🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $949 in Suva versus $1,646 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,752 in Suva versus $2,613 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,554 in Suva versus $3,580 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Suva costs roughly 42% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Suva is 31% below, Mexico City is 20% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Suva
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.85FJD 12.67
$12.11MX$206
-51.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.43FJD 98.4
$52.2MX$887
-13.02%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.76FJD 16.79
$10.90MX$185
-28.81%
Cappuccino
$2.95FJD 6.40
$4.05MX$68.9
-27.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54FJD 3.33
$1.72MX$29.15
-10.47%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75FJD 1.62
$1.38MX$23.41
-45.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.65FJD 7.91
$3.47MX$58.9
5.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46FJD 9.66
$5.81MX$98.8
-23.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Suva
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.30FJD 2.81
$1.85MX$31.50
-29.73%
White Bread(500g)
$0.57FJD 1.24
$3.22MX$54.8
-82.30%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.10FJD 2.38
$2.09MX$35.44
-47.37%
Eggs
$3.38FJD 7.33
$2.91MX$49.44
16.15%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.29FJD 22.29
$12.49MX$212
-17.61%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.27FJD 13.58
$10.11MX$172
-37.98%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.90FJD 17.11
$15.89MX$270
-50.28%
Apples(1kg)
$2.59FJD 5.61
$3.31MX$56.3
-21.75%
Banana(1kg)
$2.52FJD 5.46
$2.13MX$36.14
18.31%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.50FJD 7.57
$2.19MX$37.22
59.82%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.24FJD 7.01
$2.45MX$41.59
32.24%
Potato(1kg)
$1.29FJD 2.79
$2.19MX$37.20
-41.10%
Onion(1kg)
$1.10FJD 2.37
$1.90MX$32.37
-42.11%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.23FJD 2.67
$1.62MX$27.45
-24.07%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.75FJD 1.61
$1.35MX$22.94
-44.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.05FJD 21.75
$5.43MX$92.2
85.08%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.69FJD 16.64
$17.59MX$299
-56.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.20FJD 4.77
$2.07MX$35.14
6.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46FJD 7.48
$4.75MX$80.7
-27.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Suva
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.94FJD 2.04
$0.34MX$5.78
176.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$23.12FJD 50.1
$21.58MX$367
7.14%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.88FJD 1.91
$2.04MX$34.67
-56.86%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.47FJD 1.02
$0.58MX$9.82
-18.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.28FJD 20.09
$5.97MX$101
55.44%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.40FJD 3.03
$1.62MX$27.46
-13.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6KFJD 53.2K
$22.8KMX$387.6K
7.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.0KFJD 56.3K
$26.7KMX$453.1K
-2.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Suva
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$45.84FJD 99.2
$65.2MX$1,109
-29.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.27FJD 28.73
$29.87MX$508
-55.57%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18FJD 52.3
$36.55MX$621
-33.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Suva
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.66FJD 81.5
$61.0MX$1,037
-38.26%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.52FJD 24.93
$26.70MX$454
-56.85%
Cinema Ticket
$3.51FJD 7.59
$6.85MX$116
-48.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Suva
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$230FJD 499
$453MX$7,705
-49.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.8KFJD 29.8K
$13.4KMX$227.2K
2.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Suva
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$33.83FJD 73.3
$75.0MX$1,274
-54.88%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.37FJD 87.4
$55.3MX$940
-26.98%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$70.3FJD 152
$114MX$1,931
-38.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$62.0FJD 134
$123MX$2,084
-49.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Suva
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$894FJD 1,935
$1,134MX$19.3K
-21.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$331FJD 716
$712MX$12.1K
-53.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,740FJD 5,931
$2,571MX$43.7K
6.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,013FJD 2,192
$1,311MX$22.3K
-22.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,381FJD 2,989
$3,993MX$67.8K
-65.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$832FJD 1,800
$2,095MX$35.6K
-60.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Suva
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$985FJD 2,132
$1,047MX$17.8K
-5.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.7
11.3
-31.86%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Suva: August 30, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $894 in Suva and $1,134 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 6% 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 $52.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $234 vs $345 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 Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Suva and in Mexico City?
Suva and Mexico City differ by about 73% in total monthly costs ($949 vs $1,646 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 6% lower in Mexico City. 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 Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $894 in Suva versus $1,134 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Suva and in Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Suva runs roughly 7% less than in Mexico City. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Suva and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $230 in Suva versus $453 in Mexico City. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $949 in Suva versus $1,646 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Suva but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. 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 Mexico City?
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 Mexico City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Suva and Mexico City 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 Mexico City?
Expats usually find Suva gentler on the wallet – expenses run 73% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.