🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $964 in Suva versus $1,456 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,795 in Suva versus $2,361 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,626 in Suva versus $3,266 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Suva costs roughly 34% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Suva is 28% below, Mexico City is 9% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Suva
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.26FJD 11.76
$13.07MX$229
-59.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.35FJD 102
$53.8MX$940
-15.63%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.62FJD 14.81
$9.68MX$169
-31.61%
Cappuccino
$3.26FJD 7.30
$3.74MX$65.4
-12.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41FJD 3.15
$1.62MX$28.25
-12.96%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67FJD 1.49
$1.16MX$20.31
-42.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.05FJD 6.82
$3.23MX$56.4
-5.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.67FJD 8.20
$4.74MX$82.9
-22.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Suva
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28FJD 2.87
$1.65MX$28.80
-22.42%
White Bread(500g)
$0.50FJD 1.11
$2.75MX$48.15
-81.82%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.15FJD 2.58
$1.87MX$32.77
-38.50%
Eggs
$3.30FJD 7.38
$2.50MX$43.72
32.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.09FJD 20.35
$10.20MX$178
-10.88%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.25FJD 16.22
$8.25MX$144
-12.12%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.56FJD 16.91
$11.82MX$207
-36.04%
Apples(1kg)
$2.56FJD 5.73
$3.01MX$52.6
-14.95%
Banana(1kg)
$2.53FJD 5.67
$1.81MX$31.67
39.78%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.57FJD 7.99
$2.00MX$34.96
78.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.25FJD 7.27
$2.00MX$34.89
62.50%
Potato(1kg)
$1.49FJD 3.33
$2.08MX$36.45
-28.37%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17FJD 2.62
$2.27MX$39.72
-48.46%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.21FJD 2.71
$1.46MX$25.47
-17.12%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76FJD 1.71
$1.08MX$18.82
-29.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.87FJD 22.10
$4.35MX$76.0
126.90%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.47FJD 16.71
$16.99MX$297
-56.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.15FJD 4.80
$1.73MX$30.31
24.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.35FJD 7.49
$3.58MX$62.5
-6.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Suva
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.93FJD 2.08
$0.39MX$6.77
138.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$21.89FJD 48.98
$18.69MX$327
17.12%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.91FJD 2.03
$1.33MX$23.18
-31.58%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.44FJD 0.99
$0.28MX$4.89
57.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.83FJD 19.76
$5.25MX$91.8
68.19%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.39FJD 3.10
$1.34MX$23.37
3.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.3KFJD 54.4K
$19.4KMX$339.4K
25.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.0KFJD 56.0K
$23.8KMX$416.7K
4.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Suva
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$45.01FJD 101
$40.69MX$712
10.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.15FJD 29.44
$26.87MX$470
-51.06%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.78FJD 53.2
$30.51MX$534
-22.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Suva
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$29.58FJD 66.2
$52.8MX$923
-43.96%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.07FJD 15.83
$26.65MX$466
-73.47%
Cinema Ticket
$4.51FJD 10.10
$6.51MX$114
-30.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Suva
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$230FJD 514
$428MX$7,485
-46.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.4KFJD 32.1K
$10.5KMX$183.6K
36.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Suva
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.53FJD 57.1
$57.3MX$1,001
-55.41%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.96FJD 60.4
$45.50MX$796
-40.75%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$69.6FJD 156
$104MX$1,819
-33.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$61.5FJD 138
$108MX$1,885
-42.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Suva
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$588FJD 1,315
$1,003MX$17.5K
-41.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$383FJD 858
$623MX$10.9K
-38.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,070FJD 4,633
$2,109MX$36.9K
-1.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,222FJD 2,736
$1,218MX$21.3K
0.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,350FJD 3,021
$3,885MX$67.9K
-65.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$838FJD 1,875
$2,033MX$35.5K
-58.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Suva
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$949FJD 2,125
$1,038MX$18.1K
-8.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.7
11.34
-32.10%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Suva: July 13, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $588 in Suva and $1,003 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 9% 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 $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $234 vs $292 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 51% in total monthly costs ($964 vs $1,456 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 9% 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: $588 in Suva versus $1,003 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 17% 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 $428 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 $964 in Suva versus $1,456 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 51% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.