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 $1,115 per month in Boroko vs $1,689 in Port Moresby, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,539 per month in Boroko vs $2,472 in Port Moresby, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,963 per month in Boroko vs $3,255 in Port Moresby, rent included.

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

Boroko sits 17% below the global median, while Port Moresby is 26% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.03 PGK 35.01

$9.84 PGK 42.93

-18.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.81 PGK 169

$47.81 PGK 209

-18.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.94 PGK 25.89

$5.94 PGK 25.92

Cappuccino

$2.26 PGK 9.87

$2.29 PGK 10.01

-1.31%

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

$0.81 PGK 3.54

$0.75 PGK 3.29

8.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 PGK 3.63

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.45 PGK 10.67

$2.37 PGK 10.35

3.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.17 PGK 18.18

$4.15 PGK 18.10

0.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.63 PGK 7.11

$2.00 PGK 8.72

-18.50%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 PGK 5.67

$1.56 PGK 6.80

-16.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.28 PGK 5.59

$1.49 PGK 6.48

-14.09%

Eggs

$3.93 PGK 17.16

$3.89 PGK 16.95

1.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.56 PGK 19.88

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.11 PGK 26.64

$6.41 PGK 27.97

-4.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.12 PGK 31.06

$9.34 PGK 40.72

-23.77%

Apples (1kg)

$4.09 PGK 17.85

$3.98 PGK 17.34

2.76%

Banana (1kg)

$2.96 PGK 12.91

$2.89 PGK 12.62

2.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.90 PGK 12.64

$5.58 PGK 24.34

-48.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.90 PGK 12.63

$5.66 PGK 24.67

-48.76%

Potato (1kg)

$3.19 PGK 13.89

$3.40 PGK 14.81

-6.18%

Onion (1kg)

$0.92 PGK 4.01

$2.68 PGK 11.70

-65.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.22 PGK 5.30

$2.96 PGK 12.89

-58.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 PGK 2.18

$1.32 PGK 5.74

-62.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.07 PGK 26.50

$6.67 PGK 29.09

-9.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.12 PGK 22.34

$11.88 PGK 51.8

-56.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.17 PGK 5.11

$2.88 PGK 12.58

-59.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.63 PGK 7.13

$3.82 PGK 16.65

-57.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.49 PGK 2.15

$0.47 PGK 2.04

4.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.68 PGK 138

$23.77 PGK 104

33.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.78 PGK 20.87

$5.85 PGK 25.52

-18.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.51 PGK 6.58

$2.40 PGK 10.49

-37.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.91 PGK 51.9

$16.49 PGK 71.9

-27.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 PGK 3.84

$1.14 PGK 4.99

-22.81%

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

$22.5K PGK 98.0K

$22.9K PGK 99.9K

-1.94%

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

$24.5K PGK 107.0K

$24.6K PGK 107.3K

-0.29%

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

$67.8 PGK 296

$105 PGK 458

-35.42%

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

$46.77 PGK 204

$46.75 PGK 204

0.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$239 PGK 1,042

$382 PGK 1,667

-37.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.41 PGK 202

$67.2 PGK 293

-30.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.91 PGK 69.4

$20.62 PGK 89.9

-22.84%

Cinema Ticket

$7.07 PGK 30.83

$9.73 PGK 42.44

-27.34%

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

$363 PGK 1,584

$639 PGK 2,787

-43.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,369 PGK 10.3K

$4,095 PGK 17.9K

-42.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.80 PGK 139

$31.07 PGK 136

2.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.15 PGK 61.7

$36.74 PGK 160

-61.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$47.86 PGK 209

$77.1 PGK 336

-37.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.78 PGK 126

$98.6 PGK 430

-70.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,646 PGK 15.9K

$2,151 PGK 9,380

69.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$241 PGK 1,053

$481 PGK 2,096

-49.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,574 PGK 15.6K

$3,423 PGK 14.9K

4.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 PGK 1,044

$826 PGK 3,603

-71.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,127 PGK 9,275

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,892 PGK 17.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$369 PGK 1,608

$446 PGK 1,945

-17.31%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Port Moresby: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,646 in Boroko versus $2,151 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 21% 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 $39.00 in Boroko versus $48.00 in Port Moresby. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $222 vs $308 – 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 51% 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 $1,673 per month in Boroko and $2,533 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 $363 per month in Boroko and $639 in Port Moresby. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 39% 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 $1,115 in Boroko and $1,689 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.