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: $697 in Lautoka versus $712 in Fiji.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,222 in Lautoka versus $1,191 in Fiji.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,746 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 48% lower, Fiji 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.02 FJD 11.01

$4.44 FJD 9.73

13.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.40 FJD 99.6

$45.29 FJD 99.3

0.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.61 FJD 14.50

$7.81 FJD 17.12

-15.36%

Cappuccino

$3.21 FJD 7.04

$2.26 FJD 4.96

42.04%

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

$1.31 FJD 2.88

$1.36 FJD 2.97

-3.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.67 FJD 1.46

$1.19 FJD 2.61

-43.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 FJD 5.29

$2.95 FJD 6.47

-18.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 FJD 7.66

$3.30 FJD 7.23

5.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 FJD 2.92

$1.28 FJD 2.81

3.91%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 FJD 1.17

$0.69 FJD 1.52

-23.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.82 FJD 1.79

$1.52 FJD 3.34

-46.05%

Eggs

$3.22 FJD 7.05

$2.22 FJD 4.87

45.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.26 FJD 20.31

$10.61 FJD 23.26

-12.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.15 FJD 15.68

$3.67 FJD 8.05

94.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.50 FJD 16.46

$2.28 FJD 4.99

228.95%

Apples (1kg)

$2.53 FJD 5.55

$1.76 FJD 3.86

43.75%

Banana (1kg)

$2.51 FJD 5.50

$1.53 FJD 3.37

64.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.83 FJD 6.21

$2.04 FJD 4.48

38.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.09 FJD 6.78

$1.73 FJD 3.80

78.61%

Potato (1kg)

$0.96 FJD 2.10

$1.49 FJD 3.26

-35.57%

Onion (1kg)

$0.95 FJD 2.08

$1.42 FJD 3.12

-33.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.92 FJD 2.02

$0.94 FJD 2.06

-2.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 FJD 1.76

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.42 FJD 20.66

$11.01 FJD 24.14

-14.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.55 FJD 12.16

$6.47 FJD 14.19

-14.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.24 FJD 4.90

$2.80 FJD 6.13

-20.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 FJD 5.73

$2.46 FJD 5.41

6.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.70 FJD 1.53

$0.91 FJD 1.99

-23.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.66 FJD 82.6

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.64 FJD 1.40

$1.10 FJD 2.41

-41.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 FJD 0.97

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.73 FJD 5.98

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 FJD 2.94

$1.31 FJD 2.88

2.29%

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

$19.3K FJD 42.3K

$45.5K FJD 99.7K

-57.54%

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

$22.4K FJD 49.2K

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

$46.45 FJD 102

$53.0 FJD 116

-12.41%

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

$12.98 FJD 28.46

$13.41 FJD 29.41

-3.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.91 FJD 52.4

$17.60 FJD 38.59

35.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.99 FJD 48.23

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.50 FJD 9.87

Cinema Ticket

$3.48 FJD 7.62

$3.99 FJD 8.76

-12.78%

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

$230 FJD 503

$44.29 FJD 97.1

418.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.0K FJD 30.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.68 FJD 38.78

$8.39 FJD 18.41

110.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.50 FJD 38.37

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.1 FJD 145

$29.43 FJD 64.6

124.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$60.3 FJD 132

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$354 FJD 777

$666 FJD 1,461

-46.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$133 FJD 292

$269 FJD 591

-50.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$856 FJD 1,877

$1,104 FJD 2,421

-22.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$393 FJD 863

$607 FJD 1,331

-35.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,298 FJD 2,846

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,344 FJD 2,947

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$712 FJD 1,562

$548 FJD 1,203

29.87%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Fiji: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $354 in Lautoka and $666 in Fiji. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lautoka pays 30% 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 $45.00 in Fiji. Groceries flip the comparison at $221 vs $179, with Fiji cheaper for home cooking.

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.

Lautoka pays 30% more on average, 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: $354 in Lautoka versus $666 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 $697 per month in Lautoka versus $712 in Fiji – a 2% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $697 in Lautoka versus $712 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.