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: $712 in Fiji versus $697 in Lautoka.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,191 in Fiji versus $1,222 in Lautoka.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,670 in Fiji versus $1,746 in Lautoka.

Living in Fiji is roughly 2% more expensive than Lautoka, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Fiji 47% lower, Lautoka 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.44 FJD 9.71

$5.02 FJD 11.00

-11.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.29 FJD 99.2

$45.40 FJD 99.4

-0.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.81 FJD 17.10

$6.61 FJD 14.48

18.15%

Cappuccino

$2.26 FJD 4.96

$3.21 FJD 7.03

-29.60%

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

$1.36 FJD 2.97

$1.31 FJD 2.87

3.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.19 FJD 2.61

$0.67 FJD 1.46

77.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 FJD 6.46

$2.41 FJD 5.28

22.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 FJD 7.22

$3.49 FJD 7.65

-5.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.28 FJD 2.81

$1.33 FJD 2.91

-3.76%

White Bread (500g)

$0.69 FJD 1.52

$0.53 FJD 1.17

30.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.52 FJD 3.34

$0.82 FJD 1.79

85.37%

Eggs

$2.22 FJD 4.86

$3.22 FJD 7.04

-31.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.61 FJD 23.23

$9.26 FJD 20.28

14.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.67 FJD 8.03

$7.15 FJD 15.66

-48.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$2.28 FJD 4.98

$7.50 FJD 16.43

-69.60%

Apples (1kg)

$1.76 FJD 3.85

$2.53 FJD 5.54

-30.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 FJD 3.36

$2.51 FJD 5.49

-39.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.04 FJD 4.47

$2.83 FJD 6.20

-27.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.73 FJD 3.80

$3.09 FJD 6.77

-44.01%

Potato (1kg)

$1.49 FJD 3.25

$0.96 FJD 2.09

55.21%

Onion (1kg)

$1.42 FJD 3.11

$0.95 FJD 2.08

49.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.94 FJD 2.05

$0.92 FJD 2.02

2.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 FJD 1.75

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.01 FJD 24.11

$9.42 FJD 20.63

16.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.47 FJD 14.17

$5.55 FJD 12.14

16.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.80 FJD 6.12

$2.24 FJD 4.90

25.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 FJD 5.40

$2.61 FJD 5.72

-5.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 FJD 1.98

$0.70 FJD 1.53

30.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.66 FJD 82.5

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.10 FJD 2.41

$0.64 FJD 1.39

71.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 FJD 0.97

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.73 FJD 5.97

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 FJD 2.87

$1.34 FJD 2.93

-2.24%

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

$45.5K FJD 99.6K

$19.3K FJD 42.3K

135.52%

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

$22.4K FJD 49.1K

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

$53.0 FJD 116

$46.45 FJD 102

14.17%

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

$13.41 FJD 29.37

$12.98 FJD 28.43

3.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 FJD 38.54

$23.91 FJD 52.4

-26.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.99 FJD 48.17

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.50 FJD 9.85

Cinema Ticket

$3.99 FJD 8.75

$3.48 FJD 7.61

14.66%

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

$44.29 FJD 97.0

$230 FJD 503

-80.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.0K FJD 30.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$8.39 FJD 18.38

$17.68 FJD 38.73

-52.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.50 FJD 38.32

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$29.43 FJD 64.5

$66.1 FJD 145

-55.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$60.3 FJD 132

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$666 FJD 1,459

$354 FJD 776

87.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$269 FJD 590

$133 FJD 292

102.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,104 FJD 2,418

$856 FJD 1,874

29.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$607 FJD 1,329

$393 FJD 862

54.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,298 FJD 2,842

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,344 FJD 2,943

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$548 FJD 1,201

$712 FJD 1,560

-23.00%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-14.29%

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

Last update for Fiji: May 30, 2026

Last update for Lautoka: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $666 in Fiji and $354 in Lautoka. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lautoka pays 30% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $45.00 in Fiji vs $45.00 in Lautoka for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $179 vs $221 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 Sport & Entertainment. The 2% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Lautoka earns 30% less. 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: $666 in Fiji versus $354 in Lautoka. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Fiji pay roughly 23% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $712 per month in Fiji versus $697 in Lautoka – a 2% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $697 in Lautoka versus $712 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 2% less than in Fiji. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.