🙂A single person spends $402 per month in Fiji vs $473 in Papua New Guinea, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $675 per month in Fiji vs $747 in Papua New Guinea, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $948 per month in Fiji vs $1,021 in Papua New Guinea, rent included.
🌍The cost of living in Fiji is roughly 15% lower than in Papua New Guinea on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.
📊Both Fiji and Papua New Guinea are more affordable than the global median – Fiji 71% lower, Papua New Guinea 66% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Fiji
Papua New Guinea
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.51FJD 12.09
$7.12PGK 30.82
-22.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.60FJD 91.2
$45.01PGK 195
-7.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.46FJD 16.35
$5.80PGK 25.09
28.62%
Cappuccino
$3.15FJD 6.90
$2.39PGK 10.36
31.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52FJD 3.33
$0.80PGK 3.46
90.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.98FJD 2.16
$0.68PGK 2.94
44.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.26FJD 7.16
$2.77PGK 11.98
17.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.38FJD 9.61
$4.15PGK 17.97
5.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Fiji
Papua New Guinea
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38FJD 3.02
$1.85PGK 7.99
-25.41%
White Bread(500g)
$0.72FJD 1.58
$1.54PGK 6.66
-53.25%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.10FJD 2.41
$1.40PGK 6.07
-21.43%
Eggs
$3.47FJD 7.60
$3.70PGK 16.00
-6.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.58FJD 21.00
$6.41PGK 27.74
49.45%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.56FJD 20.96
$5.76PGK 24.95
65.97%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.28FJD 18.17
$9.06PGK 39.23
-8.61%
Apples(1kg)
$2.70FJD 5.92
$3.96PGK 17.14
-31.82%
Banana(1kg)
$2.71FJD 5.94
$3.42PGK 14.80
-20.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.41FJD 7.48
$6.23PGK 26.97
-45.26%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.02FJD 6.63
$4.90PGK 21.19
-38.37%
Potato(1kg)
$1.33FJD 2.91
$3.59PGK 15.53
-62.95%
Onion(1kg)
$1.26FJD 2.77
$2.47PGK 10.68
-48.99%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03FJD 2.26
$1.79PGK 7.74
-42.46%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76FJD 1.67
$1.07PGK 4.62
-28.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.87FJD 21.64
$6.23PGK 26.96
58.43%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.59FJD 18.83
$11.04PGK 47.78
-22.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.36FJD 5.17
$2.82PGK 12.22
-16.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80FJD 8.33
$3.80PGK 16.45
-
🚌 Getting Around
Fiji
Papua New Guinea
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.80FJD 1.75
$0.44PGK 1.90
81.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.91FJD 50.2
$25.99PGK 112
-11.85%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.87FJD 1.91
$5.11PGK 22.10
-82.97%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.44FJD 0.97
$2.23PGK 9.67
-80.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.83FJD 14.99
$14.45PGK 62.6
-52.73%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36FJD 2.98
$0.99PGK 4.29
37.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.7KFJD 54.3K
$22.3KPGK 96.4K
11.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0KFJD 59.2K
$23.5KPGK 101.7K
14.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fiji
Papua New Guinea
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$57.0FJD 125
$94.1PGK 407
-39.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.29FJD 31.34
$28.27PGK 122
-49.45%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.26FJD 46.62
$120PGK 520
-82.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Fiji
Papua New Guinea
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.54FJD 80.1
$64.8PGK 280
-43.61%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.48FJD 16.39
$20.94PGK 90.7
-64.28%
Cinema Ticket
$3.65FJD 8.01
$9.21PGK 39.87
-60.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Fiji
Papua New Guinea
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$195FJD 428
$534PGK 2,313
-63.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.6KFJD 29.8K
$5,656PGK 24.5K
139.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Fiji
Papua New Guinea
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$28.15FJD 61.7
$35.36PGK 153
-20.39%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.69FJD 78.3
$31.17PGK 135
14.50%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$68.5FJD 150
$69.2PGK 299
-0.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$64.3FJD 141
$93.4PGK 404
-31.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Fiji
Papua New Guinea
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$938FJD 2,057
$1,654PGK 7,161
-43.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$428FJD 939
$456PGK 1,972
-5.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,023FJD 4,437
$2,599PGK 11.2K
-22.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$925FJD 2,028
$1,058PGK 4,580
-12.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,240FJD 2,720
$2,049PGK 8,867
-39.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$844FJD 1,851
$3,872PGK 16.8K
-78.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Fiji
Papua New Guinea
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$881FJD 1,932
$416PGK 1,799
111.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.44
13.67
-52.89%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Fiji: August 30, 2026
Last update for Papua New Guinea: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $353 in Fiji vs $780 in Papua New Guinea. For reference, capital cities sit at $894 in Suva and $1,657 in Port Moresby.
💰Average salary: $754 in Fiji vs $317 in Papua New Guinea. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 121% higher in Papua New Guinea.
⭐Dining out costs 32% more in Fiji.
⭐Public transport is 167% more expensive in Papua New Guinea.
⭐Salaries are 138% higher in Fiji, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Fiji.
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
Fiji vs Papua New Guinea: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fiji more expensive than Papua New Guinea?
Fiji is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 8% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in Papua New Guinea, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Papua New Guinea consistently has higher rents.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Fiji, contributing to the overall 8% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget in Fiji or in Papua New Guinea?
$1,500 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Fiji, but in Papua New Guinea it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Fiji or to Papua New Guinea?
Fiji is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.