Cost of Living Comparison Between Fiji and Papua New Guinea Cost of Living Comparison Between Fiji and Papua New Guinea

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $498 per month in Fiji vs $687 in Papua New Guinea, rent included.

A couple spends around $855 per month in Fiji vs $987 in Papua New Guinea, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,212 per month in Fiji vs $1,287 in Papua New Guinea, rent included.

The cost of living in Fiji is roughly 28% 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 63% lower, Papua New Guinea 49% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Fiji
Papua New Guinea
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.41 FJD 9.87
$7.79 PGK 34.27
-43.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.72 FJD 95.6
$47.76 PGK 210
-10.55%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.04 FJD 15.75
$5.87 PGK 25.82
19.93%
Cappuccino
$2.90 FJD 6.49
$2.32 PGK 10.23
25.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 FJD 2.99
$0.84 PGK 3.69
59.52%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95 FJD 2.12
$0.73 PGK 3.22
30.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.84 FJD 6.37
$2.85 PGK 12.55
-0.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60 FJD 8.06
$4.66 PGK 20.51
-22.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Fiji
Papua New Guinea
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.31 FJD 2.92
$1.94 PGK 8.54
-32.47%
White Bread (500g)
$0.61 FJD 1.36
$1.54 PGK 6.78
-60.39%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.11 FJD 2.49
$1.51 PGK 6.62
-26.49%
Eggs
$3.32 FJD 7.43
$3.88 PGK 17.06
-14.43%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.41 FJD 18.82
$6.26 PGK 27.53
34.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.96 FJD 17.81
$6.44 PGK 28.34
23.60%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.65 FJD 17.12
$9.18 PGK 40.39
-16.67%
Apples (1kg)
$2.41 FJD 5.40
$4.06 PGK 17.88
-40.64%
Banana (1kg)
$2.61 FJD 5.83
$2.74 PGK 12.07
-4.74%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.30 FJD 7.38
$4.75 PGK 20.91
-30.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.78 FJD 6.22
$3.83 PGK 16.85
-27.42%
Potato (1kg)
$1.43 FJD 3.20
$3.31 PGK 14.58
-56.80%
Onion (1kg)
$1.20 FJD 2.69
$2.53 PGK 11.13
-52.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 FJD 2.32
$2.99 PGK 13.15
-65.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 FJD 2.01
$1.05 PGK 4.63
-14.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.61 FJD 21.50
$6.35 PGK 27.96
51.34%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.47 FJD 18.96
$11.06 PGK 48.65
-23.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.12 FJD 4.75
$2.60 PGK 11.44
-18.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.36 FJD 7.52
$3.45 PGK 15.20
-2.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Fiji
Papua New Guinea
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.73 FJD 1.64
$0.50 PGK 2.19
46.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.17 FJD 49.61
$28.57 PGK 126
-22.40%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.85 FJD 1.90
$5.48 PGK 24.13
-84.49%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.44 FJD 0.99
$2.43 PGK 10.69
-81.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.91 FJD 10.98
$16.47 PGK 72.5
-70.19%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 FJD 3.03
$1.08 PGK 4.76
25.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.7K FJD 53.1K
$23.7K PGK 104.3K
0.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.8K FJD 51.1K
$31.7K PGK 139.4K
-27.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fiji
Papua New Guinea
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$52.5 FJD 118
$101 PGK 445
-48.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.25 FJD 29.65
$48.55 PGK 214
-72.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.33 FJD 52.2
$209 PGK 919
-88.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Fiji
Papua New Guinea
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.55 FJD 70.6
$63.4 PGK 279
-50.27%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.77 FJD 15.14
$12.39 PGK 54.5
-45.36%
Cinema Ticket
$4.36 FJD 9.75
$9.39 PGK 41.30
-53.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Fiji
Papua New Guinea
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$176 FJD 394
$439 PGK 1,931
-59.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.5K FJD 25.8K
$4,095 PGK 18.0K
181.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Fiji
Papua New Guinea
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.51 FJD 57.1
$34.78 PGK 153
-26.65%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.23 FJD 67.7
$36.12 PGK 159
-16.31%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$67.6 FJD 151
$67.2 PGK 296
0.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.5 FJD 167
$65.3 PGK 287
14.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Fiji
Papua New Guinea
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$620 FJD 1,387
$3,107 PGK 13.7K
-80.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$335 FJD 749
$480 PGK 2,110
-30.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,554 FJD 3,477
$3,175 PGK 14.0K
-51.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$965 FJD 2,160
$712 PGK 3,132
35.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,217 FJD 2,724
$2,131 PGK 9,377
-42.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$806 FJD 1,805
$3,874 PGK 17.0K
-79.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Fiji
Papua New Guinea
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$874 FJD 1,957
$432 PGK 1,899
102.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.5
12.75
-49.02%

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

Last update for Fiji: July 12, 2026

Last update for Papua New Guinea: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $279 in Fiji vs $1,962 in Papua New Guinea. For reference, capital cities sit at $588 in Suva and $2,203 in Port Moresby.

Average salary: $733 in Fiji vs $319 in Papua New Guinea. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 603% higher in Papua New Guinea.

Dining out costs 15% more in Papua New Guinea.

Salaries are 130% 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 61% 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 61% 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.

Fiji vs other spots: cost of living compared

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