😐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 Hillah39% lower, Lautoka49% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Al Hillah
Lautoka
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.45IQD 7,132
$4.92FJD 11.01
10.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.09IQD 40.7K
$44.93FJD 101
-30.80%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.12IQD 8,019
$6.81FJD 15.25
-10.13%
Cappuccino
$3.06IQD 4,005
$3.16FJD 7.07
-3.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40IQD 518
$1.30FJD 2.92
-69.23%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.18IQD 242
$0.65FJD 1.46
-72.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.93IQD 3,833
$2.44FJD 5.46
20.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90IQD 3,793
$3.47FJD 7.76
-16.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al Hillah
Lautoka
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.37IQD 1,800
$1.29FJD 2.88
6.20%
White Bread(500g)
$0.74IQD 963
$0.49FJD 1.10
51.02%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.65IQD 2,156
$0.80FJD 1.79
106.25%
Eggs
$1.80IQD 2,359
$3.30FJD 7.38
-45.45%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.49IQD 5,874
$9.21FJD 20.61
-51.25%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.80IQD 6,290
$7.12FJD 15.93
-32.58%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.01IQD 18.3K
$7.59FJD 16.99
84.58%
Apples(1kg)
$1.23IQD 1,607
$2.47FJD 5.53
-50.20%
Banana(1kg)
$1.19IQD 1,564
$2.47FJD 5.52
-51.82%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.04IQD 1,368
$2.80FJD 6.27
-62.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.69IQD 899
$3.19FJD 7.15
-78.37%
Potato(1kg)
$0.66IQD 863
$1.01FJD 2.25
-34.65%
Onion(1kg)
$0.63IQD 820
$1.00FJD 2.23
-37.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.59IQD 778
$0.92FJD 2.06
-35.87%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55IQD 721
$0.80FJD 1.80
-31.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.90IQD 2,485
$9.21FJD 20.61
-79.37%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.82IQD 18.1K
$5.25FJD 11.75
163.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84IQD 2,415
$2.19FJD 4.91
-15.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17IQD 2,840
$2.71FJD 6.06
-19.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Al Hillah
Lautoka
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.40IQD 520
$0.69FJD 1.55
-42.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$65.4IQD 85.6K
$37.56FJD 84.1
74.07%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.36IQD 3,092
$0.65FJD 1.46
263.08%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.55IQD 2,031
$0.45FJD 1.01
244.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.37IQD 4,414
$2.75FJD 6.15
22.55%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.54IQD 703
$1.35FJD 3.02
-60.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.4KIQD 22.8M
$19.3KFJD 43.1K
-9.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3KIQD 26.5M
$21.9KFJD 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)
$75.8IQD 99.3K
$45.50FJD 102
66.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.12IQD 19.8K
$13.08FJD 29.28
15.60%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.00IQD 51.1K
$23.81FJD 53.3
63.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al Hillah
Lautoka
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.41IQD 30.7K
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.19IQD 25.1K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.77IQD 10.2K
$3.61FJD 8.08
115.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al Hillah
Lautoka
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$95.6IQD 125.2K
$222FJD 496
-56.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$779IQD 1.0M
$14.4KFJD 32.2K
-94.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al Hillah
Lautoka
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.22IQD 35.6K
$17.66FJD 39.52
54.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.73IQD 36.3K
$18.09FJD 40.50
53.29%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$61.6IQD 80.7K
$65.3FJD 146
-5.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$43.71IQD 57.2K
$61.8FJD 138
-29.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al Hillah
Lautoka
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$364IQD 476.8K
$349FJD 781
4.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$196IQD 256.8K
$135FJD 303
45.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$667IQD 874.0K
$841FJD 1,882
-20.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$313IQD 410.0K
$400FJD 896
-21.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,746IQD 2.3M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$545IQD 713.5K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al Hillah
Lautoka
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$517IQD 677.5K
$692FJD 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.