Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nadi and Nuku'alofa

For one person, living is cheaper in Nuku'alofa: $1,019 a month against $1,368 in Nadi, rent and utilities included – about $4,200 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Nadi outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Nadi
🇫🇯 Fiji
$1,368
/mo nomad
Nuku'alofa
🇹🇴 Tonga
$1,019
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nadi and in Nuku'alofa

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

A single person spends $1,368 per month in Nadi vs $1,019 in Nuku'alofa, rent included.

  • Nadi $1,368
  • Nuku'alofa $1,019

A couple spends around $2,030 per month in Nadi vs $1,886 in Nuku'alofa, rent included.

  • Nadi $2,030
  • Nuku'alofa $1,886

A family of three spends $2,691 per month in Nadi vs $2,752 in Nuku'alofa, rent included.

  • Nadi $2,691
  • Nuku'alofa $2,752

Nadi costs about 34% more than Nuku'alofa, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Nadi sits 2% above the global median, while Nuku'alofa is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nadi
Nuku'alofa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.15 FJD 20.49
$8.52 TOP 20.26
7.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.13 FJD 83.1
$61.8 TOP 147
-39.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.77 FJD 19.63
$10.32 TOP 24.54
-15.02%
Cappuccino
$4.39 FJD 9.83
$2.93 TOP 6.96
49.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44 FJD 3.23
$2.82 TOP 6.70
-48.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27 FJD 2.84
$2.52 TOP 5.99
-49.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.60 FJD 5.82
$3.38 TOP 8.02
-23.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41 FJD 9.88
$5.03 TOP 11.97
-12.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nadi
Nuku'alofa
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.40 FJD 3.13
$1.52 TOP 3.61
-7.89%
White Bread (500g)
$1.09 FJD 2.43
$1.07 TOP 2.54
1.87%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.30 FJD 2.90
$2.11 TOP 5.02
-38.39%
Eggs
$2.98 FJD 6.67
$4.97 TOP 11.81
-40.04%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.30 FJD 27.54
$8.75 TOP 20.81
40.57%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.51 FJD 30.25
$5.91 TOP 14.04
128.60%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.65 FJD 35.03
$7.82 TOP 18.60
100.13%
Apples (1kg)
$3.00 FJD 6.71
$2.79 TOP 6.63
7.53%
Banana (1kg)
$2.84 FJD 6.37
$2.71 TOP 6.44
4.80%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.68 FJD 8.25
$2.87 TOP 6.81
28.22%
Tomato (1kg)
-
$3.68 TOP 8.75
-
Potato (1kg)
$2.03 FJD 4.55
$3.16 TOP 7.51
-35.76%
Onion (1kg)
$1.95 FJD 4.36
$2.65 TOP 6.29
-26.42%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.14 FJD 2.55
$2.28 TOP 5.42
-50.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.97 FJD 2.17
$1.42 TOP 3.37
-31.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.10 FJD 20.38
$10.24 TOP 24.34
-11.13%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.97 FJD 22.31
$17.36 TOP 41.28
-42.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.67 FJD 5.98
$3.14 TOP 7.45
-14.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.37 FJD 7.55
$3.41 TOP 8.11
-1.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Nadi
Nuku'alofa
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.70 FJD 1.57
$2.14 TOP 5.08
-67.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$41.65 TOP 99.0
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.13 FJD 2.54
$2.05 TOP 4.88
-44.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 FJD 0.94
$2.07 TOP 4.92
-79.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.83 FJD 10.82
$41.16 TOP 97.9
-88.27%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 FJD 2.83
$1.47 TOP 3.50
-13.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6K FJD 55.0K
$5,817 TOP 13.8K
322.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.9K FJD 48.9K
$8,461 TOP 20.1K
158.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nadi
Nuku'alofa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$66.9 FJD 150
$188 TOP 446
-64.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.84 FJD 39.93
$22.27 TOP 52.9
-19.89%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.80 FJD 51.1
$123 TOP 291
-81.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nadi
Nuku'alofa
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.41 FJD 83.8
$31.62 TOP 75.2
18.31%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$40.72 TOP 96.8
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.38 FJD 12.04
$40.75 TOP 96.9
-86.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nadi
Nuku'alofa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$157 TOP 373
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$248 TOP 589
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nadi
Nuku'alofa
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$28.44 FJD 63.7
$14.35 TOP 34.11
98.19%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.49 FJD 99.6
$17.98 TOP 42.74
147.44%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$58.3 FJD 130
$20.42 TOP 48.53
185.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$66.7 FJD 149
$29.28 TOP 69.6
127.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nadi
Nuku'alofa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,129 FJD 2,527
$619 TOP 1,472
82.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$646 FJD 1,447
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,697 FJD 3,800
$831 TOP 1,976
104.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,006 FJD 2,251
$560 TOP 1,331
79.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$693 FJD 1,551
$418 TOP 993
65.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$523 FJD 1,171
$252 TOP 598
107.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nadi
Nuku'alofa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$821 FJD 1,838
$680 TOP 1,616
20.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.25
0
-

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

Last update for Nadi: October 3, 2026

Last update for Nuku'alofa: October 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nadi
$646
Nuku'alofa
- * 100%
Groceries & Markets
Nadi
$306 *
Nuku'alofa
$292 4.8% $15
Eating Out
Nadi
$185
Nuku'alofa
$183 1.2% $2.3
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nadi
$108
Nuku'alofa
$332 209% $225
Clothing & Footwear
Nadi
$89
Nuku'alofa
$37 58.6% $52
Sport & Entertainment
Nadi
$48
Nuku'alofa
$113 135% $65
Getting Around
Nadi
$6 *
Nuku'alofa
$63 938% $57

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,129 in Nadi versus $619 in Nuku'alofa. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 21% higher in Nadi, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $37.00 in Nadi versus $62.0 in Nuku'alofa. Groceries tell a different story – $306 in Nadi vs $292 in Nuku'alofa – so Nuku'alofa wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇫🇯 Nadi
🇹🇴 Nuku'alofa
🕒 Local time
17:46 5:46 PM
18:46 6:46 PM
1 h ahead of Nadi
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
50,000
24,500 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

TOP, USD, EUR to FJD – Fijian Dollar Converter

Fijian Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 2.24 FJD (1 FJD = 0.447 USD). 1 EUR = 2.51 FJD (1 FJD = 0.398 EUR).

Tongan Paʻanga exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 2.38 TOP (1 TOP = 0.421 USD). 1 EUR = 2.67 TOP (1 TOP = 0.375 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nadi Nuku'alofa 860 km ≈ 1 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Nadi
  • Nuku'alofa

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
Nadi vs Nuku'alofa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nuku'alofa cheaper than Nadi?
Yes – Nadi is pricier by about 34%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in utilities.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,053 per month in Nadi and $1,529 in Nuku'alofa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Nuku'alofa, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Nadi and in Nuku'alofa?
Groceries cost about 5% more in Nadi, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Nadi or in Nuku'alofa?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $37.00 in Nadi and $62.0 in Nuku'alofa. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Nadi or in Nuku'alofa?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Nuku'alofa, where all-in costs run around $1,019, than in Nadi at $1,368. In Nuku'alofa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nadi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Nadi or Nuku'alofa more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Nuku'alofa – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Nadi or Nuku'alofa?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Nuku'alofa. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Nadi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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