Cost of Living Comparison Between Boroko and Port Moresby Cost of Living Comparison Between Boroko and Port Moresby

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,120 per month in Boroko vs $1,702 in Port Moresby, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,557 per month in Boroko vs $2,442 in Port Moresby, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,995 per month in Boroko vs $3,181 in Port Moresby, rent included.

Boroko is about 34% cheaper than Port Moresby, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Boroko sits 16% below the global median, while Port Moresby is 27% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.78 PGK 34.23

$9.40 PGK 41.38

-17.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.91 PGK 167

$48.47 PGK 213

-21.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.83 PGK 25.65

$5.87 PGK 25.84

-0.68%

Cappuccino

$2.26 PGK 9.94

$2.29 PGK 10.09

-1.31%

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

$0.74 PGK 3.27

$0.80 PGK 3.53

-7.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.81 PGK 3.55

$0.78 PGK 3.45

3.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.38 PGK 10.48

$2.45 PGK 10.76

-2.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.13 PGK 18.18

$4.13 PGK 18.15

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 PGK 7.48

$1.93 PGK 8.51

-11.92%

White Bread (500g)

$1.31 PGK 5.75

$1.60 PGK 7.02

-18.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 PGK 5.82

$1.49 PGK 6.55

-11.41%

Eggs

$3.84 PGK 16.92

$3.75 PGK 16.49

2.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.31 PGK 18.96

$4.53 PGK 19.91

-4.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.35 PGK 27.93

$6.22 PGK 27.35

2.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.98 PGK 30.71

$9.76 PGK 42.96

-28.48%

Apples (1kg)

$4.10 PGK 18.04

$4.07 PGK 17.90

0.74%

Banana (1kg)

$2.80 PGK 12.32

$2.82 PGK 12.39

-0.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.03 PGK 13.32

$5.70 PGK 25.08

-46.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.86 PGK 12.60

$5.41 PGK 23.81

-47.13%

Potato (1kg)

$3.06 PGK 13.47

$3.25 PGK 14.29

-5.85%

Onion (1kg)

$0.92 PGK 4.07

$2.78 PGK 12.21

-66.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 PGK 5.22

$3.08 PGK 13.55

-61.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 PGK 2.19

$1.27 PGK 5.58

-60.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.88 PGK 25.89

$6.99 PGK 30.74

-15.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.16 PGK 22.70

$11.86 PGK 52.2

-56.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 PGK 5.42

$2.82 PGK 12.39

-56.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 PGK 7.60

$3.83 PGK 16.84

-54.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.50 PGK 2.21

$0.50 PGK 2.20

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.82 PGK 140

$23.88 PGK 105

33.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.83 PGK 21.26

$6.10 PGK 26.85

-20.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.44 PGK 6.35

$2.44 PGK 10.73

-40.98%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.97 PGK 52.7

$17.09 PGK 75.2

-29.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 PGK 3.77

$1.14 PGK 5.00

-24.56%

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

$22.5K PGK 98.9K

$22.3K PGK 98.2K

0.75%

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

$24.2K PGK 106.4K

$24.9K PGK 109.4K

-2.71%

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

$66.3 PGK 292

$108 PGK 475

-38.52%

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

$48.00 PGK 211

$47.63 PGK 210

0.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$245 PGK 1,076

$377 PGK 1,657

-35.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.74 PGK 197

$66.5 PGK 293

-32.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.49 PGK 68.2

$20.71 PGK 91.1

-25.21%

Cinema Ticket

$7.14 PGK 31.43

$9.84 PGK 43.29

-27.44%

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

$361 PGK 1,589

$633 PGK 2,786

-42.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,361 PGK 10.4K

$4,013 PGK 17.7K

-41.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.74 PGK 140

$31.33 PGK 138

1.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.69 PGK 64.6

$37.00 PGK 163

-60.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$47.45 PGK 209

$76.2 PGK 335

-37.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.24 PGK 124

$97.2 PGK 428

-70.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,624 PGK 15.9K

$2,203 PGK 9,694

64.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$236 PGK 1,037

$478 PGK 2,102

-50.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,612 PGK 15.9K

$3,447 PGK 15.2K

4.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 PGK 1,045

$840 PGK 3,694

-71.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,088 PGK 9,188

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,904 PGK 17.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$360 PGK 1,584

$439 PGK 1,932

-17.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.33

-17.48%

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

Last update for Boroko: July 12, 2026

Last update for Port Moresby: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,624 in Boroko versus $2,203 in Port Moresby. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 22% higher in Port Moresby, 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 $48.00 in Port Moresby. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $222 vs $306 – 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 Port Moresby: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Port Moresby costs about 52% more than Boroko, 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 $1,679 per month in Boroko and $2,553 in Port Moresby. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Boroko, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $361 per month in Boroko and $633 in Port Moresby. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 38% more in Port Moresby, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $1,120 in Boroko and $1,702 in Port Moresby. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Boroko – 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 Boroko. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Port Moresby makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.