Taxi or Rental Car in Fiji?
If spending some time on the main island of Fiji, Viti Levu, or the second-largest island, Vanua Levu, for that matter, then you’re probably wondering whether to rent a car or use a taxi. Which one will save you money and which one will you find the most enjoyable? We go over the pros and cons of each, as well as tell you the best scenarios to rent a car or use a taxi in this guide.
Comparing the Cost of Car Rental and Taxis in Fiji
The biggest consideration for most of us is the price. Which is cheaper in Fiji, car rental or taxis? Check out the list of prices below to get an idea of transport costs via rental car and taxis.
The Cost of Car Rental in Fiji
- Small car/day – FJ$65-$170
- Medium car/day – FJ$85-$180
- Premium car/day – FJ$150-$250
- 4WD car/day – FJ$200-$280
- Minivan/day – FJ$180-$220
- Petrol/litre – FJ$2.19
- Insurance/day – FJ$15-$35
- Additional driver/day – FJ$8
For more details on car rental costs, check out How Much Does it Cost to Rent a Car in Fiji?
The Cost of Taxis in Fiji
- Meter flagfall/airports: FJ$5
- Meter flagfall/elsewhere: FJ$1.50
- Town taxi rates: FJ$1 per km/FJ$1.60 per mile
- Nadi to Lautoka: FJ$45-$55
- Nadi to Sigatoka: FJ$80-$130
- Nadi to the Pacific Harbour: FJ$170-$200
- Nadi to Rakiraki: FJ$160-$200
- Nadi to Suva: FJ$200-$230
For more on taxi fares, see Taxi Prices in Fiji: The Costs You Need to Know.
© FijiPocketGuide.comCar Rental: The Pros and Cons
An easy way to see if car rental is right for your holiday is to simply weigh the pros and cons of renting a car in Fiji.
Car Rental Pros
- Ultimate freedom; go where you want when you want
- Privacy; it’s just you, your loved ones/friends and the road
- Cost-effective for road trips; it can be cheaper to hire a car if driving between towns every day
- Good for families; baby seats are either included or available to hire.
Car Rental Cons
- Driving can be stressful; Fiji has a few road hazards that you might not be used to
- Navigation can be hard; GPS navigation systems are good in Fiji’s larger towns but less so for rural areas
- Not cost-effective for short trips; car rental in Fiji’s isn’t super cheap, so it might not be worth it if you’re not using your vehicle daily
- Availability; car hire isn’t as available as taxis.
For more information on hiring a car, head to The Guide to Renting a Car in Fiji.
© FijiPocketGuide.comTaxis: The Pros and Cons
And on the taxi side of the argument, here are the pros and cons of using a taxi in Fiji.
Taxi Pros
- Stress-free; someone else drives the foreign roads and navigates for you
- Availability; taxis tend to be more readily available than car rentals
- Cheap in town; taxis are very cheap for inner-city travel
- Driver hire; some taxis can be hired for the day, providing good value for sightseeing.
Taxi Cons
- Longer trips are expensive; inter-town travel is usually expensive and can make your travel costs higher than car rental if used often
- Fiji time drivers; some taxi drivers are on “Fiji time” and can show up late for bookings
- Suva taxis; some taxis in Suva don’t have seatbelts in the back
- No baby seats; taxis typically don’t have baby seats available
- Not convenient for large groups; larger groups will have to book minivans rather than be able to hail down a taxi.
For more information on using taxis, check out The Guide to Taxis in Fiji.
© FijiPocketGuide.comWhen to Rent a Car
If the pros and cons don’t help you make up your mind, then there are certain situations where it might make more sense to hire a car rather than use taxis.
One such circumstance is if you plan on doing a road trip around Viti Levu. For instance, travelling around Fiji’s main island makes a fun three to five-day trip, staying in various resorts or lodges along the way. Other than hiring a car, the only other way to enjoy a road trip around the island is with a bus tour company. Get inspired for your road trip with our Fiji Honeymoon Itinerary: 7 Days or Fiji Foodie Itinerary: 7 Days or Fiji Budget Itinerary: 7 Days.
Alternatively, you might want to rent a car if you plan on staying in one accommodation but visiting surrounding towns multiple times. You’ll then have the added benefit of being able to make short trips to the supermarket, for example.
Finally, if you are staying somewhere quite remote, then hiring a car from the nearest town or airport for a few days is likely to be more reliable and cheaper than using taxis.
© FijiPocketGuide.comWhen to Use a Taxi
There are certain situations where using a taxi makes more sense than hiring a car in Fiji. For instance, if you’re staying in a town like Nadi, Lautoka or Suva, then using a taxi to get around the town is incredibly cheap; cheaper than hiring a car.
Additionally, if you plan to do perhaps just one or two longer sightseeing trips in Fiji, then it is likely to be more cost-effective to hire a driver for the day. Alternatively, day tours for sightseeing shared with other travellers may cut the costs further – take a look at the 10 Best Sightseeing Tours in Fiji.
More on Whether to Rent a Car or Use a Taxi in Fiji
- 9 Ways to Save Money on Car Rental in Fiji
- How to Negotiate a Taxi Price in Fiji
- How to Hire a Driver in Fiji
Now that you know whether to rent a car or use a taxi in Fiji, check out more transport options around the islands in our Fiji Transport Guide: 16 Best Ways to Get Around Fiji.
