Living in Suai, Timor-Leste

Suai is a smaller coastal city in Cova Lima, Timor-Leste (under 250,000 people in the city proper). It has a warm climate, averaging 26°C over the year with about 1,481 mm of rain. We estimate a couple needs about €1,899 a month to live centrally. For foreigners, long-term residency in Timor-Leste is possible, with conditions.

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Est. cost: €1,899; a month for a couple
Climate: 26°C; 1,481 mm rain a year
Size: Smaller; under 250,000 people
Safety: 60/100; country-level
Residency: Possible, with conditions; for most foreigners

Limited data for Timor-Leste. Figures for safety, healthcare, cost of living and political stability in Timor-Leste are country-level estimates from World Bank indicators, each named with its year. We have no tax, English, social openness or internet speed figures for Timor-Leste, so the quiz scores those factors conservatively and this page leaves them out.

What stands out about Suai

More affordable than 99% of the cities we compare
On or near the sea

Cost of living

We estimate a couple needs about €1,899 a month to live centrally in Suai, 30% below the €2,729 median across the 900 cities we compare. That makes it more affordable than 99% of them.

Source: OurNextCity model from the price level of GDP relative to the United States, from GDP per person in US dollars and at purchasing power parity (NY.GDP.PCAP.CD/NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD, 2025), calibrated to our country-level cost index (New York = 100) and scaled up for larger cities. An estimate for comparing cities, not a budget. Source: The World Bank (World Development Indicators, Worldwide Governance Indicators), CC BY 4.0.

Healthcare

Timor-Leste scores 50 out of 100 for healthcare, stronger than 7% of the cities we compare.

Source: Country-level estimate, the same for every city in Timor-Leste: life expectancy at birth (SP.DYN.LE00.IN, 2024) and current health spending per person in US dollars (SH.XPD.CHEX.PC.CD, 2023), calibrated to the 0 to 100 scale of our reference tables. Source: The World Bank (World Development Indicators, Worldwide Governance Indicators), CC BY 4.0.

Climate

Suai averages 26°C across the year with about 1,481 mm of rain, which makes it warm and wet. It is warmer than 78% of the 1225 cities we track, and it sits on the coast.

Source: Temperature from the Open-Meteo historical weather archive, daily means for 2019 to 2023; rainfall from TerraClimate (University of Idaho) 1991 to 2020 normals. Annual averages; monthly breakdowns are not in our dataset yet.

Residency and visas

Possible, with conditions. Long-term residency runs through a Visa to Establish Residence then a Temporary Resident Permit, granted on the basis of employment, business activity, marriage, or family reunification; there is no passive-income retirement visa and no investor route.

For short visits, 32 of 198 passports can enter visa-free and 166 can get an e-visa or visa on arrival.

Source: OurNextCity residency dataset, hand-reviewed approximations researched against published immigration rules. Not legal advice: check the official source before you apply. Short-stay entry from the passport-index dataset (ilyankou, MIT).

Safety and stability

Timor-Leste scores 60 out of 100 on safety, safer than 50% of the cities we compare. Its estimated democracy score is 6.8 out of 10.

Source: Country-level estimate, the same for every city in Timor-Leste: Worldwide Governance Indicators Political Stability and Absence of Violence estimate (GOV_WGI_PV.EST, 2025) and life expectancy at birth (SP.DYN.LE00.IN, 2024), calibrated to the 0 to 100 scale of our reference tables (higher is safer). Stability: Worldwide Governance Indicators Voice and Accountability estimate (GOV_WGI_VA.EST, 2025), calibrated to the EIU Democracy Index scale. Source: The World Bank (World Development Indicators, Worldwide Governance Indicators), CC BY 4.0.

Questions couples ask about Suai

Is Suai a good place to live for couples?

It depends on what the two of you weigh most. Compared with the other cities we track, Suai scores well on affordability. It is weaker on healthcare. Our figures for Timor-Leste are partial: no tax, English, social openness or internet speed data, and country-level World Bank estimates for the rest. Expect a warm, wet climate (26°C average). OurNextCity has each partner answer 12 questions privately, then ranks 915 cities for both of you at once.

How much does it cost a couple to live in Suai?

We estimate about €1,899 a month for a couple living centrally, 30% below the €2,729 median across the cities we compare. It is a model estimate from the World Bank price level of GDP for Timor-Leste, calibrated to our country-level cost index adjusted for city size, so use it to compare cities rather than to set a budget.

Can foreigners live in Timor-Leste long term?

Our assessment: possible, with conditions. Long-term residency runs through a Visa to Establish Residence then a Temporary Resident Permit, granted on the basis of employment, business activity, marriage, or family reunification; there is no passive-income retirement visa and no investor route.

What is the weather like in Suai?

Suai averages 26°C across the year with about 1,481 mm of rain, which makes it warm and wet. It is warmer than 78% of the cities we track.