2.4%
Fiji
$11 * 0.7% ↓ 81.7%$49
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 $889 in Suva and $673 in Fiji. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Suva pays 80% 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 $33.00 in Fiji for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $231 vs $169 per month, with Fiji 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
Suva vs Fiji: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fiji cheaper than Suva?
Fiji is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 36% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Suva or Fiji?
Average pay runs 80% higher in Suva, 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 Suva and Fiji?
Rent for a central apartment: $889 in Suva versus $673 in Fiji. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Suva and in Fiji?
Supermarket bills run roughly 36% higher in Suva. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Suva and in Fiji?
All in, you'll spend $946 per month in Suva versus $696 in Fiji – a 36% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Suva or in Fiji?
At $696 in Fiji versus $946 in Suva, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Fiji but tight or insufficient in Suva. The gap between the two cities makes Fiji the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Suva or in Fiji?
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.
Which city is safer, Suva or Fiji?
Safety-wise, Suva and Fiji 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 Fiji gentler on the wallet – expenses run 36% less than in Suva. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.