Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Suva and Seoul

For one person, living is cheaper in Suva: $927 a month against $1,822 in Seoul, rent and utilities included – about $10,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Suva
🇫🇯 Fiji
$927
/mo nomad
Seoul
🇰🇷 South Korea
$1,822
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Suva and in Seoul

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

A single person spends $927 per month in Suva vs $1,822 in Seoul, rent included.

  • Suva $927
  • Seoul $1,822

A couple spends around $1,681 per month in Suva vs $2,847 in Seoul, rent included.

  • Suva $1,681
  • Seoul $2,847

A family of three spends $2,435 per month in Suva vs $3,872 in Seoul, rent included.

  • Suva $2,435
  • Seoul $3,872

Suva is about 49% cheaper than Seoul, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Suva sits 31% below the global median, while Seoul is 36% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Suva
Seoul
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.72 FJD 12.81
$9.10 ₩12.2K
-37.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.13 FJD 98.8
$67.0 ₩90.0K
-34.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.76 FJD 17.37
$7.42 ₩9,964
4.58%
Cappuccino
$2.91 FJD 6.52
$4.08 ₩5,482
-28.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 FJD 3.36
$1.60 ₩2,146
-6.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 FJD 1.64
$0.80 ₩1,081
-8.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.67 FJD 8.21
$3.65 ₩4,898
0.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.33 FJD 9.70
$5.94 ₩7,974
-27.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Suva
Seoul
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.28 FJD 2.86
$2.05 ₩2,748
-37.56%
White Bread (500g)
$0.56 FJD 1.26
$3.08 ₩4,139
-81.82%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.13 FJD 2.52
$4.21 ₩5,659
-73.16%
Eggs
$3.39 FJD 7.60
$3.57 ₩4,795
-5.04%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.04 FJD 22.48
$17.95 ₩24.1K
-44.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.06 FJD 13.57
$10.64 ₩14.3K
-43.05%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.82 FJD 17.50
$26.44 ₩35.5K
-70.42%
Apples (1kg)
$2.47 FJD 5.54
$7.42 ₩9,969
-66.71%
Banana (1kg)
$2.42 FJD 5.43
$3.53 ₩4,743
-31.44%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.48 FJD 7.79
$5.87 ₩7,884
-40.72%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.12 FJD 6.99
$6.37 ₩8,554
-51.02%
Potato (1kg)
$1.22 FJD 2.72
$3.75 ₩5,040
-67.47%
Onion (1kg)
$1.07 FJD 2.39
$2.49 ₩3,345
-57.03%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.22 FJD 2.73
$2.92 ₩3,920
-58.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73 FJD 1.64
$1.15 ₩1,545
-36.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.66 FJD 21.62
$3.29 ₩4,418
193.62%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.33 FJD 16.41
$18.49 ₩24.8K
-60.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.07 FJD 4.64
$2.28 ₩3,064
-9.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.43 FJD 7.69
$3.28 ₩4,408
4.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Suva
Seoul
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 FJD 2.11
$1.14 ₩1,529
-17.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.37 FJD 50.1
$45.47 ₩61.1K
-50.80%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.87 FJD 1.94
$3.48 ₩4,674
-75.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 FJD 0.94
$0.60 ₩805
-30.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.95 FJD 20.04
$8.70 ₩11.7K
2.87%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.46 FJD 3.26
$1.50 ₩2,008
-2.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.4K FJD 54.6K
$29.1K ₩39.1M
-16.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6K FJD 57.4K
$28.2K ₩37.9M
-9.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Suva
Seoul
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$46.38 FJD 104
$209 ₩280.5K
-77.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.79 FJD 28.65
$35.13 ₩47.2K
-63.59%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.98 FJD 53.7
$21.18 ₩28.4K
13.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Suva
Seoul
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.85 FJD 82.5
$57.3 ₩77.0K
-35.72%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.30 FJD 25.29
$15.89 ₩21.3K
-28.89%
Cinema Ticket
$3.43 FJD 7.68
$11.33 ₩15.2K
-69.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Suva
Seoul
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$228 FJD 509
$1,902 ₩2.6M
-88.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.4K FJD 30.0K
$22.5K ₩30.2M
-40.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Suva
Seoul
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$33.19 FJD 74.3
$58.9 ₩79.1K
-43.66%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.53 FJD 90.8
$32.12 ₩43.1K
26.18%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$68.9 FJD 154
$70.1 ₩94.2K
-1.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$61.4 FJD 138
$82.5 ₩110.8K
-25.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Suva
Seoul
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$891 FJD 1,995
$885 ₩1.2M
0.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$330 FJD 740
$624 ₩837.5K
-47.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,641 FJD 5,913
$2,494 ₩3.3M
5.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,001 FJD 2,241
$1,275 ₩1.7M
-21.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,320 FJD 2,956
$29.8K ₩40.1M
-95.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$818 FJD 1,832
$11.8K ₩15.9M
-93.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Suva
Seoul
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$961 FJD 2,151
$3,649 ₩4.9M
-73.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.7
4.08
88.73%

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

Last update for Suva: October 5, 2026

Last update for Seoul: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Suva
$330
Seoul
$624 88.7% $293
Groceries & Markets
Suva
$228
Seoul
$479 110% $251
Eating Out
Suva
$140
Seoul
$184 31.3% $44
Clothing & Footwear
Suva
$92
Seoul
$110 19.4% $18
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Suva
$83
Seoul
$265 219% $182
Sport & Entertainment
Suva
$44
Seoul
$80 83% $36
Getting Around
Suva
$29
Seoul
$57 94.1% $27

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $891 in Suva versus $885 in Seoul. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 280% higher in Seoul, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Suva versus $67.0 in Seoul. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $228 vs $479 – making Suva the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇫🇯 Suva
🇰🇷 Seoul
🕒 Local time
12:58 12:58 PM
09:58 9:58 AM
3 h behind Suva
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
100,000 Capital
9,509,458 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

KRW, 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).

South Korean Won exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1,343 KRW (10,000 KRW = 7.45 USD). 1 EUR = 1,506 KRW (10,000 KRW = 6.64 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Suva Seoul 8,200 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Suva
  • Seoul

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 Seoul: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Suva or Seoul?
Seoul costs about 97% more than Suva, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Suva and in Seoul?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,390 per month in Suva and $2,733 in Seoul. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Suva or Seoul?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Suva, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How expensive is transport in Suva compared to Seoul?
Public transport costs about 103% less in Suva. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Suva and in Seoul?
Kindergarten costs $228 per month in Suva and $1,902 in Seoul. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Suva or in Seoul?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Suva, where all-in costs run around $927, than in Seoul at $1,822. In Suva it covers expenses comfortably, while in Seoul it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Suva – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How safe is Suva compared to Seoul?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Suva or to Seoul?
If budget matters most, go with Suva. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Seoul makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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