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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Living in Suva is roughly 42% more expensive than in Lautoka, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.26 FJD 11.76

$4.92 FJD 11.01

6.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.35 FJD 102

$44.93 FJD 101

0.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.62 FJD 14.81

$6.81 FJD 15.25

-2.79%

Cappuccino

$3.26 FJD 7.30

$3.16 FJD 7.07

3.16%

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

$1.41 FJD 3.15

$1.30 FJD 2.92

8.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.67 FJD 1.49

$0.65 FJD 1.46

3.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.05 FJD 6.82

$2.44 FJD 5.46

25.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 FJD 8.20

$3.47 FJD 7.76

5.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.28 FJD 2.87

$1.29 FJD 2.88

-0.78%

White Bread (500g)

$0.50 FJD 1.11

$0.49 FJD 1.10

2.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 FJD 2.58

$0.80 FJD 1.79

43.75%

Eggs

$3.30 FJD 7.38

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.09 FJD 20.35

$9.21 FJD 20.61

-1.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.25 FJD 16.22

$7.12 FJD 15.93

1.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.56 FJD 16.91

$7.59 FJD 16.99

-0.40%

Apples (1kg)

$2.56 FJD 5.73

$2.47 FJD 5.53

3.64%

Banana (1kg)

$2.53 FJD 5.67

$2.47 FJD 5.52

2.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.57 FJD 7.99

$2.80 FJD 6.27

27.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.25 FJD 7.27

$3.19 FJD 7.15

1.88%

Potato (1kg)

$1.49 FJD 3.33

$1.01 FJD 2.25

47.52%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 FJD 2.62

$1.00 FJD 2.23

17.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.21 FJD 2.71

$0.92 FJD 2.06

31.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 FJD 1.71

$0.80 FJD 1.80

-5.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.87 FJD 22.10

$9.21 FJD 20.61

7.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.47 FJD 16.71

$5.25 FJD 11.75

42.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 FJD 4.80

$2.19 FJD 4.91

-1.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.35 FJD 7.49

$2.71 FJD 6.06

23.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 FJD 2.08

$0.69 FJD 1.55

34.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.89 FJD 48.98

$37.56 FJD 84.1

-41.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 FJD 2.03

$0.65 FJD 1.46

40.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 FJD 0.99

$0.45 FJD 1.01

-2.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.83 FJD 19.76

$2.75 FJD 6.15

221.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 FJD 3.10

$1.35 FJD 3.02

2.96%

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

$24.3K FJD 54.4K

$19.3K FJD 43.1K

26.09%

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

$25.0K FJD 56.0K

$21.9K FJD 49.1K

13.94%

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

$45.01 FJD 101

$45.50 FJD 102

-1.08%

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

$13.15 FJD 29.44

$13.08 FJD 29.28

0.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.78 FJD 53.2

$23.81 FJD 53.3

-0.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.58 FJD 66.2

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.07 FJD 15.83

Cinema Ticket

$4.51 FJD 10.10

$3.61 FJD 8.08

24.93%

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

$230 FJD 514

$222 FJD 496

3.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.4K FJD 32.1K

$14.4K FJD 32.2K

-0.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.53 FJD 57.1

$17.66 FJD 39.52

44.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.96 FJD 60.4

$18.09 FJD 40.50

49.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.6 FJD 156

$65.3 FJD 146

6.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$61.5 FJD 138

$61.8 FJD 138

-0.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$588 FJD 1,315

$349 FJD 781

68.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$383 FJD 858

$135 FJD 303

183.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,070 FJD 4,633

$841 FJD 1,882

146.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,222 FJD 2,736

$400 FJD 896

205.28%

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)

$949 FJD 2,125

$692 FJD 1,548

37.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.7

10.00%

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

Last update for Suva: July 13, 2026

Last update for Lautoka: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $588 in Suva and $349 in Lautoka. 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 Suva vs $45.00 in Lautoka. Groceries flip the comparison at $234 vs $220, 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

Suva vs Lautoka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

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

Average pay runs 37% higher in Suva, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

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

All in, you'll spend $964 per month in Suva versus $678 in Lautoka – 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, Suva and Lautoka 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.