Cost of Living Comparison Between Al Hillah and Lautoka Cost of Living Comparison Between Al Hillah and Lautoka

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $810 per month in Al Hillah vs $678 in Lautoka, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,264 per month in Al Hillah vs $1,225 in Lautoka, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,718 per month in Al Hillah vs $1,771 in Lautoka, rent included.

Al Hillah costs about 19% more than Lautoka, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Al Hillah and Lautoka are more affordable than the global median – Al Hillah 39% lower, Lautoka 49% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Al Hillah
Lautoka
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.45 IQD 7,132
$4.92 FJD 11.01
10.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.09 IQD 40.7K
$44.93 FJD 101
-30.80%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.12 IQD 8,019
$6.81 FJD 15.25
-10.13%
Cappuccino
$3.06 IQD 4,005
$3.16 FJD 7.07
-3.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40 IQD 518
$1.30 FJD 2.92
-69.23%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.18 IQD 242
$0.65 FJD 1.46
-72.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.93 IQD 3,833
$2.44 FJD 5.46
20.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90 IQD 3,793
$3.47 FJD 7.76
-16.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al Hillah
Lautoka
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.37 IQD 1,800
$1.29 FJD 2.88
6.20%
White Bread (500g)
$0.74 IQD 963
$0.49 FJD 1.10
51.02%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.65 IQD 2,156
$0.80 FJD 1.79
106.25%
Eggs
$1.80 IQD 2,359
$3.30 FJD 7.38
-45.45%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.49 IQD 5,874
$9.21 FJD 20.61
-51.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.80 IQD 6,290
$7.12 FJD 15.93
-32.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.01 IQD 18.3K
$7.59 FJD 16.99
84.58%
Apples (1kg)
$1.23 IQD 1,607
$2.47 FJD 5.53
-50.20%
Banana (1kg)
$1.19 IQD 1,564
$2.47 FJD 5.52
-51.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.04 IQD 1,368
$2.80 FJD 6.27
-62.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.69 IQD 899
$3.19 FJD 7.15
-78.37%
Potato (1kg)
$0.66 IQD 863
$1.01 FJD 2.25
-34.65%
Onion (1kg)
$0.63 IQD 820
$1.00 FJD 2.23
-37.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.59 IQD 778
$0.92 FJD 2.06
-35.87%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 IQD 721
$0.80 FJD 1.80
-31.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.90 IQD 2,485
$9.21 FJD 20.61
-79.37%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.82 IQD 18.1K
$5.25 FJD 11.75
163.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84 IQD 2,415
$2.19 FJD 4.91
-15.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 IQD 2,840
$2.71 FJD 6.06
-19.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Al Hillah
Lautoka
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.40 IQD 520
$0.69 FJD 1.55
-42.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$65.4 IQD 85.6K
$37.56 FJD 84.1
74.07%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.36 IQD 3,092
$0.65 FJD 1.46
263.08%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.55 IQD 2,031
$0.45 FJD 1.01
244.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.37 IQD 4,414
$2.75 FJD 6.15
22.55%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.54 IQD 703
$1.35 FJD 3.02
-60.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.4K IQD 22.8M
$19.3K FJD 43.1K
-9.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3K IQD 26.5M
$21.9K FJD 49.1K
-7.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al Hillah
Lautoka
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$75.8 IQD 99.3K
$45.50 FJD 102
66.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.12 IQD 19.8K
$13.08 FJD 29.28
15.60%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.00 IQD 51.1K
$23.81 FJD 53.3
63.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al Hillah
Lautoka
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.41 IQD 30.7K
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.19 IQD 25.1K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.77 IQD 10.2K
$3.61 FJD 8.08
115.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al Hillah
Lautoka
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$95.6 IQD 125.2K
$222 FJD 496
-56.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$779 IQD 1.0M
$14.4K FJD 32.2K
-94.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al Hillah
Lautoka
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.22 IQD 35.6K
$17.66 FJD 39.52
54.13%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.73 IQD 36.3K
$18.09 FJD 40.50
53.29%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$61.6 IQD 80.7K
$65.3 FJD 146
-5.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$43.71 IQD 57.2K
$61.8 FJD 138
-29.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al Hillah
Lautoka
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$364 IQD 476.8K
$349 FJD 781
4.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$196 IQD 256.8K
$135 FJD 303
45.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$667 IQD 874.0K
$841 FJD 1,882
-20.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$313 IQD 410.0K
$400 FJD 896
-21.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,746 IQD 2.3M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$545 IQD 713.5K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al Hillah
Lautoka
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$517 IQD 677.5K
$692 FJD 1,548
-25.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.67
7
-19.00%

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

Last update for Al Hillah: July 12, 2026

Last update for Lautoka: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $364 in Al Hillah versus $349 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 34% 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 $31.00 in Al Hillah versus $45.00 in Lautoka. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $189 vs $220 – making Al Hillah 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
Al Hillah vs Lautoka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lautoka cheaper than Al Hillah?
Yes – Al Hillah is pricier by about 19%, 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 $1,215 per month in Al Hillah and $1,018 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.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 74% less in Lautoka. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $95.6 per month in Al Hillah and $222 in Lautoka. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,200 enough for either Al Hillah or Lautoka?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $810 in Al Hillah and $678 in Lautoka, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is Al Hillah 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 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, Al Hillah makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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