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 $786 per month in Al Hillah vs $338 in Lautoka, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,225 per month in Al Hillah vs $735 in Lautoka, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,664 per month in Al Hillah vs $1,132 in Lautoka, rent included.

Al Hillah costs about 133% more than Lautoka, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Al Hillah and Lautoka are more affordable than the global median – Al Hillah 43% lower, Lautoka 75% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.72 IQD 6,183

$5.61 FJD 12.14

-15.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.19 IQD 39.5K

$78.2 FJD 169

-61.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.23 IQD 8,158

$8.19 FJD 17.73

-23.93%

Cappuccino

$3.09 IQD 4,041

$2.51 FJD 5.43

23.11%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 IQD 480

$2.22 FJD 4.82

-83.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 IQD 288

$1.55 FJD 3.36

-85.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 IQD 3,829

$2.45 FJD 5.29

19.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.91 IQD 5,118

$3.27 FJD 7.08

19.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 IQD 1,407

$1.74 FJD 3.77

-38.51%

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 IQD 976

$0.75 FJD 1.62

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.52 IQD 1,988

$0.92 FJD 2.00

65.22%

Eggs

$1.85 IQD 2,425

$3.53 FJD 7.65

-47.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.97 IQD 5,203

$6.07 FJD 13.15

-34.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.67 IQD 6,114

$7.56 FJD 16.36

-38.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.15 IQD 18.5K

$7.80 FJD 16.89

81.41%

Apples (1kg)

$1.18 IQD 1,548

$4.65 FJD 10.07

-74.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 IQD 1,402

Oranges (1kg)

$1.03 IQD 1,348

$1.40 FJD 3.04

-26.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.73 IQD 949

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 931

$0.87 FJD 1.88

-18.39%

Onion (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 855

$0.88 FJD 1.90

-26.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.60 IQD 780

$0.90 FJD 1.95

-33.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 IQD 711

$0.45 FJD 0.97

20.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.79 IQD 2,338

$11.27 FJD 24.39

-84.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.43 IQD 17.6K

$5.51 FJD 11.92

143.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 IQD 2,905

$2.66 FJD 5.77

-16.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 IQD 2,868

$3.69 FJD 7.99

-40.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 IQD 516

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$64.8 IQD 84.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.24 IQD 2,935

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.49 IQD 1,946

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.47 IQD 4,540

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.59 IQD 768

$1.32 FJD 2.86

-55.30%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$17.4K IQD 22.8M

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$19.0K IQD 24.8M

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$77.7 IQD 101.7K

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$15.17 IQD 19.9K

$13.81 FJD 29.90

9.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.30 IQD 50.2K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.28 IQD 30.5K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.19 IQD 25.1K

Cinema Ticket

$7.44 IQD 9,747

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$94.3 IQD 123.5K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$776 IQD 1.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.84 IQD 28.6K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.19 IQD 33.0K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$67.6 IQD 88.5K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$48.04 IQD 62.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$275 IQD 359.5K

$464 FJD 1,004

-40.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$179 IQD 234.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$506 IQD 662.7K

$920 FJD 1,991

-44.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$294 IQD 385.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,723 IQD 2.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$562 IQD 735.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$509 IQD 666.6K

$702 FJD 1,519

-27.44%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.12

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

Last update for Al Hillah: August 31, 2026

Last update for Lautoka: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $275 in Al Hillah versus $464 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 38% 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 $30.00 in Al Hillah versus $78.0 in Lautoka. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $184 vs $196 – 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

Yes – Al Hillah is pricier by about 133%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,178 per month in Al Hillah and $507 in Lautoka. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Interestingly, groceries are about 6% cheaper in Al Hillah – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $30.00 in Al Hillah and $78.0 in Lautoka. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $786 in Al Hillah and $338 in Lautoka, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

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.

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.