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Suva vs Wellington

Fiji flagSuvaNew Zealand flagWellington

Suva and Wellington are compared across affordability, safety, healthcare, career, culture and food, and public life. Wellington has the broader all-round edge, while Suva leads on affordability. The better fit depends on which of those relocation priorities matters most.

How they compare

AffordabilitySafetyHealthcareCareerCulturePublic life
  • Suva
  • Wellington
Affordability
73
67
Safety
63
79
Healthcare
43
73
Career
40
63
Culture & food
57
78
Public life & spaces
37
78
Overall
50
69

Objective 0–100 scores from source-backed CrossBorders data. Green marks the category leader; gold is the overall leader.

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Category by category

Is Suva or Wellington cheaper to live in?

Suva 73Wellington 67

Suva has the lower open-market one-bedroom rent on a new lease, at about €344 per month, compared with €941 in Wellington. Against one typical employee's mean net pay, Suva is sharing likely at roughly 67%, while Wellington is manageable solo at roughly 33%.

Is Suva or Wellington safer?

Suva 63Wellington 79

Wellington leads. Fiji's serious crime is rare too, but petty theft and some after-dark caution weigh on Suva, while Wellington's rock-solid political stability and calm streets set it apart.

Does Suva or Wellington have better healthcare?

Suva 43Wellington 73

This is the widest gap in the set — Wellington versus Suva. Suva's hospitals and doctor numbers are thin, with serious cases often referred to Australia or New Zealand, while Wellington offers dependable, English-language care throughout, with only doctor availability as a minor friction.

Is Suva or Wellington better for your career?

Suva 40Wellington 63

Wellington leads decisively. Suva's job market is small and shallow with very low salaries, workable mainly for remote earners, while Wellington runs a steadier government-and-creative economy with real, if modest, local pay.

Does Suva or Wellington have a better food and culture scene?

Suva 57Wellington 78

Wellington leads. Its cafe and arts scene punches remarkably above its size, while Suva's strength is a living Fijian and Indo-Fijian culture and easy English, with restaurants and nightlife that stay modest rather than dazzling.

Does Suva or Wellington have better public spaces and street life?

Suva 37Wellington 78

Wellington leads clearly. Its walkable, cafe-dense waterfront and free Te Papa museum outclass Suva's worn civic space, though Suva's markets and free coastline still offer real, if patchily kept, daily life.

The verdict

Choose Wellington for the broader all-round balance, especially if safety matters most. Choose Suva if affordability matters more. Compare their rent burden and day-to-day strengths before deciding.

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Fiji flagLiving in SuvaNew Zealand flagLiving in Wellington

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