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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $338 per month in Lautoka vs $1,333 in Ajijic, rent included.

A couple spends around $735 per month in Lautoka vs $2,132 in Ajijic, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,132 per month in Lautoka vs $2,932 in Ajijic, rent included.

Lautoka is about 75% cheaper than Ajijic, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Lautoka and Ajijic are more affordable than the global median – Lautoka 75% lower, Ajijic 3% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.61 FJD 12.14

$10.11 MX$172

-44.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.2 FJD 169

$47.85 MX$813

63.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.19 FJD 17.73

$7.63 MX$130

7.34%

Cappuccino

$2.51 FJD 5.43

$3.81 MX$64.7

-34.12%

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

$2.22 FJD 4.82

$1.78 MX$30.18

24.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 FJD 3.36

$1.27 MX$21.52

22.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.45 FJD 5.29

$2.31 MX$39.31

6.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 FJD 7.08

$3.55 MX$60.3

-7.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 FJD 3.77

$1.52 MX$25.89

14.47%

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 FJD 1.62

$2.30 MX$39.16

-67.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.92 FJD 2.00

$1.20 MX$20.41

-23.33%

Eggs

$3.53 FJD 7.65

$2.45 MX$41.56

44.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.07 FJD 13.15

$8.44 MX$143

-28.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.56 FJD 16.36

$9.07 MX$154

-16.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.80 FJD 16.89

$7.71 MX$131

1.17%

Apples (1kg)

$4.65 FJD 10.07

$2.42 MX$41.04

92.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.37 MX$23.35

Oranges (1kg)

$1.40 FJD 3.04

$1.64 MX$27.94

-14.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.87 MX$31.84

Potato (1kg)

$0.87 FJD 1.88

$1.67 MX$28.29

-47.90%

Onion (1kg)

$0.88 FJD 1.90

$1.45 MX$24.66

-39.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 FJD 1.95

$1.11 MX$18.83

-18.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 FJD 0.97

$0.90 MX$15.28

-50.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.27 FJD 24.39

$4.81 MX$81.7

134.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.51 FJD 11.92

$9.38 MX$159

-41.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 FJD 5.77

$1.71 MX$28.97

55.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 FJD 7.99

$1.42 MX$24.13

159.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.74 MX$12.59

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.29 MX$21.88

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.66 MX$79.2

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.74 MX$200

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 FJD 2.86

$1.57 MX$26.69

-15.92%

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

$22.5K MX$382.3K

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

$26.4K MX$448.1K

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

$59.6 MX$1,013

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

$13.81 FJD 29.90

$15.41 MX$262

-10.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.44 MX$449

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.84 MX$456

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.87 MX$99.7

Cinema Ticket

$5.29 MX$89.9

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

$227 MX$3,860

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,105 MX$52.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.39 MX$805

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.00 MX$306

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.7 MX$1,234

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.9 MX$1,273

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$464 FJD 1,004

$903 MX$15.3K

-48.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$669 MX$11.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$920 FJD 1,991

$1,611 MX$27.4K

-42.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,305 MX$22.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,302 MX$56.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,729 MX$29.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$702 FJD 1,519

$598 MX$10.2K

17.35%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.2

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

Last update for Lautoka: August 29, 2026

Last update for Ajijic: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $464 in Lautoka versus $903 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 17% 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 $78.0 in Lautoka versus $48.00 in Ajijic. Groceries tell a different story – $196 in Lautoka vs $236 in Ajijic – so Lautoka wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 294%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $507 per month in Lautoka and $1,999 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.

Groceries cost about 20% more in Ajijic, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $78.0 in Lautoka and $48.00 in Ajijic. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Lautoka, where all-in costs run around $338, than in Ajijic at $1,333. 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.