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: $697 in Lautoka versus $989 in Suva.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,222 in Lautoka versus $1,806 in Suva.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,746 in Lautoka versus $2,623 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 48% lower, Suva 26% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.02 FJD 11.01

$5.23 FJD 11.46

-4.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.40 FJD 99.6

$43.87 FJD 96.2

3.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.61 FJD 14.50

$6.79 FJD 14.90

-2.65%

Cappuccino

$3.21 FJD 7.04

$3.11 FJD 6.82

3.22%

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

$1.31 FJD 2.88

$1.49 FJD 3.26

-12.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.67 FJD 1.46

$0.66 FJD 1.44

1.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 FJD 5.29

$3.06 FJD 6.71

-21.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 FJD 7.66

$3.61 FJD 7.92

-3.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 FJD 2.92

$1.29 FJD 2.84

3.10%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 FJD 1.17

$0.49 FJD 1.07

8.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.82 FJD 1.79

$1.19 FJD 2.61

-31.09%

Eggs

$3.22 FJD 7.05

$3.34 FJD 7.32

-3.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.26 FJD 20.31

$9.39 FJD 20.59

-1.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.15 FJD 15.68

$7.35 FJD 16.12

-2.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.50 FJD 16.46

$7.50 FJD 16.44

Apples (1kg)

$2.53 FJD 5.55

$2.47 FJD 5.41

2.43%

Banana (1kg)

$2.51 FJD 5.50

$2.42 FJD 5.31

3.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.83 FJD 6.21

$3.41 FJD 7.49

-17.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.09 FJD 6.78

$3.16 FJD 6.93

-2.22%

Potato (1kg)

$0.96 FJD 2.10

$1.53 FJD 3.34

-37.25%

Onion (1kg)

$0.95 FJD 2.08

$1.18 FJD 2.59

-19.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.92 FJD 2.02

$1.18 FJD 2.59

-22.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 FJD 1.76

$0.74 FJD 1.63

8.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.42 FJD 20.66

$9.73 FJD 21.34

-3.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.55 FJD 12.16

$7.66 FJD 16.81

-27.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.24 FJD 4.90

$2.23 FJD 4.89

0.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 FJD 5.73

$3.45 FJD 7.57

-24.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.70 FJD 1.53

$0.87 FJD 1.90

-19.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.66 FJD 82.6

$21.82 FJD 47.85

72.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.64 FJD 1.40

$0.86 FJD 1.88

-25.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 FJD 0.97

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.73 FJD 5.98

$8.88 FJD 19.47

-69.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 FJD 2.94

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

$19.3K FJD 42.3K

$24.4K FJD 53.4K

-20.76%

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

$22.4K FJD 49.2K

$24.9K FJD 54.6K

-10.01%

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

$46.45 FJD 102

$45.88 FJD 101

1.24%

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

$12.98 FJD 28.46

$12.94 FJD 28.37

0.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.91 FJD 52.4

$24.25 FJD 53.2

-1.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.82 FJD 65.4

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.95 FJD 15.24

Cinema Ticket

$3.48 FJD 7.62

$4.40 FJD 9.65

-20.91%

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

$230 FJD 503

$225 FJD 493

2.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.0K FJD 30.6K

$14.0K FJD 30.8K

-0.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.68 FJD 38.78

$26.11 FJD 57.3

-32.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.50 FJD 38.37

$26.95 FJD 59.1

-35.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.1 FJD 145

$69.8 FJD 153

-5.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$60.3 FJD 132

$61.7 FJD 135

-2.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$354 FJD 777

$582 FJD 1,277

-39.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$133 FJD 292

$390 FJD 855

-65.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$856 FJD 1,877

$2,039 FJD 4,471

-58.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$393 FJD 863

$1,208 FJD 2,649

-67.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,369 FJD 3,003

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$852 FJD 1,868

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$712 FJD 1,562

$988 FJD 2,168

-27.94%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Suva: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $354 in Lautoka and $582 in Suva. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Suva pays 39% 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 $44.00 in Suva. Groceries flip the comparison at $221 vs $234, with Lautoka 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 Suva: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lautoka and Suva differ by about 42% in total monthly costs ($697 vs $989 including rent). Lautoka is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Suva earns 39% less. 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: $354 in Lautoka versus $582 in Suva. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $697 per month in Lautoka versus $989 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 73% less than in Suva. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $697 in Lautoka versus $989 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.