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: $949 in Suva versus $2,316 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,752 in Suva versus $3,361 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,554 in Suva versus $4,405 in Lisbon.

Living in Suva costs roughly 59% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Suva is 31% below, Lisbon is 69% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Suva
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.85 FJD 12.67
$17.30 €14.92
-66.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.43 FJD 98.4
$63.3 €54.6
-28.20%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.76 FJD 16.79
$11.39 €9.83
-31.87%
Cappuccino
$2.95 FJD 6.40
$3.19 €2.75
-7.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54 FJD 3.33
$2.45 €2.11
-37.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75 FJD 1.62
$1.76 €1.52
-57.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.65 FJD 7.91
$3.59 €3.10
1.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46 FJD 9.66
$3.39 €2.93
31.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Suva
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.30 FJD 2.81
$1.24 €1.07
4.84%
White Bread (500g)
$0.57 FJD 1.24
$1.98 €1.71
-71.21%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.10 FJD 2.38
$1.52 €1.31
-27.63%
Eggs
$3.38 FJD 7.33
$4.04 €3.49
-16.34%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.29 FJD 22.29
$13.54 €11.68
-24.00%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.27 FJD 13.58
$8.39 €7.23
-25.27%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.90 FJD 17.11
$18.25 €15.74
-56.71%
Apples (1kg)
$2.59 FJD 5.61
$2.29 €1.97
13.10%
Banana (1kg)
$2.52 FJD 5.46
$1.74 €1.50
44.83%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.50 FJD 7.57
$1.86 €1.60
88.17%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.24 FJD 7.01
$2.63 €2.27
23.19%
Potato (1kg)
$1.29 FJD 2.79
$1.92 €1.65
-32.81%
Onion (1kg)
$1.10 FJD 2.37
$2.09 €1.81
-47.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.23 FJD 2.67
$1.44 €1.24
-14.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.75 FJD 1.61
$0.84 €0.73
-10.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.05 FJD 21.75
$6.78 €5.85
48.23%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.69 FJD 16.64
$5.71 €4.93
34.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.20 FJD 4.77
$1.38 €1.19
59.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46 FJD 7.48
$2.22 €1.91
55.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Suva
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 FJD 2.04
$2.40 €2.07
-60.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$23.12 FJD 50.1
$46.78 €40.35
-50.58%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.88 FJD 1.91
$4.17 €3.60
-78.90%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.47 FJD 1.02
$1.14 €0.98
-58.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.28 FJD 20.09
$17.68 €15.25
-47.51%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.40 FJD 3.03
$2.32 €2.00
-39.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6K FJD 53.2K
$35.3K €30.5K
-30.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.0K FJD 56.3K
$41.4K €35.7K
-37.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Suva
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$45.84 FJD 99.2
$170 €147
-73.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.27 FJD 28.73
$19.34 €16.68
-31.39%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18 FJD 52.3
$33.64 €29.01
-28.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Suva
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.66 FJD 81.5
$48.10 €41.48
-21.70%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.52 FJD 24.93
$19.90 €17.16
-42.11%
Cinema Ticket
$3.51 FJD 7.59
$9.92 €8.56
-64.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Suva
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$230 FJD 499
$717 €619
-67.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.8K FJD 29.8K
$17.5K €15.1K
-21.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Suva
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$33.83 FJD 73.3
$105 €90.4
-67.71%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.37 FJD 87.4
$46.95 €40.49
-14.01%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$70.3 FJD 152
$103 €89.2
-32.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$62.0 FJD 134
$124 €107
-49.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Suva
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$894 FJD 1,935
$1,677 €1,446
-46.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$331 FJD 716
$1,271 €1,096
-73.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,740 FJD 5,931
$2,985 €2,574
-8.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,013 FJD 2,192
$1,992 €1,718
-49.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,381 FJD 2,989
$7,826 €6,750
-82.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$832 FJD 1,800
$4,658 €4,017
-82.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Suva
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$985 FJD 2,132
$1,583 €1,365
-37.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.7
3.79
103.17%

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

Last update for Suva: August 30, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $894 in Suva and $1,677 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 61% 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 $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $234 vs $283 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 in Lisbon?
Suva and Lisbon differ by about 144% in total monthly costs ($949 vs $2,316 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 61% 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: $894 in Suva versus $1,677 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 $230 in Suva versus $717 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 21% 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 $949 in Suva versus $2,316 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 144% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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