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: $678 in Lautoka versus $694 in Fiji.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,225 in Lautoka versus $1,182 in Fiji.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,771 in Lautoka versus $1,670 in Fiji.

Living in Lautoka costs roughly 2% less than in Fiji, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Lautoka 49% lower, Fiji 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.92 FJD 11.01

$4.54 FJD 10.15

8.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.93 FJD 101

$44.27 FJD 99.1

1.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.81 FJD 15.25

$7.66 FJD 17.15

-11.10%

Cappuccino

$3.16 FJD 7.07

$2.28 FJD 5.10

38.60%

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

$1.30 FJD 2.92

$1.35 FJD 3.01

-3.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.65 FJD 1.46

$1.15 FJD 2.58

-43.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 FJD 5.46

$2.81 FJD 6.30

-13.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 FJD 7.76

$3.38 FJD 7.57

2.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.29 FJD 2.88

$1.28 FJD 2.86

0.78%

White Bread (500g)

$0.49 FJD 1.10

$0.65 FJD 1.46

-24.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.80 FJD 1.79

$1.51 FJD 3.38

-47.02%

Eggs

$3.30 FJD 7.38

$2.22 FJD 4.97

48.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.21 FJD 20.61

$10.80 FJD 24.17

-14.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.12 FJD 15.93

$3.75 FJD 8.39

89.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.59 FJD 16.99

$2.27 FJD 5.08

234.36%

Apples (1kg)

$2.47 FJD 5.53

$1.74 FJD 3.88

41.95%

Banana (1kg)

$2.47 FJD 5.52

$1.51 FJD 3.37

63.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.80 FJD 6.27

$2.05 FJD 4.59

36.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.19 FJD 7.15

$1.81 FJD 4.06

76.24%

Potato (1kg)

$1.01 FJD 2.25

$1.42 FJD 3.18

-28.87%

Onion (1kg)

$1.00 FJD 2.23

$1.50 FJD 3.36

-33.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.92 FJD 2.06

$0.97 FJD 2.17

-5.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 FJD 1.80

$0.74 FJD 1.65

8.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.21 FJD 20.61

$11.32 FJD 25.34

-18.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.25 FJD 11.75

$6.38 FJD 14.28

-17.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.19 FJD 4.91

$2.76 FJD 6.18

-20.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 FJD 6.06

$2.44 FJD 5.47

11.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 FJD 1.55

$0.86 FJD 1.91

-19.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.56 FJD 84.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.65 FJD 1.46

$1.08 FJD 2.41

-39.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 FJD 1.01

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.75 FJD 6.15

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 FJD 3.02

$1.27 FJD 2.83

6.30%

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

$19.3K FJD 43.1K

$46.0K FJD 103.0K

-58.11%

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

$21.9K FJD 49.1K

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

$45.50 FJD 102

$53.7 FJD 120

-15.24%

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

$13.08 FJD 29.28

$13.46 FJD 30.12

-2.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.81 FJD 53.3

$17.50 FJD 39.17

36.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.24 FJD 49.77

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.52 FJD 10.12

Cinema Ticket

$3.61 FJD 8.08

$3.90 FJD 8.74

-7.44%

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

$222 FJD 496

$44.36 FJD 99.3

400.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.4K FJD 32.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.66 FJD 39.52

$8.23 FJD 18.41

114.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.09 FJD 40.50

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.3 FJD 146

$29.55 FJD 66.1

121.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$61.8 FJD 138

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$349 FJD 781

$680 FJD 1,522

-48.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$135 FJD 303

$262 FJD 587

-48.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$841 FJD 1,882

$1,101 FJD 2,465

-23.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$400 FJD 896

$598 FJD 1,339

-33.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,285 FJD 2,876

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,327 FJD 2,969

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$692 FJD 1,548

$540 FJD 1,209

28.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

16.67%

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

Last update for Lautoka: July 11, 2026

Last update for Fiji: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $349 in Lautoka and $680 in Fiji. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lautoka pays 28% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $45.00 in Lautoka vs $44.00 in Fiji for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $220 vs $179 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 Sport & Entertainment. The 2% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 28% 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: $349 in Lautoka versus $680 in Fiji. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Fiji pay roughly 23% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $678 per month in Lautoka versus $694 in Fiji – a 2% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $678 in Lautoka versus $694 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 2% less than in Fiji. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.