Cost of Living Comparison Between Boroko and Madang Cost of Living Comparison Between Boroko and Madang

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,113 per month in Boroko vs $539 in Madang, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,551 per month in Boroko vs $1,213 in Madang, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,990 per month in Boroko vs $1,887 in Madang, rent included.

Boroko costs about 107% more than Madang, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Boroko and Madang are more affordable than the global median – Boroko 17% lower, Madang 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.87 PGK 34.16

$6.86 PGK 29.77

14.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.12 PGK 165

$37.85 PGK 164

0.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.88 PGK 25.54

$10.79 PGK 46.81

-45.51%

Cappuccino

$2.23 PGK 9.67

$2.47 PGK 10.70

-9.72%

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

$0.76 PGK 3.28

$1.18 PGK 5.11

-35.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.85 PGK 3.71

$0.73 PGK 3.19

16.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 PGK 10.21

$2.82 PGK 12.24

-16.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.99 PGK 17.31

$4.33 PGK 18.81

-7.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.67 PGK 7.25

$1.89 PGK 8.21

-11.64%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 PGK 5.60

$1.46 PGK 6.33

-11.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.28 PGK 5.54

$1.45 PGK 6.30

-11.72%

Eggs

$3.78 PGK 16.42

$3.31 PGK 14.36

14.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.48 PGK 19.44

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.26 PGK 27.19

$5.72 PGK 24.84

9.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.94 PGK 30.12

$8.38 PGK 36.36

-17.18%

Apples (1kg)

$4.03 PGK 17.50

$5.24 PGK 22.75

-23.09%

Banana (1kg)

$2.96 PGK 12.87

$2.33 PGK 10.12

27.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.01 PGK 13.06

$0.94 PGK 4.06

220.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.95 PGK 12.80

$1.93 PGK 8.38

52.85%

Potato (1kg)

$3.09 PGK 13.40

$4.70 PGK 20.42

-34.26%

Onion (1kg)

$0.92 PGK 3.98

$2.95 PGK 12.80

-68.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 PGK 5.10

$6.14 PGK 26.65

-80.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 PGK 2.13

$0.47 PGK 2.03

4.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.07 PGK 26.34

$5.04 PGK 21.87

20.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.13 PGK 22.28

$11.32 PGK 49.15

-54.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.22 PGK 5.28

$2.10 PGK 9.12

-41.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 PGK 7.18

$2.46 PGK 10.66

-32.93%

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

$1.10 PGK 4.76

-26.36%

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

$66.2 PGK 287

0.98%

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

$48.14 PGK 209

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$244 PGK 1,061

$24.19 PGK 105

910.54%

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

$80.2 PGK 348

343.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,352 PGK 10.2K

$5,987 PGK 26.0K

-60.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.23 PGK 136

$19.42 PGK 84.3

60.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.33 PGK 62.2

$14.64 PGK 63.5

-2.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$48.29 PGK 210

$66.5 PGK 288

-27.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.30 PGK 123

$29.18 PGK 127

-3.02%

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

$971 PGK 4,214

268.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$241 PGK 1,045

$606 PGK 2,631

-60.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$363 PGK 1,575

$234 PGK 1,016

55.07%

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 Madang: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 55% higher in Boroko, 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 $38.00 in Boroko versus $38.00 in Madang. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $222 vs $248 – making Boroko 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 Madang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Boroko costs about 107% more than Madang, 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 $808 in Madang. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in Boroko and $38.00 in Madang. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 12% cheaper in Boroko – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Madang, where all-in costs run around $539, than in Boroko at $1,113. In Madang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Boroko it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Madang – 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 Madang. 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.