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 $2,251 per month in Billings, MT vs $1,556 in Port Moresby, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,516 per month in Billings, MT vs $2,388 in Port Moresby, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,781 per month in Billings, MT vs $3,221 in Port Moresby, rent included.

Billings, MT costs about 45% more than Port Moresby, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Billings, MT and Port Moresby sit above the global median – Billings, MT by 64%, Port Moresby by 13%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.58 $25.58

$7.92 PGK 34.26

222.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.6 $75.6

$45.15 PGK 195

67.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.54 $13.54

$5.65 PGK 24.46

139.65%

Cappuccino

$6.43 $6.43

$2.58 PGK 11.18

149.22%

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

$2.39 $2.39

$0.72 PGK 3.13

231.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.64 $1.64

$0.65 PGK 2.80

152.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.06 PGK 13.27

35.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.89 $4.89

$3.68 PGK 15.92

32.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.01 $1.01

$1.87 PGK 8.09

-45.99%

White Bread (500g)

$3.44 $3.44

$1.52 PGK 6.56

126.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.13 $3.13

$1.42 PGK 6.16

120.42%

Eggs

$3.06 $3.06

$3.74 PGK 16.21

-18.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.16 $12.16

$8.63 PGK 37.36

40.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.36 $11.36

$5.02 PGK 21.73

126.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.24 $17.24

$8.88 PGK 38.44

94.14%

Apples (1kg)

$3.73 $3.73

$4.19 PGK 18.13

-10.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.43 $1.43

$2.97 PGK 12.88

-51.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

$6.09 PGK 26.38

-52.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.58 $4.58

$6.26 PGK 27.10

-26.84%

Potato (1kg)

$1.18 $1.18

$3.33 PGK 14.41

-64.56%

Onion (1kg)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.57 PGK 11.13

-23.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.29 $2.29

$2.08 PGK 8.98

10.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.47 $1.47

$1.18 PGK 5.13

24.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.27 $9.27

$6.11 PGK 26.45

51.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.72 $10.72

$11.78 PGK 51.0

-9.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.21 $2.21

$2.82 PGK 12.20

-21.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.26 $5.26

$3.47 PGK 15.00

51.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.94 $1.94

$0.43 PGK 1.85

351.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.57 $27.57

$22.90 PGK 99.1

20.39%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.46 $2.46

$5.61 PGK 24.27

-56.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.40 $1.40

$2.19 PGK 9.49

-36.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$60.1 $60.1

$15.98 PGK 69.2

275.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 $0.98

$0.98 PGK 4.25

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

$33.4K $33.4K

$21.7K PGK 93.7K

54.30%

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

$23.9K $23.9K

$17.8K PGK 77.3K

33.74%

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

$173 $173

$120 PGK 521

43.65%

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

$48.82 $48.82

$23.30 PGK 101

109.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$85.4 $85.4

$94.3 PGK 408

-9.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.60 $47.60

$61.5 PGK 266

-22.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.87 $14.87

$22.45 PGK 97.2

-33.76%

Cinema Ticket

$13.96 $13.96

$8.81 PGK 38.15

58.46%

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

$1,099 $1,099

$861 PGK 3,725

27.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.0K $19.0K

$6,301 PGK 27.3K

201.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.0 $59.0

$32.99 PGK 143

78.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$67.5 $67.5

$32.58 PGK 141

107.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 $99.6

$136 PGK 590

-26.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 $122

$163 PGK 707

-25.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,182 $1,182

$1,657 PGK 7,174

-28.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$956 $956

$572 PGK 2,474

67.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,079 $2,079

$2,713 PGK 11.7K

-23.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,798 $1,798

$1,168 PGK 5,054

54.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,368 $2,368

$2,124 PGK 9,195

11.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,099 $2,099

$3,891 PGK 16.8K

-46.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,847 $3,847

$438 PGK 1,898

777.33%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.1

12.17

-49.88%

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

Last update for Billings, MT: August 31, 2026

Last update for Port Moresby: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,182 in Billings, MT versus $1,657 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 777% 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 $76.0 in Billings, MT versus $45.00 in Port Moresby. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $353 vs $309 – 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 45% more than Port Moresby, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,377 per month in Billings, MT and $2,333 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 20% less in Port Moresby. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $1,099 per month in Billings, MT and $861 in Port Moresby. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Port Moresby, where all-in costs run around $1,556, than in Billings, MT at $2,251. 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.