For one person, living is cheaper in Suva: $946 a month against $2,223 in Lisbon, rent and utilities included – about $15,300 less a year. Rent and utilities 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 Lisbon actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $946 in Suva versus $2,223 in Lisbon.
Suva $946
Lisbon $2,223
Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,717 in Suva versus $3,271 in Lisbon.
Suva $1,717
Lisbon $3,271
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,489 in Suva versus $4,319 in Lisbon.
Suva $2,489
Lisbon $4,319
🌍
Living in Suva costs roughly 57% less than in Lisbon, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.
📊
The two cities straddle the global median: Suva is 30% below, Lisbon is 65% above.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Suva
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.93FJD 13.28
$16.50€14.67
-64.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.78FJD 100
$61.3€54.5
-26.89%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.51FJD 16.81
$11.27€10.03
-33.36%
Cappuccino
$2.85FJD 6.37
$3.06€2.72
-6.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50FJD 3.36
$2.26€2.01
-33.63%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75FJD 1.67
$1.73€1.54
-56.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.56FJD 7.98
$3.39€3.02
5.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.57FJD 10.24
$3.40€3.02
34.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Suva
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.33FJD 2.97
$1.12€1.00
18.75%
White Bread(500g)
$0.57FJD 1.28
$1.86€1.65
-69.35%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.13FJD 2.53
$1.53€1.36
-26.14%
Eggs
$3.38FJD 7.57
$3.96€3.53
-14.65%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.18FJD 22.78
$12.76€11.35
-20.22%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.34FJD 14.19
$7.90€7.02
-19.75%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.96FJD 17.82
$16.97€15.09
-53.09%
Apples(1kg)
$2.49FJD 5.58
$2.27€2.02
9.69%
Banana(1kg)
$2.43FJD 5.43
$1.75€1.55
38.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.55FJD 7.94
$1.85€1.64
91.89%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.17FJD 7.11
$2.57€2.28
23.35%
Potato(1kg)
$1.26FJD 2.83
$1.86€1.65
-32.26%
Onion(1kg)
$1.06FJD 2.37
$2.02€1.80
-47.52%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.16FJD 2.61
$1.44€1.28
-19.44%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.69FJD 1.54
$0.82€0.73
-15.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.89FJD 22.15
$6.56€5.83
50.76%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.19FJD 16.10
$5.62€5.00
27.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.11FJD 4.74
$1.28€1.14
64.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39FJD 7.60
$2.07€1.84
63.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Suva
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.88FJD 1.97
$2.35€2.09
-62.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.34FJD 50.0
$44.18€39.30
-49.43%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.92FJD 2.05
$3.99€3.55
-76.94%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.45FJD 1.01
$1.09€0.97
-58.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.80FJD 19.70
$16.64€14.81
-47.12%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.43FJD 3.21
$2.28€2.03
-37.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.3KFJD 54.5K
$33.7K€30.0K
-27.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.7KFJD 55.3K
$39.3K€35.0K
-37.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Suva
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$46.26FJD 104
$167€149
-72.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.75FJD 28.54
$18.80€16.72
-32.18%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.21FJD 54.2
$33.09€29.43
-26.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Suva
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.81FJD 82.4
$46.01€40.93
-20.00%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.31FJD 25.32
$19.19€17.07
-41.06%
Cinema Ticket
$3.42FJD 7.65
$9.84€8.75
-65.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Suva
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$225FJD 503
$677€602
-66.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.4KFJD 30.0K
$16.9K€15.1K
-20.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Suva
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$33.29FJD 74.5
$101€90.1
-67.12%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.64FJD 88.8
$45.76€40.70
-13.37%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$68.6FJD 154
$100.0€88.9
-31.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$59.9FJD 134
$123€109
-51.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Suva
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$889FJD 1,992
$1,614€1,436
-44.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$329FJD 736
$1,197€1,065
-72.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,589FJD 5,797
$2,862€2,545
-9.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$999FJD 2,236
$1,990€1,770
-49.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,310FJD 2,933
$7,577€6,740
-82.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$820FJD 1,836
$4,307€3,831
-80.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Suva
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$965FJD 2,160
$1,588€1,412
-39.24%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.7
3.85
100.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Suva: October 10, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: October 11, 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%
Lisbon
$1.2K 53.9% ↑ 264%$868
🛒Groceries & Markets
Suva
$231 24.4%
Lisbon
$269 12.1% ↑ 16.7%$39
🍽Eating Out
Suva
$140 14.8%
Lisbon
$242 10.9% ↑ 72.9%$102
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Suva
$91 9.6%
Lisbon
$166 7.5% ↑ 83.5%$76
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Suva
$83 8.8%
Lisbon
$219 9.9% ↑ 164%$136
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Suva
$44 4.6%
Lisbon
$66 3% ↑ 50.5%$22
🚌Getting Around
Suva
$29 3.1%
Lisbon
$63 2.8% ↑ 117%$34
🏠Accommodation & Living
Suva
$999 40.1%
Lisbon
$2K 46.1% ↑ 99.3%$991
🛒Groceries & Markets
Suva
$537 21.6%
Lisbon
$642 14.9% ↑ 19.4%$104
🍽Eating Out
Suva
$497 20%
Lisbon
$798 18.5% ↑ 60.5%$301
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Suva
$201 8.1%
Lisbon
$370 8.6% ↑ 83.5%$168
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Suva
$96 3.9%
Lisbon
$238 5.5% ↑ 148%$142
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Suva
$99 4%
Lisbon
$151 3.5% ↑ 52.7%$52
🚌Getting Around
Suva
$60 2.4%
Lisbon
$131 3% ↑ 119%$71
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $889 in Suva and $1,614 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 65% 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 $61.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $231 vs $269 per month, with Suva 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 Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Suva and in Lisbon?
Suva and Lisbon differ by about 135% in total monthly costs ($946 vs $2,223 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, salaries run 65% lower in Lisbon. 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 in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $889 in Suva versus $1,614 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 $677 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 17% 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 $946 in Suva versus $2,223 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 135% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.