Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Boroko and Austin, TX

For one person, living is cheaper in Boroko: $883 a month against $2,704 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $21,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

43

Cost of Living Index in Boroko
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Boroko Living Index
129

Cost of Living Index in Austin, TX
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Austin, TX Living Index

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Boroko

🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea

$883

/mo nomad

Austin, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,704

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Boroko and in Austin, TX

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Boroko and in Austin, TX actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $883 in Boroko versus $2,704 in Austin, TX.

Boroko $883
Austin, TX $2,704

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,279 in Boroko versus $4,133 in Austin, TX.

Boroko $1,279
Austin, TX $4,133

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,676 in Boroko versus $5,562 in Austin, TX.

Boroko $1,676
Austin, TX $5,562

Living in Boroko costs roughly 67% less than in Austin, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Boroko is 34% below, Austin, TX is 102% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.32 PGK 32.06

$20.22 $20.22

-63.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.97 PGK 153

$85.0 $85.0

-58.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 PGK 24.74

$12.35 $12.35

-54.25%

Cappuccino

$2.49 PGK 10.91

$5.47 $5.47

-54.48%

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

$0.73 PGK 3.22

$3.82 $3.82

-80.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.68 PGK 2.99

$2.50 $2.50

-72.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.57 PGK 11.28

$8.06 $8.06

-68.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 PGK 15.78

$8.99 $8.99

-59.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.51 PGK 6.60

$1.13 $1.13

33.63%

White Bread (500g)

$1.20 PGK 5.27

$3.78 $3.78

-68.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.22 PGK 5.34

$3.25 $3.25

-62.46%

Eggs

$3.69 PGK 16.19

$4.14 $4.14

-10.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.91 PGK 21.53

$13.08 $13.08

-62.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.74 PGK 25.15

$14.31 $14.31

-59.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.51 PGK 28.52

$15.96 $15.96

-59.21%

Apples (1kg)

$3.93 PGK 17.21

$4.38 $4.38

-10.27%

Banana (1kg)

$3.13 PGK 13.74

$1.45 $1.45

115.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.68 PGK 11.76

$4.54 $4.54

-40.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.67 PGK 11.69

$4.19 $4.19

-36.28%

Potato (1kg)

$2.84 PGK 12.45

$2.63 $2.63

7.98%

Onion (1kg)

$0.85 PGK 3.75

$2.36 $2.36

-63.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 PGK 4.94

$1.76 $1.76

-35.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 PGK 1.87

$2.16 $2.16

-80.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.51 PGK 24.16

$9.81 $9.81

-43.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.87 PGK 21.33

$14.72 $14.72

-66.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 PGK 4.95

$2.78 $2.78

-59.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 PGK 6.93

$3.48 $3.48

-54.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.43 PGK 1.88

$1.49 $1.49

-71.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.80 PGK 131

$40.51 $40.51

-26.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.54 PGK 19.87

$2.67 $2.67

70.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 PGK 5.96

$1.58 $1.58

-13.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.18 PGK 48.99

$35.29 $35.29

-68.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 PGK 3.47

$0.99 $0.99

-20.20%

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

$20.6K PGK 90.3K

$35.8K $35.8K

-42.47%

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

$17.4K PGK 76.3K

$27.2K $27.2K

-35.95%

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

$62.5 PGK 274

$219 $219

-71.50%

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

$22.96 PGK 101

$58.0 $58.0

-60.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$90.5 PGK 396

$68.4 $68.4

32.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.26 PGK 185

$57.9 $57.9

-27.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.52 PGK 63.6

$14.82 $14.82

-2.02%

Cinema Ticket

$6.56 PGK 28.73

$14.13 $14.13

-53.57%

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

$328 PGK 1,438

$1,509 $1,509

-78.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,247 PGK 9,848

$21.5K $21.5K

-89.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.17 PGK 141

$51.7 $51.7

-37.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.05 PGK 57.2

$44.05 $44.05

-70.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$45.08 PGK 198

$85.1 $85.1

-47.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$26.83 PGK 118

$105 $105

-74.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,311 PGK 14.5K

$1,932 $1,932

71.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$225 PGK 984

$1,272 $1,272

-82.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,352 PGK 14.7K

$3,670 $3,670

-8.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$224 PGK 982

$2,525 $2,525

-91.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,617 $7,617

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,199 $3,199

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$356 PGK 1,561

$5,105 $5,105

-93.02%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.79

62.00%

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

Last update for Boroko: October 5, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Boroko

$225 25.2%

Austin, TX

$1.3K 48.2% 467% $1K

Groceries & Markets

Boroko

$211 23.6%

Austin, TX

$403 15.3% 91.3% $192

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Boroko

$176 19.7%

Austin, TX

$346 13.1% 96.5% $170

Eating Out

Boroko

$131 14.7%

Austin, TX

$348 13.2% 166% $217

Sport & Entertainment

Boroko

$55 6.2%

Austin, TX

$86 3.3% 55.6% $31

Clothing & Footwear

Boroko

$53 5.9%

Austin, TX

$129 4.9% 144% $76

Getting Around

Boroko

$43 4.8%

Austin, TX

$57 2.2% 33.1% $14

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $3,311 in Boroko and $1,932 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 1333% 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: $35.00 in Boroko vs $85.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $211 vs $403 per month, with Boroko cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇵🇬 Boroko

🇺🇸 Austin, TX

🕒 Local time

11:54 11:54 AM

20:54 8:54 PM

15 h behind Boroko

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

974,447

💱 Currency

Papua New Guinean Kina PGK K

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 PGK = 0.228 USD

1 PGK = 0.203 EUR

1 USD = 0.892 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to PGK – Papua New Guinean Kina Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇵🇬 Papua New Guinean Kina (K)

Papua New Guinean Kina exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 4.38 PGK (1 PGK = 0.228 USD). 1 EUR = 4.91 PGK (1 PGK = 0.203 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

USD to PGK in detail →

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Boroko Austin, TX 12,940 km ≈ 17 h nonstop flight

From you

Boroko
Austin, TX

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

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

Boroko wins on cost – living expenses run 206% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Boroko the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 1333% lower in Austin, TX. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $3,311 in Boroko versus $1,932 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $883 per month in Boroko versus $2,704 in Austin, TX – a 206% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Boroko runs roughly 36% 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. Boroko 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 Boroko gentler on the wallet – expenses run 206% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.