Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lautoka and Rabat

For one person, living is cheaper in Lautoka: $333 a month against $1,928 in Rabat, rent and utilities included – about $19,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Lautoka
🇫🇯 Fiji
$333
/mo nomad
Rabat
🇲🇹 Malta
$1,928
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Lautoka and in Rabat

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Lautoka and in Rabat actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $333 in Lautoka versus $1,928 in Rabat.

  • Lautoka $333
  • Rabat $1,928

Estimated couple costs with rent: $722 in Lautoka versus $2,701 in Rabat.

  • Lautoka $722
  • Rabat $2,701

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,112 in Lautoka versus $3,474 in Rabat.

  • Lautoka $1,112
  • Rabat $3,474

Living in Lautoka costs roughly 83% less than in Rabat, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lautoka is 75% below, Rabat is 43% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lautoka
Rabat
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.19 FJD 11.61
$16.55 €14.72
-68.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.2 FJD 177
$50.4 €44.82
57.13%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.80 FJD 17.47
$11.19 €9.96
-30.29%
Cappuccino
$2.56 FJD 5.72
$2.25 €2.00
13.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 FJD 4.74
$2.48 €2.20
-14.52%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 FJD 3.38
$1.69 €1.51
-10.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.43 FJD 5.44
$3.33 €2.97
-27.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.05 FJD 6.84
$3.43 €3.05
-11.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lautoka
Rabat
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.66 FJD 3.72
$1.11 €0.99
49.55%
White Bread (500g)
$0.73 FJD 1.64
$1.34 €1.19
-45.52%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.87 FJD 1.95
$2.26 €2.01
-61.50%
Eggs
$3.44 FJD 7.70
$3.50 €3.11
-1.71%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.80 FJD 12.98
$7.97 €7.09
-27.23%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.62 FJD 17.06
$7.87 €7.00
-3.18%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.58 FJD 16.98
$12.51 €11.13
-39.41%
Apples (1kg)
$4.42 FJD 9.90
$4.12 €3.67
7.28%
Banana (1kg)
-
$2.18 €1.94
-
Oranges (1kg)
$1.30 FJD 2.91
$3.55 €3.16
-63.38%
Tomato (1kg)
-
$2.21 €1.97
-
Potato (1kg)
$0.93 FJD 2.09
$1.15 €1.02
-19.13%
Onion (1kg)
$0.86 FJD 1.93
$1.14 €1.01
-24.56%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.87 FJD 1.96
$1.09 €0.97
-20.18%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.46 FJD 1.03
$1.09 €0.97
-57.80%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.93 FJD 24.46
$6.80 €6.05
60.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.46 FJD 12.22
$8.23 €7.32
-33.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.57 FJD 5.74
$1.76 €1.57
46.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.49 FJD 7.82
$2.44 €2.17
43.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Lautoka
Rabat
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$2.71 €2.41
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$5.73 €5.09
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$2.21 €1.96
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$26.77 €23.81
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.33 FJD 2.99
$1.51 €1.34
-11.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$37.7K €33.6K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$38.6K €34.3K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lautoka
Rabat
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$101 €90.2
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.14 FJD 29.43
$12.17 €10.82
7.97%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$42.85 €38.12
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lautoka
Rabat
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$62.1 €55.3
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$22.18 €19.73
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$10.09 €8.98
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lautoka
Rabat
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$369 €328
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$11.3K €10.0K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lautoka
Rabat
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$86.2 €76.7
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$27.60 €24.55
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$73.7 €65.6
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$76.8 €68.3
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lautoka
Rabat
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$450 FJD 1,007
$1,051 €934
-57.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,049 €933
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$872 FJD 1,952
$1,735 €1,543
-49.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,460 €1,299
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$4,396 €3,910
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$3,149 €2,801
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lautoka
Rabat
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$688 FJD 1,541
$1,318 €1,173
-47.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
2.9
-

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

Last update for Lautoka: October 10, 2026

Last update for Rabat: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Lautoka
$191 *
Rabat
$261 36.5% $70
Eating Out
Lautoka
$128
Rabat
$233 81.7% $105
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lautoka
$13 *
Rabat
$156 1091% $143
Getting Around
Lautoka
- *
Rabat
$28 *
Sport & Entertainment
Lautoka
- *
Rabat
$82
Clothing & Footwear
Lautoka
- *
Rabat
$119
Accommodation & Living
Lautoka
- *
Rabat
$1K

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $450 in Lautoka and $1,051 in Rabat. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Rabat pays 92% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $79.0 in Lautoka vs $50.0 in Rabat. Groceries flip the comparison at $191 vs $261, with Lautoka cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇫🇯 Lautoka
🇲🇹 Rabat
🕒 Local time
02:47 2:47 AM
16:47 4:47 PM
10 h behind Lautoka
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
50,000
11,497
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to FJD – Fijian Dollar Converter

Fijian Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 2.24 FJD (1 FJD = 0.447 USD). 1 EUR = 2.52 FJD (1 FJD = 0.397 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Lautoka Rabat 17,390 km ≈ 22 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Lautoka
  • Rabat

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Rabat: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lautoka and in Rabat?
Lautoka and Rabat differ by about 480% in total monthly costs ($333 vs $1,928 including rent). Lautoka is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 92% lower in Rabat. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Lautoka and in Rabat?
Rent for a central apartment: $450 in Lautoka versus $1,051 in Rabat. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Lautoka – a meal for two runs $79.0 versus $50.0 in Rabat. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Lautoka or Rabat?
All in, you'll spend $333 per month in Lautoka versus $1,928 in Rabat – a 480% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $333 in Lautoka versus $1,928 in Rabat, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Lautoka but tight or insufficient in Rabat. The gap between the two cities makes Lautoka the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lautoka and Rabat?
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.
Is Lautoka or Rabat safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lautoka and Rabat are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Lautoka or Rabat?
Expats usually find Lautoka gentler on the wallet – expenses run 480% less than in Rabat. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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