Lonely Planet™ · Thorn Tree Forum · 2020

Cost of Fiji compared to Australia

Country forums / Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea / Fiji

Hello all,

I am currently finishing off my second working holiday visa in Australia. At the end I want to travel but I am trying to figure out how to get the most out of my money.

I have done S.E.Asia for a year before so happy to avoid that. I am looking in to S.America but:

I was considering Bali and Fiji for a few weeks in each.

Is this a cheap travel destination? I know Bali is very cheap but can someone give me an idea of cost per night/per week (food, travel, accom etc) if they have done it before?

I'll then go on to research places and look in to accommodation costings and travel around etc.

I appreciate this is a very broad question as you have no idea what I like to do but let's just assume relaxing on beaches and generic tourists hot spots.

Thanks

Fiji is definitely more expensive than Bali but can be cheaper than Australia.
Costs vary a lot though. Resorts, even so-called "backpackers' resorts" are considerably more expensive than places catering to Fijians.
It is therefore hard to give estimates, but in local places I could find accommodation for ca $15, food for $3 (in AU$). I never stayed at resorts.

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As a resident, Fiji would cost about 40% of the cost of Australia.

Cheers,
Peter

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Usually I think the exchange is about 1 FJD: 1.55 AUD

Ok so I'm having trouble posting my own thread and my question is similar so thought i'd post here.

Where is the best place to exchange Austalian currency for Fijian Dollar?
I have heard there is a bank in Nadi that does it with no fee or a very small fee (good rates) but this seems too good to be true.
Could someone help me to work out the best place to exchange currency be it Australia or Fiji.
We will be travelling in the end of May 2014 if that helps.

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Itchyfeet - you have that the wrong way around... AU$1 = FJ$1.55... Not sure if this is the correct current rate tho.... I travel Fiji-Australia every 3-4 months and Fiji is always the better option to exchange into fijian dollars... If exchanging at Nadi airport, Western Union in departure (not WU in arrivals) gives the best rate & doesn't have any fees... I'd assume outside of the airport would give even better rates... Enjoy your holiday! :)

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I changed AUD$ to F$ in Lautoka on several occasions in October 2013.
The rates vary considerably from place to place and they also vary depending on who you are and what they think they can get.
Shop around.

Cheers,
Peter

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