Cost of Living Comparison Between Suva and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Suva and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $989 in Suva versus $2,210 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,806 in Suva versus $3,311 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,623 in Suva versus $4,411 in Lisbon.

Living in Suva costs roughly 55% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Suva is 26% below, Lisbon is 65% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Suva
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.23 FJD 11.46
$15.91 €13.69
-67.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.87 FJD 96.2
$64.8 €55.7
-32.27%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.79 FJD 14.90
$10.51 €9.04
-35.39%
Cappuccino
$3.11 FJD 6.82
$2.87 €2.47
8.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.49 FJD 3.26
$2.24 €1.93
-33.48%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66 FJD 1.44
$1.50 €1.29
-56.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.06 FJD 6.71
$3.49 €3.00
-12.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61 FJD 7.92
$3.88 €3.34
-6.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Suva
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.29 FJD 2.84
$1.14 €0.98
13.16%
White Bread (500g)
$0.49 FJD 1.07
$1.75 €1.51
-72.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 FJD 2.61
$1.76 €1.51
-32.39%
Eggs
$3.34 FJD 7.32
$3.22 €2.77
3.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.39 FJD 20.59
$13.49 €11.61
-30.39%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.35 FJD 16.12
$7.91 €6.81
-7.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.50 FJD 16.44
$15.87 €13.65
-52.74%
Apples (1kg)
$2.47 FJD 5.41
$2.31 €1.99
6.93%
Banana (1kg)
$2.42 FJD 5.31
$1.70 €1.46
42.35%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.41 FJD 7.49
$2.01 €1.73
69.65%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.16 FJD 6.93
$2.46 €2.12
28.46%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 FJD 3.34
$1.84 €1.59
-16.85%
Onion (1kg)
$1.18 FJD 2.59
$2.00 €1.72
-41.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 FJD 2.59
$1.93 €1.66
-38.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74 FJD 1.63
$0.79 €0.68
-6.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.73 FJD 21.34
$6.61 €5.68
47.20%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.66 FJD 16.81
$5.72 €4.92
33.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.23 FJD 4.89
$1.37 €1.17
62.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.45 FJD 7.57
$2.97 €2.56
16.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Suva
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.87 FJD 1.90
$2.37 €2.04
-63.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$21.82 FJD 47.85
$45.56 €39.19
-52.11%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.86 FJD 1.88
$4.29 €3.69
-79.95%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.44 FJD 0.97
$0.82 €0.70
-46.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.88 FJD 19.47
$18.30 €15.74
-51.48%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 FJD 2.94
$2.06 €1.78
-34.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.4K FJD 53.4K
$34.3K €29.5K
-28.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.9K FJD 54.6K
$39.3K €33.8K
-36.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Suva
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$45.88 FJD 101
$148 €127
-68.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.94 FJD 28.37
$20.52 €17.65
-36.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.25 FJD 53.2
$39.61 €34.08
-38.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Suva
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.82 FJD 65.4
$47.85 €41.16
-37.68%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.95 FJD 15.24
$18.92 €16.28
-63.27%
Cinema Ticket
$4.40 FJD 9.65
$9.18 €7.90
-52.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Suva
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$225 FJD 493
$614 €528
-63.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.0K FJD 30.8K
$16.0K €13.8K
-12.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Suva
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.11 FJD 57.3
$105 €90.0
-75.05%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.95 FJD 59.1
$42.06 €36.18
-35.92%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$69.8 FJD 153
$94.0 €80.8
-25.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$61.7 FJD 135
$120 €103
-48.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Suva
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$582 FJD 1,277
$1,628 €1,400
-64.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$390 FJD 855
$1,255 €1,080
-68.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,039 FJD 4,471
$3,030 €2,607
-32.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,208 FJD 2,649
$2,020 €1,738
-40.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,369 FJD 3,003
$7,800 €6,709
-82.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$852 FJD 1,868
$4,273 €3,675
-80.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Suva
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$988 FJD 2,168
$1,603 €1,379
-38.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.7
3.81
102.10%

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

Last update for Suva: June 1, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $582 in Suva and $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 62% 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 $65.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $234 vs $269 per month, with Suva 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 Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Suva and Lisbon?
Suva and Lisbon differ by about 124% in total monthly costs ($989 vs $2,210 including rent). Suva is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Lisbon earns 62% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Suva and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $582 in Suva versus $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Suva and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $225 in Suva versus $614 in Lisbon. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 15% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $989 in Suva versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Suva but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Suva the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Suva and Lisbon?
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.
Is Suva or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Suva and Lisbon are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Suva or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Suva gentler on the wallet – expenses run 124% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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