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 $2,201 per month in Billings, MT vs $1,689 in Port Moresby, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,444 per month in Billings, MT vs $2,472 in Port Moresby, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,686 per month in Billings, MT vs $3,255 in Port Moresby, rent included.

Billings, MT costs about 30% more than Port Moresby, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Billings, MT and Port Moresby sit above the global median – Billings, MT by 64%, Port Moresby by 26%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.89 $19.89

$9.84 PGK 42.93

102.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.4 $59.4

$47.81 PGK 209

24.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.25 $14.25

$5.94 PGK 25.92

139.90%

Cappuccino

$5.87 $5.87

$2.29 PGK 10.01

156.33%

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

$2.20 $2.20

$0.75 PGK 3.29

193.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 $2.74

$0.83 PGK 3.63

230.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.54 $4.54

$2.37 PGK 10.35

91.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.91 $4.91

$4.15 PGK 18.10

18.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.29 $1.29

$2.00 PGK 8.72

-35.50%

White Bread (500g)

$4.25 $4.25

$1.56 PGK 6.80

172.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.19 $4.19

$1.49 PGK 6.48

181.21%

Eggs

$3.17 $3.17

$3.89 PGK 16.95

-18.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.41 $14.41

$4.56 PGK 19.88

216.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.62 $12.62

$6.41 PGK 27.97

96.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.19 $16.19

$9.34 PGK 40.72

73.34%

Apples (1kg)

$4.36 $4.36

$3.98 PGK 17.34

9.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 $1.45

$2.89 PGK 12.62

-49.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.89 $3.89

$5.58 PGK 24.34

-30.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.15 $6.15

$5.66 PGK 24.67

8.66%

Potato (1kg)

$1.84 $1.84

$3.40 PGK 14.81

-45.88%

Onion (1kg)

$3.20 $3.20

$2.68 PGK 11.70

19.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.45 $2.45

$2.96 PGK 12.89

-17.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 $1.28

$1.32 PGK 5.74

-3.03%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.18 $9.18

$6.67 PGK 29.09

37.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.17 $13.17

$11.88 PGK 51.8

10.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$2.88 PGK 12.58

-24.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.92 $3.92

$3.82 PGK 16.65

2.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.97 $1.97

$0.47 PGK 2.04

319.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.41 $28.41

$23.77 PGK 104

19.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$5.85 PGK 25.52

-56.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 $1.57

$2.40 PGK 10.49

-34.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.42 $29.42

$16.49 PGK 71.9

78.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 $0.83

$1.14 PGK 4.99

-27.19%

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

$21.8K $21.8K

$22.9K PGK 99.9K

-4.76%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$24.6K PGK 107.3K

1.87%

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

$158 $158

$105 PGK 458

50.44%

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

$48.86 $48.86

$46.75 PGK 204

4.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.4 $67.4

$382 PGK 1,667

-82.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.78 $48.78

$67.2 PGK 293

-27.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.62 PGK 89.9

Cinema Ticket

$13.92 $13.92

$9.73 PGK 42.44

43.06%

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

$979 $979

$639 PGK 2,787

53.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$32.1K $32.1K

$4,095 PGK 17.9K

682.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.6 $56.6

$31.07 PGK 136

82.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$68.3 $68.3

$36.74 PGK 160

85.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$77.1 PGK 336

29.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 $124

$98.6 PGK 430

25.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,137 $1,137

$2,151 PGK 9,380

-47.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$951 $951

$481 PGK 2,096

97.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,101 $2,101

$3,423 PGK 14.9K

-38.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,859 $1,859

$826 PGK 3,603

124.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,405 $2,405

$2,127 PGK 9,275

13.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,084 $2,084

$3,892 PGK 17.0K

-46.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,964 $3,964

$446 PGK 1,945

789.05%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Port Moresby: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,137 in Billings, MT versus $2,151 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 789% 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 $59.0 in Billings, MT versus $48.00 in Port Moresby. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $399 vs $308 – 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 30% 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 $3,302 per month in Billings, MT and $2,533 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 $979 per month in Billings, MT and $639 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 $1,689, than in Billings, MT at $2,201. 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.