Cost of Living Comparison Between Boroko and Lihir Island Cost of Living Comparison Between Boroko and Lihir Island

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,113 per month in Boroko vs $246 in Lihir Island, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,551 per month in Boroko vs $456 in Lihir Island, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,990 per month in Boroko vs $667 in Lihir Island, rent included.

Boroko costs about 353% more than Lihir Island, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Boroko and Lihir Island are more affordable than the global median – Boroko 17% lower, Lihir Island 82% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.87 PGK 34.16

$4.75 PGK 20.61

65.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.12 PGK 165

$28.49 PGK 124

33.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.88 PGK 25.54

$5.90 PGK 25.63

-0.34%

Cappuccino

$2.23 PGK 9.67

$2.42 PGK 10.51

-7.85%

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

$0.76 PGK 3.28

$0.70 PGK 3.02

8.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.85 PGK 3.71

$0.70 PGK 3.06

21.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 PGK 10.21

$3.64 PGK 15.81

-35.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.99 PGK 17.31

$2.41 PGK 10.46

65.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.67 PGK 7.25

$1.65 PGK 7.16

1.21%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 PGK 5.60

$1.46 PGK 6.36

-11.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.28 PGK 5.54

$1.47 PGK 6.37

-12.93%

Eggs

$3.78 PGK 16.42

$2.32 PGK 10.09

62.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.48 PGK 19.44

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.26 PGK 27.19

$4.37 PGK 18.96

43.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.94 PGK 30.12

$2.36 PGK 10.26

194.07%

Apples (1kg)

$4.03 PGK 17.50

Banana (1kg)

$2.96 PGK 12.87

$1.43 PGK 6.20

106.99%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.01 PGK 13.06

Tomato (1kg)

$2.95 PGK 12.80

Potato (1kg)

$3.09 PGK 13.40

$2.43 PGK 10.53

27.16%

Onion (1kg)

$0.92 PGK 3.98

$0.94 PGK 4.06

-2.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 PGK 5.10

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 PGK 2.13

$0.50 PGK 2.18

-2.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.07 PGK 26.34

$5.87 PGK 25.49

3.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.13 PGK 22.28

$9.29 PGK 40.32

-44.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.22 PGK 5.28

$2.39 PGK 10.36

-48.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 PGK 7.18

$2.43 PGK 10.54

-32.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.47 PGK 2.03

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.71 PGK 138

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.72 PGK 20.49

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.46 PGK 6.32

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.11 PGK 52.6

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 PGK 3.50

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

$22.9K PGK 99.6K

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

$25.1K PGK 109.0K

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

$66.9 PGK 290

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

$48.14 PGK 209

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$244 PGK 1,061

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.12 PGK 200

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.32 PGK 66.5

Cinema Ticket

$7.41 PGK 32.15

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

$356 PGK 1,543

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,352 PGK 10.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.23 PGK 136

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.33 PGK 62.2

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$48.29 PGK 210

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.30 PGK 123

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,535 PGK 15.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$243 PGK 1,054

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,574 PGK 15.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$241 PGK 1,045

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$363 PGK 1,575

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Boroko: April 28, 2026

Last update for Lihir Island: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in Boroko versus $28.00 in Lihir Island. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $222 vs $134 – making Lihir Island 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

Boroko vs Lihir Island: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Boroko costs about 353% more than Lihir Island, 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 $1,669 per month in Boroko and $369 in Lihir Island. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,113 in Boroko and $246 in Lihir Island. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 65% more in Boroko, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Lihir Island, where all-in costs run around $246, than in Boroko at $1,113. In Lihir Island it covers expenses comfortably, while in Boroko it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Lihir Island – 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 Lihir Island. 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.