Cost of Living Comparison Between Lautoka and Al Hillah Cost of Living Comparison Between Lautoka and Al Hillah

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $338 per month in Lautoka vs $786 in Al Hillah, rent included.

A couple spends around $735 per month in Lautoka vs $1,225 in Al Hillah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,132 per month in Lautoka vs $1,664 in Al Hillah, rent included.

Lautoka is about 57% cheaper than Al Hillah, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Lautoka and Al Hillah are more affordable than the global median – Lautoka 75% lower, Al Hillah 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.61 FJD 12.14

$4.72 IQD 6,183

18.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.2 FJD 169

$30.19 IQD 39.5K

159.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.19 FJD 17.73

$6.23 IQD 8,158

31.46%

Cappuccino

$2.51 FJD 5.43

$3.09 IQD 4,041

-18.77%

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

$2.22 FJD 4.82

$0.37 IQD 480

500.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 FJD 3.36

$0.22 IQD 288

604.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.45 FJD 5.29

$2.92 IQD 3,829

-16.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 FJD 7.08

$3.91 IQD 5,118

-16.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 FJD 3.77

$1.07 IQD 1,407

62.62%

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 FJD 1.62

$0.75 IQD 976

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.92 FJD 2.00

$1.52 IQD 1,988

-39.47%

Eggs

$3.53 FJD 7.65

$1.85 IQD 2,425

90.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.07 FJD 13.15

$3.97 IQD 5,203

52.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.56 FJD 16.36

$4.67 IQD 6,114

61.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.80 FJD 16.89

$14.15 IQD 18.5K

-44.88%

Apples (1kg)

$4.65 FJD 10.07

$1.18 IQD 1,548

294.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 IQD 1,402

Oranges (1kg)

$1.40 FJD 3.04

$1.03 IQD 1,348

35.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.73 IQD 949

Potato (1kg)

$0.87 FJD 1.88

$0.71 IQD 931

22.54%

Onion (1kg)

$0.88 FJD 1.90

$0.65 IQD 855

35.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 FJD 1.95

$0.60 IQD 780

50.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 FJD 0.97

$0.54 IQD 711

-16.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.27 FJD 24.39

$1.79 IQD 2,338

529.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.51 FJD 11.92

$13.43 IQD 17.6K

-58.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 FJD 5.77

$2.22 IQD 2,905

19.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 FJD 7.99

$2.19 IQD 2,868

68.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 IQD 516

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$64.8 IQD 84.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.24 IQD 2,935

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.49 IQD 1,946

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.47 IQD 4,540

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 FJD 2.86

$0.59 IQD 768

123.73%

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

$17.4K IQD 22.8M

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

$19.0K IQD 24.8M

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

$77.7 IQD 101.7K

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

$13.81 FJD 29.90

$15.17 IQD 19.9K

-8.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.30 IQD 50.2K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.28 IQD 30.5K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.19 IQD 25.1K

Cinema Ticket

$7.44 IQD 9,747

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

$94.3 IQD 123.5K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$776 IQD 1.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.84 IQD 28.6K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.19 IQD 33.0K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$67.6 IQD 88.5K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$48.04 IQD 62.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$464 FJD 1,004

$275 IQD 359.5K

69.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$179 IQD 234.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$920 FJD 1,991

$506 IQD 662.7K

81.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$294 IQD 385.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,723 IQD 2.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$562 IQD 735.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$702 FJD 1,519

$509 IQD 666.6K

37.82%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.12

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

Last update for Lautoka: August 29, 2026

Last update for Al Hillah: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $464 in Lautoka versus $275 in Al Hillah. 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 38% 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 $30.00 in Al Hillah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $196 vs $184 – making Al Hillah 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 Al Hillah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Al Hillah is pricier by about 133%, 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 $507 per month in Lautoka and $1,178 in Al Hillah. 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.

Interestingly, groceries are about 6% cheaper in Al Hillah – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $78.0 in Lautoka and $30.00 in Al Hillah. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $338 in Lautoka and $786 in Al Hillah, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

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.

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