🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $964 in Suva versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,795 in Suva versus $2,585 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,626 in Suva versus $3,763 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Suva costs roughly 32% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Suva is 28% below, Ubud, Bali is 5% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Suva
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.26FJD 11.76
$3.45Rp 61.8K
52.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.35FJD 102
$32.34Rp 578.5K
40.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.62FJD 14.81
$4.84Rp 86.7K
36.78%
Cappuccino
$3.26FJD 7.30
$2.75Rp 49.1K
18.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41FJD 3.15
$1.38Rp 24.8K
2.17%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67FJD 1.49
$0.75Rp 13.4K
-10.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.05FJD 6.82
$2.99Rp 53.5K
2.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.67FJD 8.20
$3.85Rp 68.9K
-4.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Suva
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28FJD 2.87
$1.74Rp 31.1K
-26.44%
White Bread(500g)
$0.50FJD 1.11
$2.46Rp 44.0K
-79.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.15FJD 2.58
$1.17Rp 20.9K
-1.71%
Eggs
$3.30FJD 7.38
$2.43Rp 43.5K
35.80%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.09FJD 20.35
$14.50Rp 259.5K
-37.31%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.25FJD 16.22
$4.35Rp 77.8K
66.67%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.56FJD 16.91
$11.98Rp 214.3K
-36.89%
Apples(1kg)
$2.56FJD 5.73
$3.72Rp 66.5K
-31.18%
Banana(1kg)
$2.53FJD 5.67
$1.63Rp 29.1K
55.21%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.57FJD 7.99
$2.74Rp 49.1K
30.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.25FJD 7.27
$2.24Rp 40.1K
45.09%
Potato(1kg)
$1.49FJD 3.33
$1.92Rp 34.3K
-22.40%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17FJD 2.62
$2.28Rp 40.7K
-48.68%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.21FJD 2.71
$1.06Rp 19.0K
14.15%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76FJD 1.71
$0.72Rp 12.9K
5.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.87FJD 22.10
$3.29Rp 58.8K
200.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.47FJD 16.71
$23.19Rp 414.9K
-67.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.15FJD 4.80
$2.78Rp 49.7K
-22.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.35FJD 7.49
$2.73Rp 48.9K
22.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Suva
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.93FJD 2.08
$0.27Rp 4,765
244.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$21.89FJD 48.98
$8.11Rp 145.0K
169.91%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.91FJD 2.03
$0.48Rp 8,636
89.58%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.44FJD 0.99
$0.42Rp 7,511
4.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.83FJD 19.76
$6.22Rp 111.3K
41.96%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.39FJD 3.10
$0.81Rp 14.6K
71.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.3KFJD 54.4K
$26.6KRp 476.1M
-8.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.0KFJD 56.0K
$32.2KRp 575.9M
-22.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Suva
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$45.01FJD 101
$78.4Rp 1.4M
-42.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.15FJD 29.44
$4.07Rp 72.8K
223.10%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.78FJD 53.2
$24.33Rp 435.2K
-2.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Suva
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$29.58FJD 66.2
$98.6Rp 1.8M
-70.00%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.07FJD 15.83
$6.34Rp 113.3K
11.51%
Cinema Ticket
$4.51FJD 10.10
$3.99Rp 71.3K
13.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Suva
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$230FJD 514
$305Rp 5.5M
-24.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.4KFJD 32.1K
$6,642Rp 118.8M
116.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Suva
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.53FJD 57.1
$54.1Rp 968.6K
-52.84%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.96FJD 60.4
$37.81Rp 676.3K
-28.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$69.6FJD 156
$86.8Rp 1.6M
-19.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$61.5FJD 138
$76.4Rp 1.4M
-19.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Suva
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$588FJD 1,315
$992Rp 17.7M
-40.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$383FJD 858
$673Rp 12.0M
-43.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,070FJD 4,633
$3,375Rp 60.4M
-38.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,222FJD 2,736
$2,050Rp 36.7M
-40.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,350FJD 3,021
$2,805Rp 50.2M
-51.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$838FJD 1,875
$2,227Rp 39.8M
-62.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Suva
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$949FJD 2,125
$167Rp 3.0M
468.63%
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: July 13, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $588 in Suva and $992 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Suva pays 469% 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 $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $234 vs $297, 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 46% 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 469% 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: $588 in Suva versus $992 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 170% 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 $305 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 $964 in Suva versus $1,408 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 $964 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 46% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.