🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $949 in Suva versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,752 in Suva versus $2,334 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,554 in Suva versus $3,273 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Suva costs roughly 32% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Suva is 31% below, Ubud, Bali is 2% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Suva
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.85FJD 12.67
$3.37Rp 59.8K
73.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.43FJD 98.4
$38.59Rp 683.8K
17.72%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.76FJD 16.79
$5.52Rp 97.8K
40.58%
Cappuccino
$2.95FJD 6.40
$2.64Rp 46.9K
11.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54FJD 3.33
$1.67Rp 29.6K
-7.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75FJD 1.62
$0.77Rp 13.6K
-2.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.65FJD 7.91
$2.63Rp 46.7K
38.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46FJD 9.66
$4.28Rp 75.9K
4.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Suva
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.30FJD 2.81
$1.55Rp 27.4K
-16.13%
White Bread(500g)
$0.57FJD 1.24
$2.22Rp 39.4K
-74.32%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.10FJD 2.38
$1.13Rp 19.9K
-2.65%
Eggs
$3.38FJD 7.33
$2.09Rp 37.0K
61.72%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.29FJD 22.29
$17.39Rp 308.2K
-40.83%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.27FJD 13.58
$3.87Rp 68.5K
62.02%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.90FJD 17.11
$12.55Rp 222.4K
-37.05%
Apples(1kg)
$2.59FJD 5.61
$3.62Rp 64.1K
-28.45%
Banana(1kg)
$2.52FJD 5.46
$1.56Rp 27.6K
61.54%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.50FJD 7.57
$2.35Rp 41.7K
48.94%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.24FJD 7.01
$2.06Rp 36.4K
57.28%
Potato(1kg)
$1.29FJD 2.79
$1.90Rp 33.7K
-32.11%
Onion(1kg)
$1.10FJD 2.37
$2.34Rp 41.4K
-52.99%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.23FJD 2.67
$1.03Rp 18.3K
19.42%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.75FJD 1.61
$0.55Rp 9,830
36.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.05FJD 21.75
$2.25Rp 39.9K
346.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.69FJD 16.64
$23.81Rp 421.9K
-67.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.20FJD 4.77
$2.31Rp 41.0K
-4.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46FJD 7.48
$2.80Rp 49.6K
23.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Suva
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.94FJD 2.04
$0.27Rp 4,827
248.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$23.12FJD 50.1
$8.66Rp 153.5K
166.97%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.88FJD 1.91
$0.48Rp 8,533
83.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.47FJD 1.02
$0.45Rp 7,904
4.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.28FJD 20.09
$5.72Rp 101.4K
62.24%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.40FJD 3.03
$0.76Rp 13.4K
84.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6KFJD 53.2K
$24.5KRp 433.9M
0.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.0KFJD 56.3K
$32.1KRp 569.3M
-19.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Suva
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$45.84FJD 99.2
$83.6Rp 1.5M
-45.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.27FJD 28.73
$6.46Rp 114.4K
105.42%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18FJD 52.3
$18.99Rp 336.6K
27.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Suva
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.66FJD 81.5
$56.0Rp 992.0K
-32.71%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.52FJD 24.93
$18.62Rp 329.9K
-38.13%
Cinema Ticket
$3.51FJD 7.59
$4.28Rp 75.9K
-17.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Suva
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$230FJD 499
$487Rp 8.6M
-52.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.8KFJD 29.8K
$5,856Rp 103.8M
135.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Suva
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$33.83FJD 73.3
$45.56Rp 807.4K
-25.75%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.37FJD 87.4
$36.38Rp 644.7K
10.97%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$70.3FJD 152
$82.0Rp 1.5M
-14.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$62.0FJD 134
$80.4Rp 1.4M
-22.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Suva
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$894FJD 1,935
$1,117Rp 19.8M
-19.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$331FJD 716
$701Rp 12.4M
-52.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,740FJD 5,931
$3,537Rp 62.7M
-22.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,013FJD 2,192
$1,762Rp 31.2M
-42.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,381FJD 2,989
$2,826Rp 50.1M
-51.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$832FJD 1,800
$2,292Rp 40.6M
-63.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Suva
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$985FJD 2,132
$170Rp 3.0M
480.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.7
13.78
-44.12%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Suva: August 30, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $894 in Suva and $1,117 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Suva pays 480% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $45.00 in Suva vs $39.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $234 vs $293, with Suva cheaper for home cooking.
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 Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Suva or Ubud, Bali?
Suva wins on cost – living expenses run 47% lower than in Ubud, Bali. 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 Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 480% higher in Suva, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Suva compared to Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $894 in Suva versus $1,117 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Suva compared to Ubud, Bali?
A monthly transit pass in Suva runs roughly 167% less than in Ubud, Bali. 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 Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $230 in Suva versus $487 in Ubud, Bali. 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 Ubud, Bali?
At $949 in Suva versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Suva but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Suva the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Suva or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Suva delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $949 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Suva hard to pass up.
How safe is Suva compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Suva and Ubud, Bali 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 47% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.