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: $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
$5.85 FJD 12.67
$3.37 Rp 59.8K
73.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.43 FJD 98.4
$38.59 Rp 683.8K
17.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.76 FJD 16.79
$5.52 Rp 97.8K
40.58%
Cappuccino
$2.95 FJD 6.40
$2.64 Rp 46.9K
11.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54 FJD 3.33
$1.67 Rp 29.6K
-7.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75 FJD 1.62
$0.77 Rp 13.6K
-2.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.65 FJD 7.91
$2.63 Rp 46.7K
38.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46 FJD 9.66
$4.28 Rp 75.9K
4.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Suva
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.30 FJD 2.81
$1.55 Rp 27.4K
-16.13%
White Bread (500g)
$0.57 FJD 1.24
$2.22 Rp 39.4K
-74.32%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.10 FJD 2.38
$1.13 Rp 19.9K
-2.65%
Eggs
$3.38 FJD 7.33
$2.09 Rp 37.0K
61.72%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.29 FJD 22.29
$17.39 Rp 308.2K
-40.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.27 FJD 13.58
$3.87 Rp 68.5K
62.02%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.90 FJD 17.11
$12.55 Rp 222.4K
-37.05%
Apples (1kg)
$2.59 FJD 5.61
$3.62 Rp 64.1K
-28.45%
Banana (1kg)
$2.52 FJD 5.46
$1.56 Rp 27.6K
61.54%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.50 FJD 7.57
$2.35 Rp 41.7K
48.94%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.24 FJD 7.01
$2.06 Rp 36.4K
57.28%
Potato (1kg)
$1.29 FJD 2.79
$1.90 Rp 33.7K
-32.11%
Onion (1kg)
$1.10 FJD 2.37
$2.34 Rp 41.4K
-52.99%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.23 FJD 2.67
$1.03 Rp 18.3K
19.42%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.75 FJD 1.61
$0.55 Rp 9,830
36.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.05 FJD 21.75
$2.25 Rp 39.9K
346.67%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.69 FJD 16.64
$23.81 Rp 421.9K
-67.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.20 FJD 4.77
$2.31 Rp 41.0K
-4.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46 FJD 7.48
$2.80 Rp 49.6K
23.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Suva
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 FJD 2.04
$0.27 Rp 4,827
248.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$23.12 FJD 50.1
$8.66 Rp 153.5K
166.97%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.88 FJD 1.91
$0.48 Rp 8,533
83.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.47 FJD 1.02
$0.45 Rp 7,904
4.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.28 FJD 20.09
$5.72 Rp 101.4K
62.24%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.40 FJD 3.03
$0.76 Rp 13.4K
84.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6K FJD 53.2K
$24.5K Rp 433.9M
0.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.0K FJD 56.3K
$32.1K Rp 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)
$45.84 FJD 99.2
$83.6 Rp 1.5M
-45.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.27 FJD 28.73
$6.46 Rp 114.4K
105.42%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18 FJD 52.3
$18.99 Rp 336.6K
27.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Suva
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.66 FJD 81.5
$56.0 Rp 992.0K
-32.71%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.52 FJD 24.93
$18.62 Rp 329.9K
-38.13%
Cinema Ticket
$3.51 FJD 7.59
$4.28 Rp 75.9K
-17.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Suva
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$230 FJD 499
$487 Rp 8.6M
-52.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.8K FJD 29.8K
$5,856 Rp 103.8M
135.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Suva
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$33.83 FJD 73.3
$45.56 Rp 807.4K
-25.75%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.37 FJD 87.4
$36.38 Rp 644.7K
10.97%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$70.3 FJD 152
$82.0 Rp 1.5M
-14.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$62.0 FJD 134
$80.4 Rp 1.4M
-22.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Suva
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$894 FJD 1,935
$1,117 Rp 19.8M
-19.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$331 FJD 716
$701 Rp 12.4M
-52.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,740 FJD 5,931
$3,537 Rp 62.7M
-22.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,013 FJD 2,192
$1,762 Rp 31.2M
-42.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,381 FJD 2,989
$2,826 Rp 50.1M
-51.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$832 FJD 1,800
$2,292 Rp 40.6M
-63.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Suva
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$985 FJD 2,132
$170 Rp 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.

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