Cost of Living Comparison Between Lautoka and Fiji Cost of Living Comparison Between Lautoka and Fiji

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $340 in Lautoka versus $715 in Fiji.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $730 in Lautoka versus $1,165 in Fiji.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,120 in Lautoka versus $1,614 in Fiji.

Living in Lautoka costs roughly 53% less than in Fiji, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Lautoka 75% lower, Fiji 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.53 FJD 12.27

$4.55 FJD 10.10

21.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.5 FJD 174

$32.21 FJD 71.4

143.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.91 FJD 17.55

$6.59 FJD 14.62

20.03%

Cappuccino

$2.51 FJD 5.58

$2.52 FJD 5.59

-0.40%

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

$2.14 FJD 4.75

$1.41 FJD 3.13

51.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 FJD 3.43

$1.00 FJD 2.21

55.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.39 FJD 5.31

$4.04 FJD 8.97

-40.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.12 FJD 6.93

$3.94 FJD 8.74

-20.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 FJD 3.67

$1.22 FJD 2.70

35.25%

White Bread (500g)

$0.70 FJD 1.56

$0.26 FJD 0.58

169.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.94 FJD 2.08

$0.85 FJD 1.89

10.59%

Eggs

$3.62 FJD 8.03

$3.08 FJD 6.83

17.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.03 FJD 13.37

$10.77 FJD 23.90

-44.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.64 FJD 16.95

$5.47 FJD 12.14

39.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.05 FJD 17.86

Apples (1kg)

$4.56 FJD 10.12

$1.35 FJD 3.00

237.78%

Banana (1kg)

$0.85 FJD 1.88

Oranges (1kg)

$1.32 FJD 2.93

$1.84 FJD 4.08

-28.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.33 FJD 2.95

Potato (1kg)

$0.86 FJD 1.91

$0.68 FJD 1.50

26.47%

Onion (1kg)

$0.94 FJD 2.07

$0.68 FJD 1.51

38.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.88 FJD 1.96

$0.87 FJD 1.94

1.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 FJD 0.96

$0.56 FJD 1.24

-23.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.43 FJD 25.35

$11.00 FJD 24.40

3.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.57 FJD 12.35

$6.35 FJD 14.08

-12.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 FJD 5.72

$4.00 FJD 8.87

-35.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 FJD 8.21

$3.95 FJD 8.75

-6.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 FJD 1.88

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.11 FJD 2.45

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 FJD 2.85

$1.33 FJD 2.95

-3.01%

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

$45.0K FJD 99.8K

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

$53.3 FJD 118

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

$13.61 FJD 30.20

$13.33 FJD 29.57

2.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.76 FJD 39.39

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.64 FJD 50.2

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.40 FJD 9.75

Cinema Ticket

$4.11 FJD 9.12

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

$44.59 FJD 98.9

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.73 FJD 43.76

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$29.74 FJD 66.0

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$442 FJD 980

$657 FJD 1,458

-32.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$264 FJD 586

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$893 FJD 1,981

$1,130 FJD 2,506

-20.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$612 FJD 1,357

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,309 FJD 2,904

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,282 FJD 2,844

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$697 FJD 1,545

$531 FJD 1,178

31.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Lautoka: September 19, 2026

Last update for Fiji: September 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $442 in Lautoka and $657 in Fiji. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lautoka pays 31% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $78.0 in Lautoka vs $32.00 in Fiji for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $195 vs $170 per month, with Fiji cheaper across the board.

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 Fiji: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lautoka is cheaper overall, especially in Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 111% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 31% higher in Lautoka, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $442 in Lautoka versus $657 in Fiji. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Fiji pay roughly 15% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Lautoka – a meal for two runs $78.0 versus $32.00 in Fiji. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $340 in Lautoka versus $715 in Fiji, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Lautoka but tight or insufficient in Fiji. The gap between the two cities makes Lautoka the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Lautoka and Fiji are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Lautoka gentler on the wallet – expenses run 111% less than in Fiji. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.