Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Niu Workspace (Small community hub/cafe hybrid, approx. $25 FJD/day)
- Best Cafe for Work
- Surf N Turf (Main St) - Good Wi-Fi, excellent coffee, and harbor views
- Networking Events
- Savusavu Yacht Club social evenings (Friday nights are peak for expat meetups)
- Social Events for Expats
- Savusavu Community Facebook Group; weekly Gatherings at Waitui Marina
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- No apps; Savusavu Taxi Stand (Main St). Local fares around town are $2-$5 FJD
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Comfort Taxi & Car Rentals (approx. $80 FJD/day for a car; bikes rare)
- Best Beach Nearby
- Devodara Beach (20 min drive, white sand, turquoise water)
- Top Regional Airline
- Fiji Link (daily flights from Nadi and Suva to SVU)
- Top International Airline
- Fiji Airways (via Nadi International Airport)
- Highway Access
- Hibiscus Highway (Scenic coastal road connecting to Labasa)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Savusavu Town Bus Station (near the market)
- Public Transport Passes
- Vodafone e-Ticketing cards (required for all public buses, top up at Vodafone shop)
- Regional Travel
- Inter-island ferries (Goundar Shipping) to Suva/Taveuni from Balaga Bay
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Savusavu Public Hospital (Hospital Rd); for emergencies, Savusavu Medical Centre (Private)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- KokoMana Cocoa Farm (occasional outdoor yoga); Daku Resort (frequent yoga retreats)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Savusavu Town Gym (Basic equipment, $5 FJD per session)
- Laundry Services
- Savusavu Town Laundry (next to the Post Office, approx. $15 FJD per load)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- None available; contact restaurants directly for taxi delivery
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Kokoda (Raw fish marinated in lime and coconut milk)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- The Copra Shed Marina (offers salads and vegetable curries)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Savusavu Chocolate Shop (Local single-origin chocolate)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Savusavu Central Market (Fresh produce, Fridays are best)
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Courts Fiji (Online ordering for electronics/appliances)
- Grocery Delivery
- Maxivalue Supermarket (Can arrange delivery for large orders)
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Waitui Marina & Yacht Club (The hub for sundowners)
- Local Brewery
- Bula Coffee (Local roaster) and Fiji Gold/Bitter (national beers)
- Wine Bars
- Captain's Cafe at Copra Shed (Best wine selection in town)
- Street Food Stalls
- Town Market food stalls (Lovo - earth oven food, $10 FJD per plate)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Grace Road Kitchen (Korean fusion and healthy bowls)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Savusavu Hot Springs (Steam rising along the beach front)
- Museums & Art Venues
- Vuadomo Village Cultural Tour (traditional waterfall and art)
- Historical Sites
- Old Copra Shed (History of the coconut industry)
- Religious Sites
- St. Andrews Presbyterian Church (Historic building overlooking the bay)
- Annual Events
- Savusavu Music Festival (Usually held in mid-year)
- Cultural Districts
- Nakama (Area around the famous boiling springs)
- Theater Venues
- None; community events held at the Planters Hall
- Local Markets
- Savusavu Farmers Market (Daily 7am-5pm)
- Music Scene
- Live acoustic music at Daku Resort on weekends
- Street Art
- Hand-painted local shop murals along Main Street
- Cooking Classes
- KokoMana Cocoa & Chocolate Tour (Chocolate making classes)
- Art Galleries
- Fine Art Fiji (Local photography and paintings inside Copra Shed)
- Historic Buildings
- The Planters Hall (Old social club for copra planters)
- Local Heritage
- Traditional Tapa (Masi) cloth making in nearby villages
Essentials
- City
- Savusavu, Cakaudrove Province, Vanua Levu, Fiji
- Population
- Approx. 3,500 (township); 7,000 including surrounding areas
- Internet Speed
- Starlink is now widely available (100+ Mbps); 4G/LTE via Digicel and Vodafone offers 20-40 Mbps
- Currency & Banking
- Fijian Dollar (FJD); 1 USD ≈ 2.25 FJD, 1 EUR ≈ 2.44 FJD
- Tap Water
- Generally treated in town but boiling or filtering is recommended for foreigners
- Power
- 240V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type I sockets (same as Australia/NZ)
- SIM Card
- Vodafone Fiji or Digicel (Available at Savusavu Airport or Main St for approx. $20 FJD for 50GB)
- Banking for Expats
- Westpac and BSP (Bank of South Pacific) have branches and ATMs on Main Street; Revolut works for withdrawals
- Accommodation
- Local guesthouses, boutique resorts, and Airbnb villas
- Cashless Friendly
- No; cash is essential for markets and small shops. Resorts and larger supermarkets (Maxivalue) accept cards (3% surcharge common)
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb (Vosa Ni Ua Lodge - $120/night), Savusavu Blue Lagoon (villas)
- Budget Accommodation
- Savusavu Hot Springs Hotel (approx. $85 FJD/night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- The Peninsula / Lesiaceva Road (close to Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Naibatini or Oneva (quieter, better views, reliable power grids)
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Flora Tropica Botanical Gardens (Rare palm collection)
- National Parks Nearby
- Waisali Rainforest Reserve (20 min north, great hiking and birding)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Lesiaceva Road coastal walk (6km of scenic bay views)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Savusavu Lookout Point (Hilltop view of the 'Hidden Paradise' bay)
- Birdwatching Locations
- Urata lookout for Silktails and Orange Doves
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Split Rock beach area (Permitted with local approval)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Post Fiji (Main St) and DHL Express (via Carpenters Shipping)
- Tech Repair Services
- Vinod Patel (Basic electronics repair) on Main St
- Table Tennis Spots
- Savusavu Yacht Club (Occasional tables set up)
- Language Classes
- Local community tutors for iTaukei (Fijian) language basics
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Savusavu Community Library (Small, quiet corner for reading)
- Community Centers
- Planters Hall (Used for community meetings and workshops)
- Gaming Lounges
- None available
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Gambling is largely restricted; strictly local lottery kiosks only
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $4,000 FJD per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $160,000 FJD / ~$71k USD)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $2,500 FJD per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $100,000 FJD)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $3,800 FJD per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $228,000 FJD)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $2,200 FJD per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $132,000 FJD)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $3,500 FJD per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $280,000 FJD)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $2,000 FJD per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $160,000 FJD)
- Corporate Tax
- 20% for residents; 20% for non-residents
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 9% for non-residents
- Tax System
- Worldwide income for residents; Fiji-sourced income for non-residents
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 20% (for income over $270,000 FJD)
- VAT
- 15% (Effective late 2023)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Limited; Fiji focuses more on domestic source income for non-residents
- Property Tax
- Town rates apply to properties within the township; around 0.5-1% of value
- Property Transaction Tax
- Stamp duty was abolished, but 10% Capital Gains Tax applies on disposal; 3% for residents in some cases
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No specific nomad visa yet, but Fiji offers a 'Residency on Assured Income' for those with $15,000+ USD annual external income