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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $678 per month in Lautoka vs $1,190 in Ajijic, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,225 per month in Lautoka vs $1,926 in Ajijic, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,771 per month in Lautoka vs $2,662 in Ajijic, rent included.

Lautoka is about 43% cheaper than Ajijic, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Lautoka and Ajijic are more affordable than the global median – Lautoka 49% lower, Ajijic 11% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.92 FJD 11.01

$7.75 MX$136

-36.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.93 FJD 101

$34.05 MX$595

31.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.81 FJD 15.25

$6.93 MX$121

-1.73%

Cappuccino

$3.16 FJD 7.07

$3.26 MX$57.0

-3.07%

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

$1.30 FJD 2.92

$1.07 MX$18.73

21.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.65 FJD 1.46

$0.81 MX$14.17

-19.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 FJD 5.46

$1.89 MX$33.02

29.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 FJD 7.76

$3.23 MX$56.5

7.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.29 FJD 2.88

$1.34 MX$23.48

-3.73%

White Bread (500g)

$0.49 FJD 1.10

$2.25 MX$39.38

-78.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.80 FJD 1.79

$1.04 MX$18.23

-23.08%

Eggs

$3.30 FJD 7.38

$1.97 MX$34.45

67.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.21 FJD 20.61

$8.05 MX$141

14.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.12 FJD 15.93

$7.35 MX$128

-3.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.59 FJD 16.99

$7.02 MX$123

8.12%

Apples (1kg)

$2.47 FJD 5.53

$2.24 MX$39.09

10.27%

Banana (1kg)

$2.47 FJD 5.52

$0.91 MX$15.83

171.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.80 FJD 6.27

$0.83 MX$14.50

237.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.19 FJD 7.15

$1.47 MX$25.76

117.01%

Potato (1kg)

$1.01 FJD 2.25

$1.40 MX$24.56

-27.86%

Onion (1kg)

$1.00 FJD 2.23

$1.00 MX$17.55

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.92 FJD 2.06

$0.96 MX$16.71

-4.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 FJD 1.80

$0.81 MX$14.16

-1.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.21 FJD 20.61

$4.17 MX$72.9

120.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.25 FJD 11.75

$9.08 MX$159

-42.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.19 FJD 4.91

$1.37 MX$23.95

59.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 FJD 6.06

$1.62 MX$28.32

67.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 FJD 1.55

$0.61 MX$10.74

13.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.56 FJD 84.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.65 FJD 1.46

$1.04 MX$18.13

-37.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 FJD 1.01

$1.53 MX$26.77

-70.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.75 FJD 6.15

$3.14 MX$54.9

-12.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 FJD 3.02

$1.31 MX$22.96

3.05%

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

$19.3K FJD 43.1K

$18.7K MX$327.4K

2.94%

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

$21.9K FJD 49.1K

$18.4K MX$321.3K

19.44%

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

$45.50 FJD 102

$44.83 MX$784

1.49%

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

$13.08 FJD 29.28

$16.23 MX$284

-19.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.81 FJD 53.3

$25.61 MX$448

-7.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.83 MX$417

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.26 MX$92.0

Cinema Ticket

$3.61 FJD 8.08

$4.34 MX$75.9

-16.82%

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

$222 FJD 496

$181 MX$3,169

22.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.4K FJD 32.2K

$2,633 MX$46.0K

446.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.66 FJD 39.52

$42.94 MX$751

-58.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.09 FJD 40.50

$16.18 MX$283

11.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.3 FJD 146

$67.4 MX$1,178

-3.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$61.8 FJD 138

$55.2 MX$965

11.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$349 FJD 781

$817 MX$14.3K

-57.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$135 FJD 303

$635 MX$11.1K

-78.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$841 FJD 1,882

$1,587 MX$27.8K

-47.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$400 FJD 896

$1,385 MX$24.2K

-71.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,254 MX$56.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,758 MX$30.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$692 FJD 1,548

$586 MX$10.2K

18.03%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Ajijic: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $349 in Lautoka versus $817 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 18% 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 $34.00 in Ajijic. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $220 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 75%, 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 $1,018 per month in Lautoka and $1,784 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 $678 in Lautoka and $1,190 in Ajijic. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $222 per month in Lautoka and $181 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 $678, than in Ajijic at $1,190. 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.