Cost of Living Comparison Between Suva and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Suva and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $989 in Suva versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,806 in Suva versus $2,540 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,623 in Suva versus $3,660 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Suva costs roughly 30% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Suva is 26% below, Ubud, Bali is 6% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Suva
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.23 FJD 11.46
$3.56 Rp 63.7K
46.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.87 FJD 96.2
$32.73 Rp 584.5K
34.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.79 FJD 14.90
$4.95 Rp 88.4K
37.17%
Cappuccino
$3.11 FJD 6.82
$2.71 Rp 48.4K
14.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.49 FJD 3.26
$1.34 Rp 24.0K
11.19%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66 FJD 1.44
$0.70 Rp 12.5K
-5.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.06 FJD 6.71
$2.92 Rp 52.1K
4.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61 FJD 7.92
$3.96 Rp 70.7K
-8.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Suva
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.29 FJD 2.84
$1.81 Rp 32.3K
-28.73%
White Bread (500g)
$0.49 FJD 1.07
$2.52 Rp 45.0K
-80.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 FJD 2.61
$1.16 Rp 20.7K
2.59%
Eggs
$3.34 FJD 7.32
$2.46 Rp 43.9K
35.77%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.39 FJD 20.59
$14.71 Rp 262.7K
-36.17%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.35 FJD 16.12
$4.32 Rp 77.1K
70.14%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.50 FJD 16.44
$12.14 Rp 216.7K
-38.22%
Apples (1kg)
$2.47 FJD 5.41
$3.84 Rp 68.6K
-35.68%
Banana (1kg)
$2.42 FJD 5.31
$1.56 Rp 27.8K
55.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.41 FJD 7.49
$2.83 Rp 50.6K
20.49%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.16 FJD 6.93
$2.33 Rp 41.5K
35.62%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 FJD 3.34
$1.91 Rp 34.2K
-19.90%
Onion (1kg)
$1.18 FJD 2.59
$2.20 Rp 39.3K
-46.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 FJD 2.59
$1.01 Rp 18.1K
16.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74 FJD 1.63
$0.78 Rp 13.8K
-5.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.73 FJD 21.34
$3.32 Rp 59.2K
193.07%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.66 FJD 16.81
$23.74 Rp 423.9K
-67.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.23 FJD 4.89
$2.79 Rp 49.8K
-20.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.45 FJD 7.57
$2.86 Rp 51.1K
20.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Suva
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.87 FJD 1.90
$0.27 Rp 4,800
222.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$21.82 FJD 47.85
$8.03 Rp 143.4K
171.73%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.86 FJD 1.88
$0.46 Rp 8,150
86.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.44 FJD 0.97
$0.45 Rp 8,037
-2.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.88 FJD 19.47
$6.10 Rp 108.9K
45.57%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 FJD 2.94
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
69.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.4K FJD 53.4K
$26.1K Rp 467.0M
-6.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.9K FJD 54.6K
$32.1K Rp 573.6M
-22.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Suva
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$45.88 FJD 101
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
-42.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.94 FJD 28.37
$4.06 Rp 72.6K
218.72%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.25 FJD 53.2
$23.52 Rp 420.0K
3.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Suva
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.82 FJD 65.4
$98.7 Rp 1.8M
-69.79%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.95 FJD 15.24
$6.63 Rp 118.4K
4.83%
Cinema Ticket
$4.40 FJD 9.65
$4.15 Rp 74.1K
6.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Suva
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$225 FJD 493
$304 Rp 5.4M
-26.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.0K FJD 30.8K
$6,613 Rp 118.1M
112.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Suva
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.11 FJD 57.3
$55.5 Rp 991.8K
-52.99%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.95 FJD 59.1
$38.31 Rp 684.1K
-29.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$69.8 FJD 153
$88.6 Rp 1.6M
-21.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$61.7 FJD 135
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
-20.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Suva
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$582 FJD 1,277
$1,006 Rp 18.0M
-42.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$390 FJD 855
$675 Rp 12.1M
-42.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,039 FJD 4,471
$3,442 Rp 61.5M
-40.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,208 FJD 2,649
$2,039 Rp 36.4M
-40.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,369 FJD 3,003
$2,841 Rp 50.7M
-51.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$852 FJD 1,868
$2,264 Rp 40.4M
-62.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Suva
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$988 FJD 2,168
$165 Rp 3.0M
498.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.7
13.28
-42.02%

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

Last update for Suva: June 1, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $582 in Suva and $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Suva pays 498% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $44.00 in Suva vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $234 vs $302, 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 44% 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 Ubud, Bali?
Suva pays 498% more on average, 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 vs Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $582 in Suva versus $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Suva vs Ubud, Bali?
A monthly transit pass in Suva runs roughly 172% 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 Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $225 in Suva versus $304 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 Ubud, Bali?
At $989 in Suva versus $1,419 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 $989 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 44% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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