Cost of Living Comparison Between Fiji and Lautoka Cost of Living Comparison Between Fiji and Lautoka

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $715 in Fiji versus $340 in Lautoka.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,165 in Fiji versus $730 in Lautoka.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,614 in Fiji versus $1,120 in Lautoka.

Living in Fiji is roughly 111% more expensive than in Lautoka, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Fiji 47% lower, Lautoka 75% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.55 FJD 10.10

$5.53 FJD 12.27

-17.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.21 FJD 71.4

$78.5 FJD 174

-58.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.59 FJD 14.62

$7.91 FJD 17.55

-16.69%

Cappuccino

$2.52 FJD 5.59

$2.51 FJD 5.58

0.40%

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

$1.41 FJD 3.13

$2.14 FJD 4.75

-34.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.00 FJD 2.21

$1.55 FJD 3.43

-35.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.04 FJD 8.97

$2.39 FJD 5.31

69.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.94 FJD 8.74

$3.12 FJD 6.93

26.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 FJD 2.70

$1.65 FJD 3.67

-26.06%

White Bread (500g)

$0.26 FJD 0.58

$0.70 FJD 1.56

-62.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.85 FJD 1.89

$0.94 FJD 2.08

-9.57%

Eggs

$3.08 FJD 6.83

$3.62 FJD 8.03

-14.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.77 FJD 23.90

$6.03 FJD 13.37

78.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.47 FJD 12.14

$7.64 FJD 16.95

-28.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.05 FJD 17.86

Apples (1kg)

$1.35 FJD 3.00

$4.56 FJD 10.12

-70.39%

Banana (1kg)

$0.85 FJD 1.88

Oranges (1kg)

$1.84 FJD 4.08

$1.32 FJD 2.93

39.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.33 FJD 2.95

Potato (1kg)

$0.68 FJD 1.50

$0.86 FJD 1.91

-20.93%

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 FJD 1.51

$0.94 FJD 2.07

-27.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.87 FJD 1.94

$0.88 FJD 1.96

-1.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 FJD 1.24

$0.43 FJD 0.96

30.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.00 FJD 24.40

$11.43 FJD 25.35

-3.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.35 FJD 14.08

$5.57 FJD 12.35

14.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.00 FJD 8.87

$2.58 FJD 5.72

55.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.95 FJD 8.75

$3.70 FJD 8.21

6.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 FJD 1.88

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.11 FJD 2.45

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 FJD 2.95

$1.29 FJD 2.85

3.10%

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

$45.0K FJD 99.8K

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

$53.3 FJD 118

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

$13.33 FJD 29.57

$13.61 FJD 30.20

-2.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.76 FJD 39.39

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.64 FJD 50.2

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.40 FJD 9.75

Cinema Ticket

$4.11 FJD 9.12

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

$44.59 FJD 98.9

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.73 FJD 43.76

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$29.74 FJD 66.0

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$657 FJD 1,458

$442 FJD 980

48.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$264 FJD 586

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,130 FJD 2,506

$893 FJD 1,981

26.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$612 FJD 1,357

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,309 FJD 2,904

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,282 FJD 2,844

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$531 FJD 1,178

$697 FJD 1,545

-23.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Fiji: September 22, 2026

Last update for Lautoka: September 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $657 in Fiji and $442 in Lautoka. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lautoka pays 31% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $32.00 in Fiji vs $78.0 in Lautoka for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $170 vs $195 per month, with Fiji cheaper across the board.

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

Fiji vs Lautoka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lautoka is cheaper overall, especially in Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 111% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 31% lower in Lautoka. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $657 in Fiji versus $442 in Lautoka. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Fiji pay roughly 15% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Lautoka – a meal for two runs $78.0 versus $32.00 in Fiji. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $340 in Lautoka versus $715 in Fiji, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Lautoka but tight or insufficient in Fiji. The gap between the two cities makes Lautoka the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Fiji and Lautoka are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Lautoka gentler on the wallet – expenses run 111% less than in Fiji. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.