Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Hamilton and Nadi

For one person, living is cheaper in Nadi: $1,386 a month against $1,647 in Hamilton, rent and utilities included – about $3,100 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Hamilton
🇳🇿 New Zealand
$1,647
/mo nomad
Nadi
🇫🇯 Fiji
$1,386
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Hamilton and in Nadi

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Hamilton and in Nadi actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,647 in Hamilton versus $1,386 in Nadi.

  • Hamilton $1,647
  • Nadi $1,386

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,571 in Hamilton versus $2,044 in Nadi.

  • Hamilton $2,571
  • Nadi $2,044

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,496 in Hamilton versus $2,702 in Nadi.

  • Hamilton $3,496
  • Nadi $2,702

Living in Hamilton is roughly 19% more expensive than in Nadi, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Hamilton 22% above, Nadi 3% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hamilton
Nadi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.78 NZ$20.83
$8.87 FJD 19.85
32.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.6 NZ$130
$36.73 FJD 82.2
100.25%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.47 NZ$14.98
$9.00 FJD 20.16
-5.89%
Cappuccino
$3.32 NZ$5.86
$4.41 FJD 9.88
-24.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 NZ$3.99
$1.49 FJD 3.35
51.68%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 NZ$4.20
$1.28 FJD 2.86
85.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.24 NZ$11.04
$2.74 FJD 6.13
127.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.44 NZ$9.63
$4.55 FJD 10.19
19.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hamilton
Nadi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.46 NZ$2.59
$1.34 FJD 3.00
8.96%
White Bread (500g)
$1.25 NZ$2.20
$1.08 FJD 2.43
15.74%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.96 NZ$3.46
$1.31 FJD 2.93
49.62%
Eggs
$5.25 NZ$9.29
$3.12 FJD 6.99
68.27%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.56 NZ$9.84
$12.07 FJD 27.01
-53.94%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.32 NZ$12.95
$13.75 FJD 30.78
-46.76%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.83 NZ$20.92
$15.66 FJD 35.07
-24.46%
Apples (1kg)
$2.64 NZ$4.68
$2.94 FJD 6.57
-10.20%
Banana (1kg)
$2.29 NZ$4.05
$2.77 FJD 6.20
-17.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.22 NZ$5.70
$3.71 FJD 8.30
-13.21%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.30 NZ$11.14
-
-
Potato (1kg)
$1.97 NZ$3.48
$1.98 FJD 4.44
-0.51%
Onion (1kg)
$1.39 NZ$2.46
$1.98 FJD 4.44
-29.80%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.56 NZ$4.52
$1.10 FJD 2.45
132.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.96 NZ$1.70
$0.96 FJD 2.15
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$24.97 NZ$44.16
$9.46 FJD 21.19
163.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.71 NZ$18.95
$10.00 FJD 22.39
7.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.88 NZ$6.87
$2.73 FJD 6.11
42.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.93 NZ$6.95
$3.41 FJD 7.63
15.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Hamilton
Nadi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.42 NZ$2.52
$0.70 FJD 1.57
102.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.33 NZ$71.3
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.52 NZ$6.22
$1.14 FJD 2.55
208.77%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$0.42 FJD 0.94
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$4.84 FJD 10.84
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.70 NZ$3.01
$1.32 FJD 2.96
28.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.4K NZ$46.6K
$24.9K FJD 55.7K
5.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1K NZ$40.9K
$22.3K FJD 50.0K
3.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hamilton
Nadi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$56.1 NZ$99.2
$65.8 FJD 147
-14.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.89 NZ$63.5
$17.97 FJD 40.23
99.72%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.2 NZ$95.8
$23.26 FJD 52.1
132.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hamilton
Nadi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.00 NZ$44.21
$37.21 FJD 83.3
-32.81%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.03 NZ$49.58
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.86 NZ$24.52
$5.45 FJD 12.19
154.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hamilton
Nadi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$666 NZ$1,178
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.4K NZ$39.6K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hamilton
Nadi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.8 NZ$108
$29.10 FJD 65.2
108.93%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.29 NZ$65.9
$43.62 FJD 97.7
-14.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.0 NZ$163
$56.8 FJD 127
62.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104 NZ$183
$67.7 FJD 152
53.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hamilton
Nadi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,082 NZ$1,913
$1,127 FJD 2,524
-4.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$751 NZ$1,327
$645 FJD 1,444
16.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,488 NZ$2,632
$1,673 FJD 3,745
-11.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,309 NZ$2,314
$1,004 FJD 2,248
30.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,890 NZ$6,880
$679 FJD 1,521
472.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,506 NZ$7,969
$518 FJD 1,161
769.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hamilton
Nadi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,634 NZ$4,658
$806 FJD 1,805
226.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.83
7.25
-5.79%

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

Last update for Hamilton: October 10, 2026

Last update for Nadi: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Hamilton
$751
Nadi
$645 14.1% $106
Groceries & Markets
Hamilton
$295
Nadi
$306 * 3.7% $11
Eating Out
Hamilton
$220
Nadi
$185 16% $35
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hamilton
$146
Nadi
$107 26.7% $39
Clothing & Footwear
Hamilton
$132
Nadi
$89 32.9% $44
Sport & Entertainment
Hamilton
$53
Nadi
$48 8.8% $4.6
Getting Around
Hamilton
$50 *
Nadi
$6 * 87.8% $44

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,082 in Hamilton and $1,127 in Nadi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Hamilton pays 227% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $74.0 in Hamilton vs $37.00 in Nadi. Groceries flip the comparison at $295 vs $306, with Hamilton cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇳🇿 Hamilton
🇫🇯 Nadi
🕒 Local time
04:58 4:58 AM
03:58 3:58 AM
1 h behind Hamilton
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
169,500
50,000
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

FJD, USD, EUR to NZD – New Zealand Dollar Converter

New Zealand Dollar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 1.77 NZD (1 NZD = 0.565 USD). 1 EUR = 1.99 NZD (1 NZD = 0.503 EUR).

Fijian Dollar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 2.24 FJD (1 FJD = 0.447 USD). 1 EUR = 2.52 FJD (1 FJD = 0.397 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Hamilton Nadi 2,230 km ≈ 3 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Hamilton
  • Nadi

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Hamilton vs Nadi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nadi cheaper than Hamilton?
Nadi is cheaper overall, especially in eating out, clothing, and utilities. The 19% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Hamilton or Nadi?
Average pay runs 227% higher in Hamilton, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Hamilton and Nadi?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,082 in Hamilton versus $1,127 in Nadi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Hamilton and in Nadi?
Shoppers in Hamilton pay roughly 4% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is eating out cheaper in Hamilton or in Nadi?
Dining out is cheaper in Nadi – a meal for two runs $37.00 versus $74.0 in Hamilton. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Hamilton or in Nadi?
At $1,386 in Nadi versus $1,647 in Hamilton, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Nadi but tight or insufficient in Hamilton. The gap between the two cities makes Nadi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Hamilton or in Nadi?
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.
Which city is safer, Hamilton or Nadi?
Safety-wise, Hamilton and Nadi are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Nadi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 19% less than in Hamilton. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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