Cost of Living Comparison Between Lautoka and Suva Cost of Living Comparison Between Lautoka and Suva

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $678 in Lautoka versus $964 in Suva.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,225 in Lautoka versus $1,795 in Suva.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,771 in Lautoka versus $2,626 in Suva.

Living in Lautoka costs roughly 30% less than in Suva, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Lautoka 49% lower, Suva 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.92 FJD 11.01

$5.26 FJD 11.76

-6.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.93 FJD 101

$45.35 FJD 102

-0.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.81 FJD 15.25

$6.62 FJD 14.81

2.87%

Cappuccino

$3.16 FJD 7.07

$3.26 FJD 7.30

-3.07%

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

$1.30 FJD 2.92

$1.41 FJD 3.15

-7.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.65 FJD 1.46

$0.67 FJD 1.49

-2.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 FJD 5.46

$3.05 FJD 6.82

-20.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 FJD 7.76

$3.67 FJD 8.20

-5.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.29 FJD 2.88

$1.28 FJD 2.87

0.78%

White Bread (500g)

$0.49 FJD 1.10

$0.50 FJD 1.11

-2.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.80 FJD 1.79

$1.15 FJD 2.58

-30.43%

Eggs

$3.30 FJD 7.38

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.21 FJD 20.61

$9.09 FJD 20.35

1.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.12 FJD 15.93

$7.25 FJD 16.22

-1.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.59 FJD 16.99

$7.56 FJD 16.91

0.40%

Apples (1kg)

$2.47 FJD 5.53

$2.56 FJD 5.73

-3.52%

Banana (1kg)

$2.47 FJD 5.52

$2.53 FJD 5.67

-2.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.80 FJD 6.27

$3.57 FJD 7.99

-21.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.19 FJD 7.15

$3.25 FJD 7.27

-1.85%

Potato (1kg)

$1.01 FJD 2.25

$1.49 FJD 3.33

-32.21%

Onion (1kg)

$1.00 FJD 2.23

$1.17 FJD 2.62

-14.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.92 FJD 2.06

$1.21 FJD 2.71

-23.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 FJD 1.80

$0.76 FJD 1.71

5.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.21 FJD 20.61

$9.87 FJD 22.10

-6.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.25 FJD 11.75

$7.47 FJD 16.71

-29.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.19 FJD 4.91

$2.15 FJD 4.80

1.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 FJD 6.06

$3.35 FJD 7.49

-19.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 FJD 1.55

$0.93 FJD 2.08

-25.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.56 FJD 84.1

$21.89 FJD 48.98

71.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.65 FJD 1.46

$0.91 FJD 2.03

-28.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 FJD 1.01

$0.44 FJD 0.99

2.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.75 FJD 6.15

$8.83 FJD 19.76

-68.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 FJD 3.02

$1.39 FJD 3.10

-2.88%

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

$19.3K FJD 43.1K

$24.3K FJD 54.4K

-20.69%

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

$21.9K FJD 49.1K

$25.0K FJD 56.0K

-12.23%

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

$45.50 FJD 102

$45.01 FJD 101

1.09%

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

$13.08 FJD 29.28

$13.15 FJD 29.44

-0.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.81 FJD 53.3

$23.78 FJD 53.2

0.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.58 FJD 66.2

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.07 FJD 15.83

Cinema Ticket

$3.61 FJD 8.08

$4.51 FJD 10.10

-19.96%

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

$222 FJD 496

$230 FJD 514

-3.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.4K FJD 32.2K

$14.4K FJD 32.1K

0.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.66 FJD 39.52

$25.53 FJD 57.1

-30.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.09 FJD 40.50

$26.96 FJD 60.4

-32.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.3 FJD 146

$69.6 FJD 156

-6.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$61.8 FJD 138

$61.5 FJD 138

0.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$349 FJD 781

$588 FJD 1,315

-40.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$135 FJD 303

$383 FJD 858

-64.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$841 FJD 1,882

$2,070 FJD 4,633

-59.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$400 FJD 896

$1,222 FJD 2,736

-67.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,350 FJD 3,021

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$838 FJD 1,875

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$692 FJD 1,548

$949 FJD 2,125

-27.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.7

-9.09%

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

Last update for Lautoka: July 11, 2026

Last update for Suva: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $349 in Lautoka and $588 in Suva. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Suva pays 37% 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: $45.00 in Lautoka vs $45.00 in Suva for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $220 vs $234 per month, with Lautoka 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 Suva: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lautoka and Suva differ by about 42% in total monthly costs ($678 vs $964 including rent). Lautoka is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 37% lower in Suva. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $349 in Lautoka versus $588 in Suva. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $678 per month in Lautoka versus $964 in Suva – a 42% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Lautoka runs roughly 72% less than in Suva. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $678 in Lautoka versus $964 in Suva, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Lautoka but tight or insufficient in Suva. 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 Suva 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 42% less than in Suva. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.