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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,119 per month in Boroko vs $530 in Madang, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,547 per month in Boroko vs $1,180 in Madang, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,975 per month in Boroko vs $1,831 in Madang, rent included.

Boroko costs about 111% more than Madang, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Boroko and Madang are more affordable than the global median – Boroko 17% lower, Madang 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.77 PGK 33.38

$6.85 PGK 29.44

13.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.14 PGK 168

$38.80 PGK 167

0.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.03 PGK 25.89

$10.71 PGK 46.02

-43.70%

Cappuccino

$2.34 PGK 10.06

$2.34 PGK 10.03

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

$0.82 PGK 3.50

$1.22 PGK 5.22

-32.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 PGK 3.35

$0.70 PGK 3.00

11.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 PGK 10.11

$2.95 PGK 12.68

-20.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.99 PGK 17.16

$4.30 PGK 18.47

-7.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 PGK 7.40

$1.88 PGK 8.08

-8.51%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 PGK 5.39

$1.41 PGK 6.06

-10.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.29 PGK 5.53

$1.45 PGK 6.24

-11.03%

Eggs

$3.73 PGK 16.02

$3.28 PGK 14.10

13.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.48 PGK 19.23

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.41 PGK 27.56

$5.61 PGK 24.12

14.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.05 PGK 30.29

$8.19 PGK 35.18

-13.92%

Apples (1kg)

$3.95 PGK 16.99

$5.35 PGK 22.99

-26.17%

Banana (1kg)

$2.86 PGK 12.30

$2.43 PGK 10.44

17.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.90 PGK 12.46

$0.91 PGK 3.92

218.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.90 PGK 12.44

$1.96 PGK 8.44

47.96%

Potato (1kg)

$3.16 PGK 13.57

$4.85 PGK 20.85

-34.85%

Onion (1kg)

$0.94 PGK 4.02

$2.93 PGK 12.58

-67.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.17 PGK 5.03

$6.10 PGK 26.19

-80.82%

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

$5.20 PGK 22.33

12.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.23 PGK 22.49

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 PGK 5.07

$2.14 PGK 9.21

-44.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 PGK 7.17

$2.38 PGK 10.21

-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

$1.10 PGK 4.71

-24.55%

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

$68.1 PGK 292

-1.54%

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

$48.35 PGK 208

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$236 PGK 1,012

$24.06 PGK 103

879.34%

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

$80.3 PGK 345

342.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,442 PGK 10.5K

$5,942 PGK 25.5K

-58.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.00 PGK 133

$19.19 PGK 82.4

61.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.57 PGK 62.6

$14.45 PGK 62.1

0.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$48.48 PGK 208

$67.4 PGK 290

-28.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.45 PGK 122

$28.32 PGK 122

0.46%

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

$951 PGK 4,085

271.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 PGK 1,020

$592 PGK 2,542

-59.89%

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 Madang: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Boroko versus $39.00 in Madang. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $221 vs $225 – 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 111% 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 $1,678 per month in Boroko and $795 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 $39.00 in Boroko and $39.00 in Madang. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 2% 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 $530, than in Boroko at $1,119. 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.