Essentials
- City
- Suva, Rewa Province, Viti Levu, Fiji
- Population
- Approx. 94,000 (Metro area approx. 180,000)
- Internet Speed
- Average 40-60 Mbps on fiber; 4G/LTE is reliable in the city center.
- Currency & Banking
- Fijian Dollar (FJD). 1 USD ≈ 2.25 FJD, 1 EUR ≈ 2.45 FJD.
- Tap Water
- Generally safe in Suva, but boiling or filtering is recommended for sensitive stomachs.
- Power
- 240V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type I (same as Australia/NZ)
- SIM Card
- Digicel or Vodafone Fiji. Approx. 25 FJD ($11 USD) for 100GB data valid for 30 days.
- Banking for Expats
- Westpac, ANZ, and BSP (Bank South Pacific). Widely accept Visa/Mastercard.
- Accommodation
- Serviced apartments, local guesthouses, and Airbnb (Average $1,200 - $2,500 FJD/month).
- Cashless Friendly
- Moderate. Major supermarkets and hotels accept cards; markets and small taxis require cash.
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb and Booking.com; Quest Suva for high-end serviced stays.
- Budget Accommodation
- South Seas Dormitory (approx. 45 FJD/night) or City Apartment (approx. 110 FJD/night).
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Suva CBD or Victoria Parade (near the harbor and nightlife).
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Flagstaff or Domain (quiet, residential, safe, and close to cafes).
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Greenhouse Coworking (17-19 Ma'afu Street). Daily rates approx. 40 FJD.
- Best Cafe for Work
- Bulaccino (Victoria Parade) or Republic of Cappuccino (ROC) Market area.
- Networking Events
- Suva Business After 5 (Occasional events at the Fiji Chamber of Commerce).
- Social Events for Expats
- Suva Expat Collective Facebook Group; trivia nights at Bad Dog Cafe.
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- No Uber/Grab. Use local taxis or the 'Bondwell' app for bookings. Taxis are cheap (flag fall 2 FJD).
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Rare due to rain/traffic. Best to walk or use taxis for short distances.
- Best Beach Nearby
- Pacific Harbour (Resort Beach), approx. 45-60 mins drive from Suva.
- Top Regional Airline
- Fiji Link (domestic subsidiary of Fiji Airways).
- Top International Airline
- Fiji Airways (Hub: Nadi, but offers many connections).
- Highway Access
- Queens Road (Suva to Nadi via South coast) and Kings Road (North coast).
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Suva Bus Station (Rodwell Road) for all regional bus travel.
- Public Transport Passes
- e-Transport Card (Vodafone). Essential for all public buses; top up at kiosks.
- Regional Travel
- Pacific Transport or Sunbeam buses for travel to Nadi/Sigatoka (approx. 20 FJD).
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- MIOT Pacific Hospitals (Amy Street) - Private; CWM Hospital - Public.
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- The Yoga Studio Suva (Laucala Bay Road). Single class approx. 20 FJD.
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Metro Fitness (Damodar City) or Fitness Centre (Victoria Parade). Approx. 100 FJD/month.
- Laundry Services
- Flagstaff Laundry (Flagstaff Plaza). Approx. 15 FJD per load wash/dry/fold.
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Cyber Food Fiji (Downloadable app covering most Suva restaurants).
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Kokoda (Raw fish marinated in lime and coconut cream).
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Govinda Vegetarian Restaurant (Marks Street) - very affordable Indian veg food.
- Best Dessert Spots
- The Corner Bakery (Pender Street) for local cakes and pastries.
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Suva Municipal Market (for fresh produce) and MH Superfresh (Tamavua).
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Lotus Online Shop or Tappoo Online.
- Grocery Delivery
- Shop N Save online delivery or MH Online.
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Victoria Parade (Traps Bar, O'Reilly's, Bad Dog Cafe).
- Local Brewery
- Fiji Gold and Fiji Bitter (Paradise Beverages) - widely available.
