Cost of Living Comparison Between Ajijic and Lautoka Cost of Living Comparison Between Ajijic and Lautoka

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,182 per month in Ajijic vs $697 in Lautoka, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,939 per month in Ajijic vs $1,222 in Lautoka, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,696 per month in Ajijic vs $1,746 in Lautoka, rent included.

Ajijic costs about 70% more than Lautoka, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Ajijic and Lautoka are more affordable than the global median – Ajijic 12% lower, Lautoka 48% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ajijic
Lautoka
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.91 MX$137
$5.02 FJD 11.01
57.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.68 MX$600
$45.40 FJD 99.6
-23.61%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.80 MX$118
$6.61 FJD 14.50
2.87%
Cappuccino
$3.35 MX$58.0
$3.21 FJD 7.04
4.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.07 MX$18.53
$1.31 FJD 2.88
-18.32%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 MX$14.66
$0.67 FJD 1.46
26.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.82 MX$31.55
$2.41 FJD 5.29
-24.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.15 MX$54.5
$3.49 FJD 7.66
-9.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ajijic
Lautoka
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.36 MX$23.44
$1.33 FJD 2.92
2.26%
White Bread (500g)
$2.27 MX$39.33
$0.53 FJD 1.17
328.30%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.08 MX$18.69
$0.82 FJD 1.79
31.71%
Eggs
$2.00 MX$34.58
$3.22 FJD 7.05
-37.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.09 MX$140
$9.26 FJD 20.31
-12.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.23 MX$125
$7.15 FJD 15.68
1.12%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.80 MX$118
$7.50 FJD 16.46
-9.33%
Apples (1kg)
$2.16 MX$37.31
$2.53 FJD 5.55
-14.62%
Banana (1kg)
$0.89 MX$15.41
$2.51 FJD 5.50
-64.54%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.91 MX$15.77
$2.83 FJD 6.21
-67.84%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.41 MX$24.44
$3.09 FJD 6.78
-54.37%
Potato (1kg)
$1.38 MX$23.84
$0.96 FJD 2.10
43.75%
Onion (1kg)
$1.04 MX$17.98
$0.95 FJD 2.08
9.47%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.87 MX$14.99
$0.92 FJD 2.02
-5.43%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83 MX$14.28
$0.80 FJD 1.76
3.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.07 MX$70.4
$9.42 FJD 20.66
-56.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.31 MX$161
$5.55 FJD 12.16
67.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.40 MX$24.24
$2.24 FJD 4.90
-37.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 MX$29.05
$2.61 FJD 5.73
-35.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Ajijic
Lautoka
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.61 MX$10.56
$0.70 FJD 1.53
-12.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$37.66 FJD 82.6
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.09 MX$18.85
$0.64 FJD 1.40
70.31%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.58 MX$27.38
$0.44 FJD 0.97
259.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.18 MX$55.1
$2.73 FJD 5.98
16.48%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.59
$1.34 FJD 2.94
-2.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.8K MX$324.7K
$19.3K FJD 42.3K
-2.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.9K MX$326.6K
$22.4K FJD 49.2K
-15.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ajijic
Lautoka
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$44.74 MX$774
$46.45 FJD 102
-3.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.21 MX$280
$12.98 FJD 28.46
24.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.54 MX$442
$23.91 FJD 52.4
6.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ajijic
Lautoka
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$24.01 MX$415
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.24 MX$90.7
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.29 MX$74.2
$3.48 FJD 7.62
23.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ajijic
Lautoka
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$179 MX$3,095
$230 FJD 503
-22.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,654 MX$45.9K
$14.0K FJD 30.6K
-81.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ajijic
Lautoka
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.62 MX$720
$17.68 FJD 38.78
135.41%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$16.17 MX$280
$17.50 FJD 38.37
-7.60%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$65.2 MX$1,128
$66.1 FJD 145
-1.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$54.1 MX$935
$60.3 FJD 132
-10.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ajijic
Lautoka
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$812 MX$14.0K
$354 FJD 777
129.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$633 MX$10.9K
$133 FJD 292
374.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,597 MX$27.6K
$856 FJD 1,877
86.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,401 MX$24.2K
$393 FJD 863
256.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,248 MX$56.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,742 MX$30.1K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ajijic
Lautoka
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$583 MX$10.1K
$712 FJD 1,562
-18.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.24
7
60.57%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Ajijic: June 2, 2026

Last update for Lautoka: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $812 in Ajijic versus $354 in Lautoka. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 22% higher in Lautoka, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Ajijic versus $45.00 in Lautoka. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $205 vs $221 – making Ajijic the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Ajijic vs Lautoka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lautoka cheaper than Ajijic?
Yes – Ajijic is pricier by about 70%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,773 per month in Ajijic and $1,045 in Lautoka. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Lautoka, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Ajijic vs Lautoka?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,182 in Ajijic and $697 in Lautoka. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $179 per month in Ajijic and $230 in Lautoka. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Ajijic or Lautoka?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Lautoka, where all-in costs run around $697, than in Ajijic at $1,182. In Lautoka it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ajijic it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Ajijic or Lautoka more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Lautoka – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Ajijic or Lautoka?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Lautoka. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ajijic makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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