Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Suva and Tauranga

For one person, living is cheaper in Suva: $946 a month against $2,123 in Tauranga, rent and utilities included – about $14,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Suva
🇫🇯 Fiji
$946
/mo nomad
Tauranga
🇳🇿 New Zealand
$2,123
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Suva and in Tauranga

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $946 in Suva versus $2,123 in Tauranga.

  • Suva $946
  • Tauranga $2,123

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,717 in Suva versus $2,894 in Tauranga.

  • Suva $1,717
  • Tauranga $2,894

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,489 in Suva versus $3,666 in Tauranga.

  • Suva $2,489
  • Tauranga $3,666

Living in Suva costs roughly 55% less than in Tauranga, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Suva is 30% below, Tauranga is 57% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Suva
Tauranga
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.93 FJD 13.28
$13.92 NZ$24.62
-57.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.78 FJD 100
$67.2 NZ$119
-33.34%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.51 FJD 16.81
$8.85 NZ$15.66
-15.14%
Cappuccino
$2.85 FJD 6.37
$3.39 NZ$6.00
-15.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 FJD 3.36
$1.83 NZ$3.23
-18.03%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75 FJD 1.67
$1.79 NZ$3.16
-58.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.56 FJD 7.98
$4.53 NZ$8.02
-21.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.57 FJD 10.24
$5.72 NZ$10.12
-20.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Suva
Tauranga
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.33 FJD 2.97
$1.96 NZ$3.47
-32.14%
White Bread (500g)
$0.57 FJD 1.28
$1.89 NZ$3.34
-69.84%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.13 FJD 2.53
$1.60 NZ$2.83
-29.38%
Eggs
$3.38 FJD 7.57
$6.16 NZ$10.90
-45.13%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.18 FJD 22.78
$8.02 NZ$14.19
26.93%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.34 FJD 14.19
$9.32 NZ$16.48
-31.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.96 FJD 17.82
$11.35 NZ$20.07
-29.87%
Apples (1kg)
$2.49 FJD 5.58
$2.46 NZ$4.35
1.22%
Banana (1kg)
$2.43 FJD 5.43
$2.12 NZ$3.75
14.62%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.55 FJD 7.94
$2.24 NZ$3.97
58.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.17 FJD 7.11
$4.81 NZ$8.51
-34.10%
Potato (1kg)
$1.26 FJD 2.83
$1.77 NZ$3.13
-28.81%
Onion (1kg)
$1.06 FJD 2.37
$1.20 NZ$2.11
-11.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.16 FJD 2.61
$2.03 NZ$3.58
-42.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.69 FJD 1.54
$1.09 NZ$1.93
-36.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.89 FJD 22.15
$20.00 NZ$35.38
-50.55%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.19 FJD 16.10
$8.62 NZ$15.25
-16.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.11 FJD 4.74
$2.09 NZ$3.70
0.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39 FJD 7.60
$3.26 NZ$5.76
3.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Suva
Tauranga
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 FJD 1.97
$1.71 NZ$3.03
-48.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.34 FJD 50.0
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.92 FJD 2.05
$2.27 NZ$4.01
-59.47%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.45 FJD 1.01
$1.93 NZ$3.41
-76.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.80 FJD 19.70
$31.43 NZ$55.6
-72.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.43 FJD 3.21
$1.71 NZ$3.02
-16.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.3K FJD 54.5K
$25.0K NZ$44.2K
-2.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.7K FJD 55.3K
$21.7K NZ$38.3K
13.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Suva
Tauranga
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$46.26 FJD 104
$114 NZ$202
-59.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.75 FJD 28.54
$26.75 NZ$47.31
-52.34%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.21 FJD 54.2
$50.3 NZ$89.0
-51.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Suva
Tauranga
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.81 FJD 82.4
$55.1 NZ$97.5
-33.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.31 FJD 25.32
$16.97 NZ$30.00
-33.35%
Cinema Ticket
$3.42 FJD 7.65
$11.16 NZ$19.74
-69.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Suva
Tauranga
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$225 FJD 503
$717 NZ$1,268
-68.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.4K FJD 30.0K
$11.0K NZ$19.5K
21.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Suva
Tauranga
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$33.29 FJD 74.5
$65.7 NZ$116
-49.31%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.64 FJD 88.8
$37.15 NZ$65.7
6.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$68.6 FJD 154
$90.5 NZ$160
-24.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$59.9 FJD 134
$108 NZ$191
-44.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Suva
Tauranga
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$889 FJD 1,992
$1,083 NZ$1,914
-17.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$329 FJD 736
$1,177 NZ$2,082
-72.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,589 FJD 5,797
$1,590 NZ$2,813
62.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$999 FJD 2,236
$1,449 NZ$2,563
-31.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,310 FJD 2,933
$4,680 NZ$8,276
-72.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$820 FJD 1,836
$2,247 NZ$3,974
-63.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Suva
Tauranga
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$965 FJD 2,160
$2,951 NZ$5,219
-67.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.7
5.37
43.39%

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

Last update for Suva: October 10, 2026

Last update for Tauranga: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Suva
$329
Tauranga
$1.2K 258% $849
Groceries & Markets
Suva
$231
Tauranga
$295 28% $65
Eating Out
Suva
$140
Tauranga
$227 62.2% $87
Clothing & Footwear
Suva
$91
Tauranga
$136 49.6% $45
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Suva
$83
Tauranga
$191 130% $108
Sport & Entertainment
Suva
$44
Tauranga
$77 77.5% $34
Getting Around
Suva
$29
Tauranga
$19 * 35.4% $10

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 $889 in Suva and $1,083 in Tauranga. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tauranga pays 206% 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 $67.0 in Tauranga for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $231 vs $295 per month, with Suva cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇫🇯 Suva
🇳🇿 Tauranga
🕒 Local time
14:57 2:57 PM
15:57 3:57 PM
1 h ahead of Suva
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
100,000 Capital
155,200
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

NZD, USD, EUR to FJD – Fijian Dollar Converter

Fijian Dollar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 2.24 FJD (1 FJD = 0.447 USD). 1 EUR = 2.52 FJD (1 FJD = 0.397 EUR).

New Zealand Dollar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 1.77 NZD (1 NZD = 0.565 USD). 1 EUR = 1.99 NZD (1 NZD = 0.503 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Suva Tauranga 2,180 km ≈ 3 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Suva
  • Tauranga

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 Tauranga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Suva or Tauranga?
Suva wins on cost – living expenses run 124% lower than in Tauranga. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Suva the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Suva or in Tauranga?
On paper, salaries run 206% lower in Tauranga. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Suva compared to Tauranga?
Rent for a central apartment: $889 in Suva versus $1,083 in Tauranga. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Suva or in Tauranga?
Supermarket bills run roughly 28% higher in Tauranga. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Suva compared to Tauranga?
All in, you'll spend $946 per month in Suva versus $2,123 in Tauranga – a 124% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Suva or in Tauranga?
At $946 in Suva versus $2,123 in Tauranga, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Suva but tight or insufficient in Tauranga. The gap between the two cities makes Suva the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Suva or Tauranga?
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.
How safe is Suva compared to Tauranga?
Safety-wise, Suva and Tauranga 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Suva gentler on the wallet – expenses run 124% less than in Tauranga. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Suva vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?