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 $1,119 per month in Boroko vs $232 in Lihir Island, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,547 per month in Boroko vs $427 in Lihir Island, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,975 per month in Boroko vs $622 in Lihir Island, rent included.

Boroko costs about 381% 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 83% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.77 PGK 33.38

$4.71 PGK 20.22

64.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.14 PGK 168

$29.29 PGK 126

33.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.03 PGK 25.89

$5.85 PGK 25.13

3.08%

Cappuccino

$2.34 PGK 10.06

$2.36 PGK 10.14

-0.85%

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

$0.82 PGK 3.50

$0.73 PGK 3.15

12.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 PGK 3.35

$0.71 PGK 3.04

9.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 PGK 10.11

$3.65 PGK 15.66

-35.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.99 PGK 17.16

$2.35 PGK 10.08

69.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 PGK 7.40

$1.66 PGK 7.13

3.61%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 PGK 5.39

$1.42 PGK 6.09

-11.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.29 PGK 5.53

$1.41 PGK 6.05

-8.51%

Eggs

$3.73 PGK 16.02

$2.27 PGK 9.77

64.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.48 PGK 19.23

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.41 PGK 27.56

$4.38 PGK 18.83

46.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.05 PGK 30.29

$2.42 PGK 10.40

191.32%

Apples (1kg)

$3.95 PGK 16.99

Banana (1kg)

$2.86 PGK 12.30

$1.41 PGK 6.04

102.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.90 PGK 12.46

Tomato (1kg)

$2.90 PGK 12.44

Potato (1kg)

$3.16 PGK 13.57

$2.35 PGK 10.08

34.47%

Onion (1kg)

$0.94 PGK 4.02

$0.92 PGK 3.94

2.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.17 PGK 5.03

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 PGK 2.11

$0.46 PGK 1.96

6.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.87 PGK 25.20

$6.01 PGK 25.83

-2.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.23 PGK 22.49

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 PGK 5.07

$2.39 PGK 10.25

-50.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 PGK 7.17

$2.38 PGK 10.22

-29.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.50 PGK 2.14

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$32.62 PGK 140

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.73 PGK 20.31

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.44 PGK 6.20

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.95 PGK 51.3

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 PGK 3.55

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

$23.0K PGK 98.6K

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

$24.6K PGK 105.7K

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

$67.0 PGK 288

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

$48.35 PGK 208

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$236 PGK 1,012

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.77 PGK 197

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.46 PGK 66.4

Cinema Ticket

$7.24 PGK 31.12

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

$355 PGK 1,526

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,442 PGK 10.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.00 PGK 133

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.57 PGK 62.6

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$48.48 PGK 208

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.45 PGK 122

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,542 PGK 15.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 PGK 1,016

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,536 PGK 15.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 PGK 1,020

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$363 PGK 1,558

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Boroko: June 7, 2026

Last update for Lihir Island: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Boroko versus $29.00 in Lihir Island. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $221 vs $114 – 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 381% 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 $1,678 per month in Boroko and $349 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 $1,119 in Boroko and $232 in Lihir Island. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 94% 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 $232, than in Boroko at $1,119. 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.