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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,126 per month in Boroko vs $529 in Madang, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,565 per month in Boroko vs $1,191 in Madang, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,004 per month in Boroko vs $1,852 in Madang, rent included.

Boroko costs about 113% more than Madang, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Boroko and Madang are more affordable than the global median – Boroko 15% lower, Madang 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.01 PGK 35.36

$6.69 PGK 29.50

19.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.06 PGK 172

$38.09 PGK 168

2.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.83 PGK 25.72

$10.82 PGK 47.75

-46.12%

Cappuccino

$2.29 PGK 10.12

$2.44 PGK 10.76

-6.15%

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

$0.82 PGK 3.61

$1.23 PGK 5.43

-33.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.79 PGK 3.47

$0.71 PGK 3.12

11.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.47 PGK 10.90

$2.89 PGK 12.77

-14.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.10 PGK 18.08

$4.31 PGK 19.00

-4.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 PGK 7.54

$1.95 PGK 8.62

-12.31%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 PGK 5.74

$1.46 PGK 6.43

-10.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 PGK 5.84

$1.47 PGK 6.50

-10.20%

Eggs

$3.94 PGK 17.40

$3.39 PGK 14.94

16.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 PGK 19.42

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.37 PGK 28.13

$5.75 PGK 25.36

10.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.90 PGK 30.44

$8.21 PGK 36.25

-15.96%

Apples (1kg)

$3.94 PGK 17.37

$5.41 PGK 23.87

-27.17%

Banana (1kg)

$2.96 PGK 13.06

$2.38 PGK 10.51

24.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.00 PGK 13.22

$0.92 PGK 4.04

226.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.89 PGK 12.77

$1.97 PGK 8.68

46.70%

Potato (1kg)

$3.18 PGK 14.05

$4.89 PGK 21.59

-34.97%

Onion (1kg)

$0.93 PGK 4.11

$2.91 PGK 12.86

-68.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.17 PGK 5.16

$5.91 PGK 26.07

-80.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.47 PGK 2.06

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.09 PGK 26.89

$5.08 PGK 22.41

19.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.08 PGK 22.42

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 PGK 5.44

$2.22 PGK 9.78

-44.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.66 PGK 7.30

$2.44 PGK 10.75

-31.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.47 PGK 2.07

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$32.62 PGK 144

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.83 PGK 21.32

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.45 PGK 6.41

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.79 PGK 52.0

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 PGK 3.81

$1.11 PGK 4.88

-22.52%

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

$22.8K PGK 100.8K

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

$24.3K PGK 107.3K

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

$66.2 PGK 292

$65.9 PGK 291

0.49%

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

$46.81 PGK 207

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$236 PGK 1,041

$23.73 PGK 105

893.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.07 PGK 199

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.53 PGK 68.5

Cinema Ticket

$7.17 PGK 31.62

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

$365 PGK 1,611

$78.8 PGK 348

363.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,428 PGK 10.7K

$6,047 PGK 26.7K

-59.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.84 PGK 140

$19.43 PGK 85.7

63.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.61 PGK 64.5

$14.52 PGK 64.1

0.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$47.19 PGK 208

$66.7 PGK 294

-29.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.51 PGK 126

$28.71 PGK 127

-0.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,607 PGK 15.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$236 PGK 1,043

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,633 PGK 16.0K

$952 PGK 4,201

281.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 PGK 1,046

$599 PGK 2,641

-60.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$363 PGK 1,603

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Boroko: July 27, 2026

Last update for Madang: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Boroko versus $38.00 in Madang. Groceries tell a different story – $222 in Boroko vs $227 in Madang – so Boroko wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 113% 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 $1,689 per month in Boroko and $794 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 $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 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 $529, than in Boroko at $1,126. 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.