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 $819 per month in Al Hillah vs $697 in Lautoka, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,263 per month in Al Hillah vs $1,222 in Lautoka, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,708 per month in Al Hillah vs $1,746 in Lautoka, rent included.

Al Hillah costs about 17% more than Lautoka, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Al Hillah and Lautoka are more affordable than the global median – Al Hillah 39% lower, Lautoka 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.28 IQD 6,917

$5.02 FJD 11.01

5.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.53 IQD 40.0K

$45.40 FJD 99.6

-32.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.00 IQD 7,851

$6.61 FJD 14.50

-9.23%

Cappuccino

$3.11 IQD 4,073

$3.21 FJD 7.04

-3.12%

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

$0.40 IQD 518

$1.31 FJD 2.88

-69.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 265

$0.67 FJD 1.46

-70.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.97 IQD 3,896

$2.41 FJD 5.29

23.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 IQD 3,706

$3.49 FJD 7.66

-18.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 IQD 1,713

$1.33 FJD 2.92

-1.50%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 IQD 967

$0.53 FJD 1.17

39.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 IQD 2,151

$0.82 FJD 1.79

100.00%

Eggs

$1.74 IQD 2,280

$3.22 FJD 7.05

-45.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.38 IQD 5,733

$9.26 FJD 20.31

-52.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.06 IQD 6,623

$7.15 FJD 15.68

-29.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.96 IQD 18.3K

$7.50 FJD 16.46

86.13%

Apples (1kg)

$1.28 IQD 1,673

$2.53 FJD 5.55

-49.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 IQD 1,516

$2.51 FJD 5.50

-53.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.06 IQD 1,385

$2.83 FJD 6.21

-62.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 920

$3.09 FJD 6.78

-77.35%

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 IQD 862

$0.96 FJD 2.10

-31.25%

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 890

$0.95 FJD 2.08

-28.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 IQD 720

$0.92 FJD 2.02

-40.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 IQD 722

$0.80 FJD 1.76

-31.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.95 IQD 2,552

$9.42 FJD 20.66

-79.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.56 IQD 17.8K

$5.55 FJD 12.16

144.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 IQD 2,300

$2.24 FJD 4.90

-21.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 IQD 2,863

$2.61 FJD 5.73

-16.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 IQD 522

$0.70 FJD 1.53

-42.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$63.8 IQD 83.6K

$37.66 FJD 82.6

69.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.26 IQD 2,957

$0.64 FJD 1.40

253.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.54 IQD 2,016

$0.44 FJD 0.97

250.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.33 IQD 4,358

$2.73 FJD 5.98

21.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.53 IQD 689

$1.34 FJD 2.94

-60.45%

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

$17.0K IQD 22.2M

$19.3K FJD 42.3K

-12.01%

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

$20.1K IQD 26.3M

$22.4K FJD 49.2K

-10.47%

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

$76.0 IQD 99.6K

$46.45 FJD 102

63.68%

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

$15.24 IQD 20.0K

$12.98 FJD 28.46

17.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.99 IQD 49.8K

$23.91 FJD 52.4

58.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.35 IQD 30.6K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.37 IQD 25.4K

Cinema Ticket

$7.55 IQD 9,883

$3.48 FJD 7.62

116.95%

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

$96.5 IQD 126.4K

$230 FJD 503

-57.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$754 IQD 986.7K

$14.0K FJD 30.6K

-94.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.29 IQD 35.7K

$17.68 FJD 38.78

54.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.83 IQD 36.4K

$17.50 FJD 38.37

59.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.2 IQD 80.1K

$66.1 FJD 145

-7.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.90 IQD 57.5K

$60.3 FJD 132

-27.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$378 IQD 494.8K

$354 FJD 777

6.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$191 IQD 249.6K

$133 FJD 292

43.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$662 IQD 867.5K

$856 FJD 1,877

-22.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$322 IQD 422.1K

$393 FJD 863

-18.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,702 IQD 2.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$562 IQD 736.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$515 IQD 674.7K

$712 FJD 1,562

-27.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.67

-19.00%

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

Last update for Al Hillah: June 2, 2026

Last update for Lautoka: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $378 in Al Hillah 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 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 $31.00 in Al Hillah versus $45.00 in Lautoka. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $221 – 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 17%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,228 per month in Al Hillah and $1,045 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.

Public transport costs about 69% less in Lautoka. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $96.5 per month in Al Hillah and $230 in Lautoka. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $819 in Al Hillah and $697 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.