Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Port Moresby Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Port Moresby

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,701 in Austin, TX versus $1,686 in Port Moresby.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,086 in Austin, TX versus $2,415 in Port Moresby.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,470 in Austin, TX versus $3,145 in Port Moresby.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 60% more expensive than in Port Moresby, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 102% above, Port Moresby 26% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.97 $19.97

$9.83 PGK 43.36

103.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.5 $74.5

$47.33 PGK 209

57.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.85 $9.85

$6.11 PGK 26.96

61.21%

Cappuccino

$5.79 $5.79

$2.35 PGK 10.35

146.38%

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

$2.75 $2.75

$0.75 PGK 3.29

266.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$0.81 PGK 3.56

167.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.98 $5.98

$2.46 PGK 10.87

143.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.11 $8.11

$4.15 PGK 18.32

95.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$1.95 PGK 8.58

-43.59%

White Bread (500g)

$3.28 $3.28

$1.61 PGK 7.11

103.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.37 $3.37

$1.54 PGK 6.80

118.83%

Eggs

$4.31 $4.31

$3.73 PGK 16.44

15.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.02 $12.02

$4.35 PGK 19.20

176.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.58 $10.58

$6.47 PGK 28.52

63.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.59 $14.59

$9.32 PGK 41.10

56.55%

Apples (1kg)

$5.04 $5.04

$3.97 PGK 17.51

26.95%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 $1.57

$2.80 PGK 12.35

-43.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

$5.60 PGK 24.68

-21.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.07 $4.07

$5.70 PGK 25.13

-28.60%

Potato (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$3.22 PGK 14.22

-13.98%

Onion (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.80 PGK 12.36

0.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.96 $1.96

$3.10 PGK 13.66

-36.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.23 $2.23

$1.28 PGK 5.66

74.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.75 $8.75

$6.64 PGK 29.30

31.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.71 $14.71

$11.54 PGK 50.9

27.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$2.85 PGK 12.56

-17.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 $3.47

$3.71 PGK 16.38

-6.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$0.49 PGK 2.17

210.20%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.74 $42.74

$24.04 PGK 106

77.79%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.31 $4.31

$6.12 PGK 26.98

-29.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.80 $1.80

$2.50 PGK 11.04

-28.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.23 $35.23

$17.10 PGK 75.4

106.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 $0.80

$1.13 PGK 4.96

-29.20%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$22.4K PGK 98.9K

14.76%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$24.6K PGK 108.6K

9.07%

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

$173 $173

$107 PGK 473

61.69%

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

$58.5 $58.5

$48.04 PGK 212

21.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.1 $67.1

$385 PGK 1,697

-82.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.8 $61.8

$67.3 PGK 297

-8.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

$20.67 PGK 91.2

-52.35%

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$9.47 PGK 41.76

56.28%

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

$1,414 $1,414

$636 PGK 2,807

122.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.1K $22.1K

$3,964 PGK 17.5K

458.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.9 $54.9

$32.07 PGK 141

71.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.67 $46.67

$36.31 PGK 160

28.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.6 $87.6

$76.5 PGK 337

14.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$98.6 PGK 435

21.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,200 $2,200

$2,149 PGK 9,480

2.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,428 $1,428

$489 PGK 2,156

192.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,769 $3,769

$3,493 PGK 15.4K

7.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,704 $2,704

$827 PGK 3,647

227.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,334 $7,334

$2,096 PGK 9,244

249.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,140 $3,140

$3,740 PGK 16.5K

-16.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,093 $5,093

$438 PGK 1,932

1062.70%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

13.33

-51.61%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: July 20, 2026

Last update for Port Moresby: July 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,200 in Austin, TX and $2,149 in Port Moresby. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 1063% 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: $74.0 in Austin, TX vs $47.00 in Port Moresby for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $376 vs $305 per month, with Port Moresby cheaper across the board.

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

Austin, TX vs Port Moresby: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Port Moresby wins on cost – living expenses run 60% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Port Moresby the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 1063% higher in Austin, TX, 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: $2,200 in Austin, TX versus $2,149 in Port Moresby. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,701 per month in Austin, TX versus $1,686 in Port Moresby – a 60% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Port Moresby runs roughly 78% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Port Moresby is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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 Port Moresby gentler on the wallet – expenses run 60% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.