- Wine Bars
- Eden Bistro & Bar (Marlow Street) has a decent wine selection.
- Street Food Stalls
- Suva Night Market (near the bus station) for BBQ packs (approx. 10-15 FJD).
- Popular International Cuisine
- Daikoku (Japanese) or Maya Dhaba (Authentic Indian).
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Fiji Museum (Thurston Gardens) and the Grand Pacific Hotel.
- Museums & Art Venues
- Fiji Museum (Admission: approx. 10 FJD for locals, 20 FJD for tourists).
- Historical Sites
- Thurston Gardens (formerly Botanical Gardens) established in 1881.
- Religious Sites
- Sacred Heart Cathedral (Suva Street) and the Hare Krishna Temple.
- Annual Events
- Hibiscus Festival (August) - Suva's biggest carnival and beauty pageant.
- Cultural Districts
- The ROC Market (monthly street market on Loftus Street).
- Theater Venues
- Suva Civic Centre (Town Hall Road) for local performances.
- Local Markets
- Suva Flea Market (Rodwell Road) for handicrafts and fabrics.
- Music Scene
- Live jazz and island reggae at Kanu Suva or Traps Bar.
- Street Art
- Murals around the Suva Harbor and the USP (University of the South Pacific) campus.
- Cooking Classes
- Occasional workshops at Flavours of Fiji (mostly based in Denarau, but Suva sessions exist).
- Art Galleries
- 21K Gallery or the Oceania Centre for Arts, Culture and Pacific Studies (USP).
- Historic Buildings
- Government Buildings (Suva CBD) - iconic British colonial architecture.
- Local Heritage
- The 'Tabua' (Whale's tooth) - the most significant cultural heirloom in Fiji.
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Colo-i-Suva Forest Park (Rainforest, waterfalls, and swimming holes).
- National Parks Nearby
- Sigatoka Sand Dunes National Park (approx. 2.5 hours away).
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Suva Foreshore (Seawall) walk - a 5km path popular for sunset exercise.
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Tamavua Heights - offers a panoramic view of Suva Harbor.
- Birdwatching Locations
- Colo-i-Suva Forest Park - home to many endemic Fijian bird species.
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Not permitted in Suva city; allowed at Lami Bay beaches with permission.
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Post Fiji (Main office on Victoria Parade) or DHL Fiji.
- Tech Repair Services
- Bondwell (Damodar City) or Brijlal (Cumming Street).
- Table Tennis Spots
- Fiji National Sports Council facilities (Laucala Bay).
- Language Classes
- USP (University of the South Pacific) offers basic Fijian/Hindi courses.
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Suva City Carnegie Library (Victoria Parade).
- Community Centers
- Alliance Française de Suva (Des Vouex Road).
- Gaming Lounges
- Customized gaming setups at internet cafes in Damodar City.
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Currently no full-scale casinos in Fiji; local clubs have betting machines.
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 8,000 FJD per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 320,000 FJD / $142,000 USD).
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 5,500 FJD per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 220,000 FJD / $98,000 USD).
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 7,500 FJD per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 450,000 FJD / $200,000 USD).
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 5,000 FJD per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 300,000 FJD / $133,000 USD).
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 7,000 FJD per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 560,000 FJD / $248,000 USD).
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 4,500 FJD per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 360,000 FJD / $160,000 USD).
- Corporate Tax
- 20% for residents; 25% for non-resident companies.
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 9% for non-residents; 0% for residents.
- Tax System
- Residency-based: residents taxed on worldwide income; non-residents on Fiji-sourced income.
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 20% + Social Responsibility Tax (SRT) for high earners.
- VAT
- 15% (as of 2024).
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- No specific CFC rules, but general anti-avoidance provisions apply.
- Property Tax
- Town rates apply (based on land value, paid to Suva City Council).
- Property Transaction Tax
- Stamp Duty recently abolished; 10% Capital Gains Tax on property sales.
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No specific nomad visa yet, but Fiji offers a 'Residential Permit on Assured Income' for those with steady offshore funds.