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: $694 in Fiji versus $678 in Lautoka.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,182 in Fiji versus $1,225 in Lautoka.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,670 in Fiji versus $1,771 in Lautoka.

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

Both cities sit below the global median: Fiji 48% lower, Lautoka 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.54 FJD 10.15

$4.92 FJD 11.01

-7.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.27 FJD 99.1

$44.93 FJD 101

-1.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.66 FJD 17.15

$6.81 FJD 15.25

12.48%

Cappuccino

$2.28 FJD 5.10

$3.16 FJD 7.07

-27.85%

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

$1.35 FJD 3.01

$1.30 FJD 2.92

3.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 FJD 2.58

$0.65 FJD 1.46

76.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.81 FJD 6.30

$2.44 FJD 5.46

15.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.38 FJD 7.57

$3.47 FJD 7.76

-2.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.28 FJD 2.86

$1.29 FJD 2.88

-0.78%

White Bread (500g)

$0.65 FJD 1.46

$0.49 FJD 1.10

32.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 FJD 3.38

$0.80 FJD 1.79

88.75%

Eggs

$2.22 FJD 4.97

$3.30 FJD 7.38

-32.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.80 FJD 24.17

$9.21 FJD 20.61

17.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.75 FJD 8.39

$7.12 FJD 15.93

-47.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$2.27 FJD 5.08

$7.59 FJD 16.99

-70.09%

Apples (1kg)

$1.74 FJD 3.88

$2.47 FJD 5.53

-29.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 FJD 3.37

$2.47 FJD 5.52

-38.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.05 FJD 4.59

$2.80 FJD 6.27

-26.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.81 FJD 4.06

$3.19 FJD 7.15

-43.26%

Potato (1kg)

$1.42 FJD 3.18

$1.01 FJD 2.25

40.59%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 FJD 3.36

$1.00 FJD 2.23

50.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.97 FJD 2.17

$0.92 FJD 2.06

5.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 FJD 1.65

$0.80 FJD 1.80

-7.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.32 FJD 25.34

$9.21 FJD 20.61

22.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.38 FJD 14.28

$5.25 FJD 11.75

21.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.76 FJD 6.18

$2.19 FJD 4.91

26.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.44 FJD 5.47

$2.71 FJD 6.06

-9.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 FJD 1.91

$0.69 FJD 1.55

24.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.56 FJD 84.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.08 FJD 2.41

$0.65 FJD 1.46

66.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 FJD 1.01

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.75 FJD 6.15

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 FJD 2.83

$1.35 FJD 3.02

-5.93%

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

$46.0K FJD 103.0K

$19.3K FJD 43.1K

138.70%

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

$21.9K FJD 49.1K

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

$53.7 FJD 120

$45.50 FJD 102

17.98%

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

$13.46 FJD 30.12

$13.08 FJD 29.28

2.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.50 FJD 39.17

$23.81 FJD 53.3

-26.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.24 FJD 49.77

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.52 FJD 10.12

Cinema Ticket

$3.90 FJD 8.74

$3.61 FJD 8.08

8.03%

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

$44.36 FJD 99.3

$222 FJD 496

-80.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.4K FJD 32.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$8.23 FJD 18.41

$17.66 FJD 39.52

-53.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.09 FJD 40.50

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$29.55 FJD 66.1

$65.3 FJD 146

-54.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$61.8 FJD 138

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$680 FJD 1,522

$349 FJD 781

94.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$262 FJD 587

$135 FJD 303

94.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,101 FJD 2,465

$841 FJD 1,882

30.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$598 FJD 1,339

$400 FJD 896

49.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,285 FJD 2,876

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,327 FJD 2,969

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$540 FJD 1,209

$692 FJD 1,548

-21.90%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Lautoka: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $680 in Fiji and $349 in Lautoka. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lautoka pays 28% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $44.00 in Fiji vs $45.00 in Lautoka for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $179 vs $220 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, salaries run 28% 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: $680 in Fiji versus $349 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 $694 per month in Fiji versus $678 in Lautoka – a 2% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $678 in Lautoka versus $694 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.