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 $898 per month in Boroko vs $1,508 in Port Moresby, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,289 per month in Boroko vs $2,365 in Port Moresby, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,680 per month in Boroko vs $3,222 in Port Moresby, rent included.

Boroko is about 40% cheaper than Port Moresby, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Boroko sits 35% below the global median, while Port Moresby is 9% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.21 PGK 31.27

$8.04 PGK 34.89

-10.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.26 PGK 157

$44.45 PGK 193

-18.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.77 PGK 25.04

$5.61 PGK 24.33

2.85%

Cappuccino

$2.45 PGK 10.65

$2.48 PGK 10.75

-1.21%

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

$0.77 PGK 3.36

$0.79 PGK 3.44

-2.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.65 PGK 2.84

$0.66 PGK 2.85

-1.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.77 PGK 12.03

$3.11 PGK 13.50

-10.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 PGK 16.11

$3.65 PGK 15.84

1.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.57 PGK 6.80

$1.89 PGK 8.20

-16.93%

White Bread (500g)

$1.18 PGK 5.12

$1.46 PGK 6.32

-19.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.24 PGK 5.38

$1.44 PGK 6.23

-13.89%

Eggs

$3.68 PGK 15.96

$3.59 PGK 15.59

2.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.21 PGK 22.59

$8.78 PGK 38.10

-40.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.23 PGK 22.68

$5.18 PGK 22.48

0.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.47 PGK 28.10

$8.83 PGK 38.30

-26.73%

Apples (1kg)

$4.03 PGK 17.48

$4.17 PGK 18.12

-3.36%

Banana (1kg)

$3.10 PGK 13.45

$3.06 PGK 13.29

1.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.80 PGK 12.15

$6.06 PGK 26.32

-53.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.79 PGK 12.11

$6.09 PGK 26.43

-54.19%

Potato (1kg)

$2.99 PGK 12.97

$3.34 PGK 14.49

-10.48%

Onion (1kg)

$0.86 PGK 3.72

$2.58 PGK 11.19

-66.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.12 PGK 4.86

$2.17 PGK 9.43

-48.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 PGK 2.00

$1.25 PGK 5.43

-63.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.70 PGK 24.74

$6.33 PGK 27.45

-9.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.03 PGK 21.85

$11.88 PGK 51.6

-57.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.10 PGK 4.77

$2.71 PGK 11.77

-59.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.63 PGK 7.06

$3.45 PGK 14.96

-52.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.47 PGK 2.05

$0.43 PGK 1.86

9.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.65 PGK 133

$22.22 PGK 96.4

37.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.58 PGK 19.89

$5.62 PGK 24.37

-18.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.32 PGK 5.73

$2.21 PGK 9.61

-40.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.29 PGK 48.99

$15.93 PGK 69.1

-29.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 PGK 3.51

$1.00 PGK 4.33

-19.00%

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

$21.0K PGK 91.2K

$21.3K PGK 92.3K

-1.22%

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

$17.9K PGK 77.6K

$17.6K PGK 76.5K

1.45%

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

$64.0 PGK 278

$117 PGK 509

-45.42%

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

$23.80 PGK 103

$23.37 PGK 101

1.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$92.3 PGK 401

$93.9 PGK 407

-1.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.35 PGK 188

$62.0 PGK 269

-30.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.52 PGK 63.0

$22.65 PGK 98.3

-35.89%

Cinema Ticket

$6.61 PGK 28.68

$8.91 PGK 38.67

-25.81%

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

$337 PGK 1,462

$839 PGK 3,643

-59.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,276 PGK 9,876

$6,271 PGK 27.2K

-63.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$33.26 PGK 144

$32.71 PGK 142

1.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.70 PGK 59.4

$32.00 PGK 139

-57.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$45.48 PGK 197

$140 PGK 607

-67.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$26.86 PGK 117

$165 PGK 715

-83.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,436 PGK 14.9K

$1,627 PGK 7,059

111.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$224 PGK 974

$559 PGK 2,425

-59.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,317 PGK 14.4K

$2,758 PGK 12.0K

20.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$223 PGK 968

$1,137 PGK 4,935

-80.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,098 PGK 9,103

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,908 PGK 17.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$365 PGK 1,582

$428 PGK 1,857

-14.82%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.17

-9.61%

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

Last update for Boroko: September 7, 2026

Last update for Port Moresby: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,436 in Boroko versus $1,627 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 17% 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 $36.00 in Boroko versus $44.00 in Port Moresby. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $212 vs $309 – 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 68% more than Boroko, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,348 per month in Boroko and $2,262 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 $337 per month in Boroko and $839 in Port Moresby. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 46% 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.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Boroko, where all-in costs run around $898, than in Port Moresby at $1,508. In Boroko it covers expenses comfortably, while in Port Moresby it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.