Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Suva and Te Awamutu

For one person, living is cheaper in Suva: $946 a month against $1,868 in Te Awamutu, rent and utilities included – about $11,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Suva
🇫🇯 Fiji
$946
/mo nomad
Te Awamutu
🇳🇿 New Zealand
$1,868
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Suva and in Te Awamutu

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $946 in Suva versus $1,868 in Te Awamutu.

  • Suva $946
  • Te Awamutu $1,868

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,717 in Suva versus $2,865 in Te Awamutu.

  • Suva $1,717
  • Te Awamutu $2,865

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,489 in Suva versus $3,862 in Te Awamutu.

  • Suva $2,489
  • Te Awamutu $3,862

Living in Suva costs roughly 49% less than in Te Awamutu, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

The two cities straddle the global median: Suva is 30% below, Te Awamutu is 38% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Suva
Te Awamutu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.93 FJD 13.28
$12.01 NZ$21.24
-50.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.78 FJD 100
$67.3 NZ$119
-33.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.51 FJD 16.81
$8.19 NZ$14.48
-8.30%
Cappuccino
$2.85 FJD 6.37
$3.30 NZ$5.84
-13.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 FJD 3.36
$1.95 NZ$3.44
-23.08%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75 FJD 1.67
$1.74 NZ$3.08
-56.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.56 FJD 7.98
$6.02 NZ$10.64
-40.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.57 FJD 10.24
$5.43 NZ$9.60
-15.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Suva
Te Awamutu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.33 FJD 2.97
$1.45 NZ$2.57
-8.28%
White Bread (500g)
$0.57 FJD 1.28
$1.29 NZ$2.27
-55.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.13 FJD 2.53
$1.83 NZ$3.23
-38.25%
Eggs
$3.38 FJD 7.57
$5.20 NZ$9.19
-35.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.18 FJD 22.78
$5.56 NZ$9.83
83.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.34 FJD 14.19
$7.47 NZ$13.21
-15.13%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.96 FJD 17.82
$11.71 NZ$20.71
-32.02%
Apples (1kg)
$2.49 FJD 5.58
$2.64 NZ$4.66
-5.68%
Banana (1kg)
$2.43 FJD 5.43
$2.11 NZ$3.74
15.17%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.55 FJD 7.94
$2.92 NZ$5.16
21.58%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.17 FJD 7.11
$5.83 NZ$10.32
-45.63%
Potato (1kg)
$1.26 FJD 2.83
$2.01 NZ$3.56
-37.31%
Onion (1kg)
$1.06 FJD 2.37
$1.35 NZ$2.39
-21.48%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.16 FJD 2.61
$1.98 NZ$3.50
-41.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.69 FJD 1.54
$0.94 NZ$1.67
-26.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.89 FJD 22.15
$25.38 NZ$44.89
-61.03%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.19 FJD 16.10
$10.17 NZ$17.98
-29.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.11 FJD 4.74
$2.82 NZ$4.99
-25.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39 FJD 7.60
$3.41 NZ$6.04
-0.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Suva
Te Awamutu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 FJD 1.97
$1.74 NZ$3.07
-49.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.34 FJD 50.0
$88.5 NZ$157
-74.76%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.92 FJD 2.05
$2.23 NZ$3.94
-58.74%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.45 FJD 1.01
$1.98 NZ$3.51
-77.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.80 FJD 19.70
$32.17 NZ$56.9
-72.65%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.43 FJD 3.21
$1.64 NZ$2.89
-12.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.3K FJD 54.5K
$25.6K NZ$45.4K
-5.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.7K FJD 55.3K
$22.0K NZ$38.8K
12.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Suva
Te Awamutu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$46.26 FJD 104
$57.5 NZ$102
-19.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.75 FJD 28.54
$26.19 NZ$46.32
-51.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.21 FJD 54.2
$49.60 NZ$87.7
-51.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Suva
Te Awamutu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.81 FJD 82.4
$37.50 NZ$66.3
-1.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.31 FJD 25.32
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.42 FJD 7.65
$12.69 NZ$22.45
-73.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Suva
Te Awamutu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$225 FJD 503
$676 NZ$1,196
-66.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.4K FJD 30.0K
$19.5K NZ$34.4K
-31.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Suva
Te Awamutu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$33.29 FJD 74.5
$62.0 NZ$110
-46.32%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.64 FJD 88.8
$37.34 NZ$66.0
6.16%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$68.6 FJD 154
$94.1 NZ$166
-27.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$59.9 FJD 134
$104 NZ$183
-42.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Suva
Te Awamutu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$889 FJD 1,992
$875 NZ$1,548
1.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$329 FJD 736
$934 NZ$1,651
-64.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,589 FJD 5,797
$1,847 NZ$3,266
40.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$999 FJD 2,236
$1,648 NZ$2,914
-39.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,310 FJD 2,933
$5,280 NZ$9,337
-75.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$820 FJD 1,836
$3,487 NZ$6,167
-76.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Suva
Te Awamutu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$965 FJD 2,160
-
-
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 Te Awamutu: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Suva
$329
Te Awamutu
$934 184% $605
Groceries & Markets
Suva
$231
Te Awamutu
$281 21.6% $50
Eating Out
Suva
$140
Te Awamutu
$216 54.2% $76
Clothing & Footwear
Suva
$91
Te Awamutu
$134 47.5% $43
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Suva
$83
Te Awamutu
$133 60.1% $50
Sport & Entertainment
Suva
$44
Te Awamutu
$63 44.1% $19
Getting Around
Suva
$29
Te Awamutu
$108 271% $79

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $889 in Suva and $875 in Te Awamutu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $45.00 in Suva vs $67.0 in Te Awamutu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $231 vs $281 per month, with Suva cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇫🇯 Suva
🇳🇿 Te Awamutu
🕒 Local time
07:24 7:24 AM
08:24 8:24 AM
1 h ahead of Suva
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
100,000 Capital
13,350
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

NZD, USD, EUR to FJD – Fijian Dollar Converter

Fijian Dollar exchange rates as of October 17, 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 17, 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 Te Awamutu 2,230 km ≈ 3 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Suva
  • Te Awamutu

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 Te Awamutu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Suva or Te Awamutu?
Suva wins on cost – living expenses run 97% lower than in Te Awamutu. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Suva the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Suva and in Te Awamutu?
You'd need roughly $1,419 in Suva and $2,801 in Te Awamutu to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Suva compared to Te Awamutu?
Rent for a central apartment: $889 in Suva versus $875 in Te Awamutu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Suva compared to Te Awamutu?
A monthly transit pass in Suva runs roughly 296% less than in Te Awamutu. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Suva and in Te Awamutu?
Childcare runs $225 in Suva versus $676 in Te Awamutu. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Suva or in Te Awamutu?
At $946 in Suva versus $1,868 in Te Awamutu, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Suva but tight or insufficient in Te Awamutu. 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 Te Awamutu?
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 Te Awamutu?
Safety-wise, Suva and Te Awamutu 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 97% less than in Te Awamutu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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