Cost of Living Comparison Between Puerto la Cruz and Lautoka Cost of Living Comparison Between Puerto la Cruz and Lautoka

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $750 in Puerto la Cruz versus $339 in Lautoka.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,316 in Puerto la Cruz versus $734 in Lautoka.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,882 in Puerto la Cruz versus $1,130 in Lautoka.

Living in Puerto la Cruz is roughly 121% more expensive than in Lautoka, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Puerto la Cruz 46% lower, Lautoka 75% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.91 VES 8,231

$5.56 FJD 12.19

78.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.2 VES 50.0K

$78.7 FJD 172

-23.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.52 VES 6,244

$7.94 FJD 17.40

-5.29%

Cappuccino

$3.56 VES 2,955

$2.64 FJD 5.78

34.85%

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

$0.65 VES 541

$2.24 FJD 4.90

-70.98%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 VES 377

$1.62 FJD 3.54

-72.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.21 VES 1,008

$2.51 FJD 5.49

-51.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.47 VES 1,219

$3.18 FJD 6.96

-53.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.94 VES 1,612

$1.68 FJD 3.67

15.48%

White Bread (500g)

$1.22 VES 1,015

$0.75 FJD 1.65

62.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 VES 975

$0.93 FJD 2.03

25.81%

Eggs

$2.36 VES 1,962

$3.65 FJD 7.99

-35.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.85 VES 5,691

$5.95 FJD 13.03

15.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.89 VES 7,380

$7.69 FJD 16.86

15.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.15 VES 9,260

$7.81 FJD 17.11

42.77%

Apples (1kg)

$7.39 VES 6,134

$4.60 FJD 10.07

60.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.33 VES 1,106

Oranges (1kg)

$0.52 VES 429

$1.34 FJD 2.94

-61.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 VES 1,931

Potato (1kg)

$2.25 VES 1,866

$0.92 FJD 2.02

144.57%

Onion (1kg)

$2.23 VES 1,853

$0.87 FJD 1.90

156.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.64 VES 1,358

$0.87 FJD 1.90

88.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 VES 1,357

$0.48 FJD 1.05

239.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.94 VES 3,272

$11.47 FJD 25.13

-65.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.76 VES 6,448

$5.39 FJD 11.81

43.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 VES 821

$2.68 FJD 5.88

-63.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.54 VES 1,278

$3.56 FJD 7.80

-56.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 VES 327

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.65 VES 25.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.95 VES 2,453

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.79 VES 2,316

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.95 VES 8,266

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.48 VES 401

$1.35 FJD 2.96

-64.44%

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

$25.1K VES 20.9M

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

$37.4K VES 31.0M

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

$23.22 VES 19.3K

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

$9.87 VES 8,197

$13.86 FJD 30.37

-28.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.45 VES 22.8K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.18 VES 25.1K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.41 VES 21.1K

Cinema Ticket

$4.87 VES 4,043

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

$59.2 VES 49.2K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,030 VES 2.5M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.86 VES 38.9K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.55 VES 27.9K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$44.59 VES 37.0K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.70 VES 38.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$153 VES 126.8K

$459 FJD 1,007

-66.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$94.0 VES 78.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$309 VES 256.9K

$917 FJD 2,010

-66.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$198 VES 164.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$752 VES 624.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$374 VES 310.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$229 VES 190.1K

$697 FJD 1,526

-67.14%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Puerto la Cruz: September 6, 2026

Last update for Lautoka: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $153 in Puerto la Cruz and $459 in Lautoka. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lautoka pays 204% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $60.0 in Puerto la Cruz vs $79.0 in Lautoka. Groceries flip the comparison at $264 vs $196, 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

Puerto la Cruz vs Lautoka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Puerto la Cruz and Lautoka differ by about 121% in total monthly costs ($750 vs $339 including rent). Lautoka is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 204% lower in Lautoka. 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: $153 in Puerto la Cruz versus $459 in Lautoka. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Lautoka – a meal for two runs $79.0 versus $60.0 in Puerto la Cruz. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $750 per month in Puerto la Cruz versus $339 in Lautoka – a 121% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Lautoka gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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.

Expats usually find Lautoka gentler on the wallet – expenses run 121% less than in Puerto la Cruz. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.