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