Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Suva and Noumea

For one person, living is cheaper in Suva: $927 a month against $2,410 in Noumea, rent and utilities included – about $17,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Suva
🇫🇯 Fiji
$927
/mo nomad
Noumea
🇳🇨 New Caledonia
$2,410
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Suva and in Noumea

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 Noumea actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $927 in Suva versus $2,410 in Noumea.

  • Suva $927
  • Noumea $2,410

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,681 in Suva versus $3,800 in Noumea.

  • Suva $1,681
  • Noumea $3,800

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,435 in Suva versus $5,190 in Noumea.

  • Suva $2,435
  • Noumea $5,190

Living in Suva costs roughly 62% less than in Noumea, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Suva is 31% below, Noumea is 80% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Suva
Noumea
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.72 FJD 12.81
$20.86 CFPF 2,220
-72.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.13 FJD 98.8
$114 CFPF 12.1K
-61.18%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.76 FJD 17.37
$13.85 CFPF 1,474
-43.97%
Cappuccino
$2.91 FJD 6.52
$4.68 CFPF 498
-37.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 FJD 3.36
$2.01 CFPF 214
-25.37%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 FJD 1.64
$1.27 CFPF 135
-42.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.67 FJD 8.21
$9.50 CFPF 1,011
-61.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.33 FJD 9.70
$7.26 CFPF 773
-40.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Suva
Noumea
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.28 FJD 2.86
$1.17 CFPF 125
9.40%
White Bread (500g)
$0.56 FJD 1.26
$3.58 CFPF 381
-84.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.13 FJD 2.52
$2.16 CFPF 230
-47.69%
Eggs
$3.39 FJD 7.60
$6.13 CFPF 653
-44.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.04 FJD 22.48
$30.21 CFPF 3,215
-66.77%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.06 FJD 13.57
$27.65 CFPF 2,942
-78.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.82 FJD 17.50
$28.19 CFPF 3,000
-72.26%
Apples (1kg)
$2.47 FJD 5.54
$4.58 CFPF 487
-46.07%
Banana (1kg)
$2.42 FJD 5.43
$7.29 CFPF 776
-66.80%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.48 FJD 7.79
$6.27 CFPF 668
-44.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.12 FJD 6.99
$7.98 CFPF 849
-60.90%
Potato (1kg)
$1.22 FJD 2.72
$5.55 CFPF 591
-78.02%
Onion (1kg)
$1.07 FJD 2.39
$3.86 CFPF 411
-72.28%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.22 FJD 2.73
$4.04 CFPF 430
-69.80%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73 FJD 1.64
$1.50 CFPF 160
-51.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.66 FJD 21.62
$19.46 CFPF 2,070
-50.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.33 FJD 16.41
$17.03 CFPF 1,812
-56.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.07 FJD 4.64
$5.54 CFPF 590
-62.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.43 FJD 7.69
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Suva
Noumea
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 FJD 2.11
$4.62 CFPF 491
-79.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.37 FJD 50.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.87 FJD 1.94
$6.96 CFPF 741
-87.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 FJD 0.94
$1.11 CFPF 119
-62.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.95 FJD 20.04
$21.46 CFPF 2,284
-58.29%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.46 FJD 3.26
$1.63 CFPF 174
-10.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.4K FJD 54.6K
$32.5K CFPF 3.5M
-24.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6K FJD 57.4K
$37.3K CFPF 4.0M
-31.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Suva
Noumea
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$46.38 FJD 104
$205 CFPF 21.8K
-77.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.79 FJD 28.65
$44.24 CFPF 4,707
-71.09%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.98 FJD 53.7
$48.09 CFPF 5,117
-50.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Suva
Noumea
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.85 FJD 82.5
$48.48 CFPF 5,158
-23.99%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.30 FJD 25.29
$8.25 CFPF 878
36.97%
Cinema Ticket
$3.43 FJD 7.68
$14.26 CFPF 1,517
-75.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Suva
Noumea
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$228 FJD 509
$759 CFPF 80.8K
-70.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.4K FJD 30.0K
$9,318 CFPF 991.4K
43.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Suva
Noumea
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$33.19 FJD 74.3
$111 CFPF 11.9K
-70.21%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.53 FJD 90.8
$65.0 CFPF 6,912
-37.61%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$68.9 FJD 154
$100 CFPF 10.7K
-31.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$61.4 FJD 138
$247 CFPF 26.3K
-75.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Suva
Noumea
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$891 FJD 1,995
$761 CFPF 80.9K
17.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$330 FJD 740
$761 CFPF 81.0K
-56.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,641 FJD 5,913
$1,520 CFPF 161.7K
73.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,001 FJD 2,241
$1,349 CFPF 143.6K
-25.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,320 FJD 2,956
$4,777 CFPF 508.3K
-72.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$818 FJD 1,832
$3,453 CFPF 367.4K
-76.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Suva
Noumea
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$961 FJD 2,151
$2,726 CFPF 290.1K
-64.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.7
3.13
146.01%

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

Last update for Suva: October 5, 2026

Last update for Noumea: October 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Suva
$330
Noumea
$761 130% $431
Groceries & Markets
Suva
$228
Noumea
$646 * 183% $418
Eating Out
Suva
$140
Noumea
$340 143% $200
Clothing & Footwear
Suva
$92
Noumea
$236 156% $144
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Suva
$83
Noumea
$297 257% $214
Sport & Entertainment
Suva
$44
Noumea
$77 76.1% $33
Getting Around
Suva
$29
Noumea
$31 * 6.5% $1.9

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $891 in Suva and $761 in Noumea. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Noumea pays 184% 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: $44.00 in Suva vs $114 in Noumea for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $228 vs $646 per month, with Suva cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇫🇯 Suva
🇳🇨 Noumea
🕒 Local time
15:41 3:41 PM
14:41 2:41 PM
1 h behind Suva
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
100,000 Capital
91,386 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

XPF, USD, EUR to FJD – Fijian Dollar Converter

Fijian Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 2.24 FJD (1 FJD = 0.447 USD). 1 EUR = 2.51 FJD (1 FJD = 0.398 EUR).

CFP Franc exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 106 XPF (1,000 XPF = 9.4 USD). 1 EUR = 119 XPF (1,000 XPF = 8.38 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Suva Noumea 1,330 km ≈ 2 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Suva
  • Noumea

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 Noumea: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Noumea cheaper than Suva?
Suva is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 160% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Suva or Noumea?
On paper, salaries run 184% lower in Noumea. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Suva and Noumea?
Rent for a central apartment: $891 in Suva versus $761 in Noumea. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $228 in Suva versus $759 in Noumea. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Suva or in Noumea?
Dining out is cheaper in Suva – a meal for two runs $44.00 versus $114 in Noumea. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Suva or in Noumea?
At $927 in Suva versus $2,410 in Noumea, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Suva but tight or insufficient in Noumea. The gap between the two cities makes Suva the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Suva or Noumea more family-friendly?
For families, Suva is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Noumea, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Suva or Noumea?
Safety-wise, Suva and Noumea are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Suva gentler on the wallet – expenses run 160% less than in Noumea. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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