Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Boroko and Lae

For one person, living is cheaper in Lae: $817 a month against $868 in Boroko, rent and utilities included – about $610 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

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Cost of Living Index in Boroko
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Boroko Living Index

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Boroko

🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea

$868

/mo nomad

Lae

🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea

$817

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Boroko and in Lae

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 Lae actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $868 per month in Boroko vs $817 in Lae, rent included.

Boroko $868
Lae $817

A couple spends around $1,259 per month in Boroko vs $1,470 in Lae, rent included.

Boroko $1,259
Lae $1,470

A family of three spends $1,649 per month in Boroko vs $2,123 in Lae, rent included.

Boroko $1,649
Lae $2,123

Boroko costs about 6% more than Lae, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Boroko and Lae are more affordable than the global median – Boroko 36% lower, Lae 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.29 PGK 31.67

$23.60 PGK 103

-69.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.42 PGK 149

$50.5 PGK 219

-31.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.35 PGK 23.26

Cappuccino

$2.48 PGK 10.76

$2.66 PGK 11.57

-6.77%

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

$0.71 PGK 3.06

$0.74 PGK 3.23

-4.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.64 PGK 2.78

$0.57 PGK 2.47

12.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.58 PGK 11.22

$3.22 PGK 14.01

-19.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.42 PGK 14.85

$5.10 PGK 22.13

-32.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.50 PGK 6.51

$1.98 PGK 8.62

-24.24%

White Bread (500g)

$1.16 PGK 5.02

$1.45 PGK 6.28

-20.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 PGK 5.03

$1.24 PGK 5.39

-6.45%

Eggs

$3.55 PGK 15.40

$3.96 PGK 17.18

-10.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.98 PGK 21.65

$9.41 PGK 40.86

-47.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.79 PGK 20.79

$9.06 PGK 39.35

-47.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.61 PGK 28.72

$10.59 PGK 45.99

-37.58%

Apples (1kg)

$3.85 PGK 16.70

$4.30 PGK 18.67

-10.47%

Banana (1kg)

$3.08 PGK 13.38

$2.69 PGK 11.68

14.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.72 PGK 11.80

$5.87 PGK 25.50

-53.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.70 PGK 11.74

$1.50 PGK 6.53

80.00%

Potato (1kg)

$2.82 PGK 12.24

$3.37 PGK 14.62

-16.32%

Onion (1kg)

$0.84 PGK 3.65

$2.34 PGK 10.14

-64.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.12 PGK 4.86

$0.64 PGK 2.80

75.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 PGK 1.83

$0.85 PGK 3.70

-50.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.42 PGK 23.53

$6.75 PGK 29.32

-19.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.95 PGK 21.52

$12.26 PGK 53.2

-59.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 PGK 4.67

$2.59 PGK 11.27

-58.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.49 PGK 6.48

$4.34 PGK 18.87

-65.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.42 PGK 1.83

$0.31 PGK 1.37

35.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.88 PGK 125

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.40 PGK 19.11

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 PGK 5.83

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.97 PGK 47.66

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 PGK 3.47

$1.03 PGK 4.46

-22.33%

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

$35.7K PGK 155.0K

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

$17.6K PGK 76.4K

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

$61.6 PGK 267

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

$20.71 PGK 90.0

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$82.1 PGK 357

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.86 PGK 182

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.29 PGK 62.1

Cinema Ticket

$6.47 PGK 28.09

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

$333 PGK 1,445

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,215 PGK 9,621

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$34.50 PGK 150

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$12.91 PGK 56.1

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$44.28 PGK 192

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$26.31 PGK 114

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,336 PGK 14.5K

$436 PGK 1,892

665.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$221 PGK 959

$260 PGK 1,131

-15.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,257 PGK 14.1K

$1,227 PGK 5,328

165.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$218 PGK 947

$619 PGK 2,690

-64.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$352 PGK 1,530

$156 PGK 676

126.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Boroko: October 25, 2026

Last update for Lae: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Boroko

$221 25.4%

Lae

–

Groceries & Markets

Boroko

$204 23.5%

Lae

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Boroko

$164 18.9%

Lae

–

Eating Out

Boroko

$129 14.9%

Lae

–

Sport & Entertainment

Boroko

$55 6.3%

Lae

–

Clothing & Footwear

Boroko

$53 6.1%

Lae

–

Getting Around

Boroko

$42 4.8%

Lae

–

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,336 in Boroko versus $436 in Lae. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Boroko are about 2.3 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $34 in Boroko versus $50 in Lae. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $204 vs $303 – making Boroko the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇵🇬 Boroko

🇵🇬 Lae

🕒 Local time

23:59 11:59 PM

Same time as Boroko

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

250,948

💱 Currency

Papua New Guinean Kina PGK K

📈 Exchange rate

1 PGK = 0.23 USD

1 PGK = 0.207 EUR

1 PGK = 0.23 USD

1 PGK = 0.207 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Boroko Lae 310 km

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Boroko
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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 Lae: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Boroko costs about 6% more than Lae, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from utilities. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,302 per month in Boroko and $1,225 in Lae. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Lae, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $436 there versus $3,336 in Boroko.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $868 in Boroko and $817 in Lae. That’s a gap of about 6%.

Interestingly, groceries are about 33% cheaper in Boroko – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $868 in Boroko and $817 in Lae. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Lae has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $817 in Lae to $868 in Boroko. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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