Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Suva and Lisbon

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.

Suva
🇫🇯 Fiji
$946
/mo nomad
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,223
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Suva and in Lisbon

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
🍽 Eating Out
Suva
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.93 FJD 13.28
$16.50 €14.67
-64.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.78 FJD 100
$61.3 €54.5
-26.89%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.51 FJD 16.81
$11.27 €10.03
-33.36%
Cappuccino
$2.85 FJD 6.37
$3.06 €2.72
-6.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 FJD 3.36
$2.26 €2.01
-33.63%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75 FJD 1.67
$1.73 €1.54
-56.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.56 FJD 7.98
$3.39 €3.02
5.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.57 FJD 10.24
$3.40 €3.02
34.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Suva
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.33 FJD 2.97
$1.12 €1.00
18.75%
White Bread (500g)
$0.57 FJD 1.28
$1.86 €1.65
-69.35%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.13 FJD 2.53
$1.53 €1.36
-26.14%
Eggs
$3.38 FJD 7.57
$3.96 €3.53
-14.65%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.18 FJD 22.78
$12.76 €11.35
-20.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.34 FJD 14.19
$7.90 €7.02
-19.75%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.96 FJD 17.82
$16.97 €15.09
-53.09%
Apples (1kg)
$2.49 FJD 5.58
$2.27 €2.02
9.69%
Banana (1kg)
$2.43 FJD 5.43
$1.75 €1.55
38.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.55 FJD 7.94
$1.85 €1.64
91.89%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.17 FJD 7.11
$2.57 €2.28
23.35%
Potato (1kg)
$1.26 FJD 2.83
$1.86 €1.65
-32.26%
Onion (1kg)
$1.06 FJD 2.37
$2.02 €1.80
-47.52%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.16 FJD 2.61
$1.44 €1.28
-19.44%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.69 FJD 1.54
$0.82 €0.73
-15.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.89 FJD 22.15
$6.56 €5.83
50.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.19 FJD 16.10
$5.62 €5.00
27.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.11 FJD 4.74
$1.28 €1.14
64.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39 FJD 7.60
$2.07 €1.84
63.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Suva
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 FJD 1.97
$2.35 €2.09
-62.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.34 FJD 50.0
$44.18 €39.30
-49.43%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.92 FJD 2.05
$3.99 €3.55
-76.94%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.45 FJD 1.01
$1.09 €0.97
-58.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.80 FJD 19.70
$16.64 €14.81
-47.12%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.43 FJD 3.21
$2.28 €2.03
-37.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.3K FJD 54.5K
$33.7K €30.0K
-27.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.7K FJD 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)
$46.26 FJD 104
$167 €149
-72.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.75 FJD 28.54
$18.80 €16.72
-32.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.21 FJD 54.2
$33.09 €29.43
-26.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Suva
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.81 FJD 82.4
$46.01 €40.93
-20.00%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.31 FJD 25.32
$19.19 €17.07
-41.06%
Cinema Ticket
$3.42 FJD 7.65
$9.84 €8.75
-65.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Suva
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$225 FJD 503
$677 €602
-66.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.4K FJD 30.0K
$16.9K €15.1K
-20.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Suva
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$33.29 FJD 74.5
$101 €90.1
-67.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.64 FJD 88.8
$45.76 €40.70
-13.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$68.6 FJD 154
$100.0 €88.9
-31.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$59.9 FJD 134
$123 €109
-51.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Suva
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$889 FJD 1,992
$1,614 €1,436
-44.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$329 FJD 736
$1,197 €1,065
-72.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,589 FJD 5,797
$2,862 €2,545
-9.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$999 FJD 2,236
$1,990 €1,770
-49.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,310 FJD 2,933
$7,577 €6,740
-82.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$820 FJD 1,836
$4,307 €3,831
-80.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Suva
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$965 FJD 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.
Accommodation & Living
Suva
$329
Lisbon
$1.2K 264% $868
Groceries & Markets
Suva
$231
Lisbon
$269 16.7% $39
Eating Out
Suva
$140
Lisbon
$242 72.9% $102
Clothing & Footwear
Suva
$91
Lisbon
$166 83.5% $76
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Suva
$83
Lisbon
$219 164% $136
Sport & Entertainment
Suva
$44
Lisbon
$66 50.5% $22
Getting Around
Suva
$29
Lisbon
$63 117% $34

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.

Good to know
🇫🇯 Suva
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🕒 Local time
16:22 4:22 PM
05:22 5:22 AM
11 h behind Suva
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
100,000 Capital
545,923 Capital
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to FJD – Fijian Dollar Converter

Fijian Dollar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 2.24 FJD (1 FJD = 0.447 USD). 1 EUR = 2.52 FJD (1 FJD = 0.397 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Suva Lisbon 17,610 km ≈ 23 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Suva
  • Lisbon

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.

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