Cost of Living Comparison Between Billings, MT and Port Moresby Cost of Living Comparison Between Billings, MT and Port Moresby

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,223 per month in Billings, MT vs $1,702 in Port Moresby, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,395 per month in Billings, MT vs $2,442 in Port Moresby, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,568 per month in Billings, MT vs $3,181 in Port Moresby, rent included.

Billings, MT costs about 31% more than Port Moresby, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Billings, MT and Port Moresby sit above the global median – Billings, MT by 66%, Port Moresby by 27%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.13 $20.13

$9.40 PGK 41.38

114.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.8 $60.8

$48.47 PGK 213

25.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.46 $14.46

$5.87 PGK 25.84

146.34%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$2.29 PGK 10.09

144.54%

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

$2.13 $2.13

$0.80 PGK 3.53

166.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.63 $2.63

$0.78 PGK 3.45

237.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.46 $4.46

$2.45 PGK 10.76

82.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.12 $5.12

$4.13 PGK 18.15

23.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.93 PGK 8.51

-34.72%

White Bread (500g)

$4.22 $4.22

$1.60 PGK 7.02

163.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$1.49 PGK 6.55

175.17%

Eggs

$3.12 $3.12

$3.75 PGK 16.49

-16.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.44 $14.44

$4.53 PGK 19.91

218.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.34 $12.34

$6.22 PGK 27.35

98.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.87 $15.87

$9.76 PGK 42.96

62.60%

Apples (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$4.07 PGK 17.90

7.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.40 $1.40

$2.82 PGK 12.39

-50.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.94 $3.94

$5.70 PGK 25.08

-30.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.11 $6.11

$5.41 PGK 23.81

12.94%

Potato (1kg)

$1.86 $1.86

$3.25 PGK 14.29

-42.77%

Onion (1kg)

$3.12 $3.12

$2.78 PGK 12.21

12.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.44 $2.44

$3.08 PGK 13.55

-20.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 $1.33

$1.27 PGK 5.58

4.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.33 $9.33

$6.99 PGK 30.74

33.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.17 $13.17

$11.86 PGK 52.2

11.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$2.82 PGK 12.39

-20.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.03 $4.03

$3.83 PGK 16.84

5.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.04 $2.04

$0.50 PGK 2.20

308.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.27 $28.27

$23.88 PGK 105

18.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.56 $2.56

$6.10 PGK 26.85

-58.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.67 $1.67

$2.44 PGK 10.73

-31.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.39 $29.39

$17.09 PGK 75.2

71.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 $0.82

$1.14 PGK 5.00

-28.07%

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

$21.6K $21.6K

$22.3K PGK 98.2K

-3.15%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$24.9K PGK 109.4K

1.05%

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

$156 $156

$108 PGK 475

44.85%

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

$50.1 $50.1

$47.63 PGK 210

5.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.2 $69.2

$377 PGK 1,657

-81.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.25 $48.25

$66.5 PGK 293

-27.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.71 PGK 91.1

Cinema Ticket

$14.14 $14.14

$9.84 PGK 43.29

43.70%

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

$992 $992

$633 PGK 2,786

56.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$32.1K $32.1K

$4,013 PGK 17.7K

699.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.1 $56.1

$31.33 PGK 138

79.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$66.2 $66.2

$37.00 PGK 163

78.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$76.2 PGK 335

33.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 $123

$97.2 PGK 428

26.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,159 $1,159

$2,203 PGK 9,694

-47.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$927 $927

$478 PGK 2,102

94.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,125 $2,125

$3,447 PGK 15.2K

-38.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,887 $1,887

$840 PGK 3,694

124.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,367 $2,367

$2,088 PGK 9,188

13.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,134 $2,134

$3,904 PGK 17.2K

-45.34%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,906 $3,906

$439 PGK 1,932

789.60%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.59

13.33

-50.56%

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

Last update for Billings, MT: July 14, 2026

Last update for Port Moresby: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,159 in Billings, MT versus $2,203 in Port Moresby. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 790% higher in Billings, MT, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $61.0 in Billings, MT versus $48.00 in Port Moresby. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $396 vs $306 – making Port Moresby the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Billings, MT vs Port Moresby: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Billings, MT costs about 31% more than Port Moresby, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,334 per month in Billings, MT and $2,553 in Port Moresby. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Port Moresby, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 18% less in Port Moresby. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $992 per month in Billings, MT and $633 in Port Moresby. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Port Moresby, where all-in costs run around $1,702, than in Billings, MT at $2,223. In Port Moresby it covers expenses comfortably, while in Billings, MT it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Port Moresby – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Port Moresby. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Billings, MT makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.