Cost of Living Comparison Between Lautoka and Ajijic Cost of Living Comparison Between Lautoka and Ajijic

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $697 per month in Lautoka vs $1,182 in Ajijic, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,222 per month in Lautoka vs $1,939 in Ajijic, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,746 per month in Lautoka vs $2,696 in Ajijic, rent included.

Lautoka is about 41% cheaper than Ajijic, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Lautoka and Ajijic are more affordable than the global median – Lautoka 48% lower, Ajijic 12% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.02 FJD 11.01

$7.91 MX$137

-36.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.40 FJD 99.6

$34.68 MX$600

30.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.61 FJD 14.50

$6.80 MX$118

-2.79%

Cappuccino

$3.21 FJD 7.04

$3.35 MX$58.0

-4.18%

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

$1.31 FJD 2.88

$1.07 MX$18.53

22.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.67 FJD 1.46

$0.85 MX$14.66

-21.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 FJD 5.29

$1.82 MX$31.55

32.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 FJD 7.66

$3.15 MX$54.5

10.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 FJD 2.92

$1.36 MX$23.44

-2.21%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 FJD 1.17

$2.27 MX$39.33

-76.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.82 FJD 1.79

$1.08 MX$18.69

-24.07%

Eggs

$3.22 FJD 7.05

$2.00 MX$34.58

61.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.26 FJD 20.31

$8.09 MX$140

14.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.15 FJD 15.68

$7.23 MX$125

-1.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.50 FJD 16.46

$6.80 MX$118

10.29%

Apples (1kg)

$2.53 FJD 5.55

$2.16 MX$37.31

17.13%

Banana (1kg)

$2.51 FJD 5.50

$0.89 MX$15.41

182.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.83 FJD 6.21

$0.91 MX$15.77

210.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.09 FJD 6.78

$1.41 MX$24.44

119.15%

Potato (1kg)

$0.96 FJD 2.10

$1.38 MX$23.84

-30.43%

Onion (1kg)

$0.95 FJD 2.08

$1.04 MX$17.98

-8.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.92 FJD 2.02

$0.87 MX$14.99

5.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 FJD 1.76

$0.83 MX$14.28

-3.61%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.42 FJD 20.66

$4.07 MX$70.4

131.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.55 FJD 12.16

$9.31 MX$161

-40.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.24 FJD 4.90

$1.40 MX$24.24

60.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 FJD 5.73

$1.68 MX$29.05

55.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.70 FJD 1.53

$0.61 MX$10.56

14.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.66 FJD 82.6

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.64 FJD 1.40

$1.09 MX$18.85

-41.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 FJD 0.97

$1.58 MX$27.38

-72.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.73 FJD 5.98

$3.18 MX$55.1

-14.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 FJD 2.94

$1.31 MX$22.59

2.29%

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

$19.3K FJD 42.3K

$18.8K MX$324.7K

2.82%

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

$22.4K FJD 49.2K

$18.9K MX$326.6K

18.69%

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

$46.45 FJD 102

$44.74 MX$774

3.82%

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

$12.98 FJD 28.46

$16.21 MX$280

-19.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.91 FJD 52.4

$25.54 MX$442

-6.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.01 MX$415

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.24 MX$90.7

Cinema Ticket

$3.48 FJD 7.62

$4.29 MX$74.2

-18.88%

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

$230 FJD 503

$179 MX$3,095

28.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.0K FJD 30.6K

$2,654 MX$45.9K

426.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.68 FJD 38.78

$41.62 MX$720

-57.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.50 FJD 38.37

$16.17 MX$280

8.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.1 FJD 145

$65.2 MX$1,128

1.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$60.3 FJD 132

$54.1 MX$935

11.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$354 FJD 777

$812 MX$14.0K

-56.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$133 FJD 292

$633 MX$10.9K

-78.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$856 FJD 1,877

$1,597 MX$27.6K

-46.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$393 FJD 863

$1,401 MX$24.2K

-71.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,248 MX$56.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,742 MX$30.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$712 FJD 1,562

$583 MX$10.1K

22.19%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.24

-37.72%

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

Last update for Lautoka: May 31, 2026

Last update for Ajijic: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $354 in Lautoka versus $812 in Ajijic. 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 22% 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 $45.00 in Lautoka versus $35.00 in Ajijic. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $221 vs $205 – making Ajijic 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

Lautoka vs Ajijic: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ajijic is pricier by about 70%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,045 per month in Lautoka and $1,773 in Ajijic. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $697 in Lautoka and $1,182 in Ajijic. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $230 per month in Lautoka and $179 in Ajijic. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Lautoka, where all-in costs run around $697, than in Ajijic at $1,182. In Lautoka it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ajijic it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Lautoka. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ajijic makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.