Same Country, Different Worlds: The Real Cost of Living in Suriname
From the coast to the interior, cost of living data in Suriname reflects different shopping habits and perceptions of what constitutes a decent life. To grasp the cost of living you need to look at what people really spend on essentials - such as food, transport, and housing - across different areas and over time. As a data collector and researcher, Tesora plays a key role in highlighting these differences.
28 April 2026
Cost of living in Suriname: not one country, but many
Tesora knows that understanding the cost of living in Suriname is closely linked to its geography. Suriname is not just one country, but many. The coast, the urban areas, the interior: each region has its own shopping habits, its own social rhythms, its own idea of what a decent life costs. As a statistician, lecturer at Anton de Kom University in Paramaribo and member of the Poverty Commission of Suriname, she has spent years studying data. Since becoming one of the 400 data collectors that WageIndicator relies on to calculate Living Wages, she has played a key role in revealing the true cost of living in Suriname and how people are coping with rising prices. Tesora and her colleagues have also used these figures to publish research, proving that data collection goes beyond raw numbers, and turning price tags into evidence.
From the coast to the interior, data collection in Suriname is a journey
“At the start of my job as a cost of living data collector in Suriname, one of the main challenges was reaching people in areas outside the urban centres, such as coastal and interior regions. The situation in the interior is very different from the urban areas: people there do not visit supermarkets on a daily or weekly basis, and heavy rain also takes a toll on connections and transport. We can't collect data physically, so we have to contact people in those communities and interview them on the phone,” she explains. Another thing is language: “In the interior, people speak their own native language (they call it Sranan Tongo) which we also speak here in the urban areas, so that helps. One thing that really makes a difference is asking people to take pictures of food items. In Suriname, prices are usually displayed on products, so that is very useful for us”. Entertainment and celebration costs are not that common in the interior, so asking questions about them can be challenging. “When you ask these questions and compare these groups with people in urban areas, you immediately notice the difference.”
Behind the data: what the cost of living in Suriname means for real people
Tesora says that, based on the data collected in Suriname, fuel and rent are the prices that affect the locals the most. “Although fuel prices have stabilised somewhat this year, there was a lot of fluctuation in oil prices when we started collecting data in 2023. When we asked people about it, they were constantly complaining.” Another major issue in Suriname is the cost of renting a house: “There's no fixed price, it's a free market,” Tesora says. “It's really challenging to find an affordable house, particularly in urban areas. People coming here from abroad to work for multinational companies in the booming oil and gas sector can afford it.
But government salaries are only $300. If you have to pay $200 or $300 for your house rent, it’s difficult, especially if you are the only breadwinner in the family.” The exchange rate between the US dollar and the Surinamese dollar, as well as the depreciation of the latter, makes a significant impact on everyday prices. "We have seen the effect on food costs, particularly in restaurants, where prices can be sky-high."
To cope with the cost of living in Suriname, more and more people are borrowing or lending money from friends and family. The number of loan applications submitted to banks is also rising. “It's quite common to have more than one job or source of income. People find all kinds of ways to earn extra money, from making pancakes to selling second-hand items,” Tesora says.
From cost of living data to research: the role of price collection in Suriname
Tesora and her university colleagues have conducted in-depth research into the importance of understanding the cost of living in Suriname. Some of this research was published as a contribution to last year's Regulating for Decent Work Conference in Geneva and is based on WageIndicator data. She and her team are also very active in spreading the word in their own country: “We recently presented the results to the National Wage Council in Suriname and they were impressed by the method. They calculate the National Minimum Wage using data from the statistical office and other indicators. However, they found WageIndicator's concept closer to people's reality. If the Minimum Wage is too low but you lack the data to explain why, you won't have the evidence necessary to effect change,” she says
Beyond the numbers: cost of living in Suriname is about decency
Tesora is proud to collect cost of living data first-hand in Suriname. “I really love data. As a statistician, I’m always happy to see what new information it gives us. It’s about learning new, unexpected things.” It's not just about 'eating numbers', though: “Being aware that this data can improve policies or drive change in any other field is really rewarding.” Also, collecting data on the cost of living in Suriname provides a new perspective on what constitutes a 'decent standard of living'. Tesora explains: “Decent living means living comfortably, not in survival mode. Most people are just getting by, waiting for the end of the month to receive their money. They’re in a cycle of borrowing money and spending the 60% right away to pay off debts. You’re left with the 40%, and the cycle begins again. The WageIndicator survey considers not only food and basic needs, but also social life and all the other things you need to live a happy life.”
Learn more:
Freely accessible Living Wages in Suriname
Wages and Cost of Living in Suriname
