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 $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
$5.51 FJD 12.09
$7.12 PGK 30.82
-22.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.60 FJD 91.2
$45.01 PGK 195
-7.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.46 FJD 16.35
$5.80 PGK 25.09
28.62%
Cappuccino
$3.15 FJD 6.90
$2.39 PGK 10.36
31.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 FJD 3.33
$0.80 PGK 3.46
90.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.98 FJD 2.16
$0.68 PGK 2.94
44.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.26 FJD 7.16
$2.77 PGK 11.98
17.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.38 FJD 9.61
$4.15 PGK 17.97
5.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Fiji
Papua New Guinea
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 FJD 3.02
$1.85 PGK 7.99
-25.41%
White Bread (500g)
$0.72 FJD 1.58
$1.54 PGK 6.66
-53.25%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.10 FJD 2.41
$1.40 PGK 6.07
-21.43%
Eggs
$3.47 FJD 7.60
$3.70 PGK 16.00
-6.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.58 FJD 21.00
$6.41 PGK 27.74
49.45%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.56 FJD 20.96
$5.76 PGK 24.95
65.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.28 FJD 18.17
$9.06 PGK 39.23
-8.61%
Apples (1kg)
$2.70 FJD 5.92
$3.96 PGK 17.14
-31.82%
Banana (1kg)
$2.71 FJD 5.94
$3.42 PGK 14.80
-20.76%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.41 FJD 7.48
$6.23 PGK 26.97
-45.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.02 FJD 6.63
$4.90 PGK 21.19
-38.37%
Potato (1kg)
$1.33 FJD 2.91
$3.59 PGK 15.53
-62.95%
Onion (1kg)
$1.26 FJD 2.77
$2.47 PGK 10.68
-48.99%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 FJD 2.26
$1.79 PGK 7.74
-42.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76 FJD 1.67
$1.07 PGK 4.62
-28.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.87 FJD 21.64
$6.23 PGK 26.96
58.43%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.59 FJD 18.83
$11.04 PGK 47.78
-22.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.36 FJD 5.17
$2.82 PGK 12.22
-16.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80 FJD 8.33
$3.80 PGK 16.45
-
🚌 Getting Around
Fiji
Papua New Guinea
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.80 FJD 1.75
$0.44 PGK 1.90
81.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.91 FJD 50.2
$25.99 PGK 112
-11.85%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.87 FJD 1.91
$5.11 PGK 22.10
-82.97%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.44 FJD 0.97
$2.23 PGK 9.67
-80.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.83 FJD 14.99
$14.45 PGK 62.6
-52.73%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 FJD 2.98
$0.99 PGK 4.29
37.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.7K FJD 54.3K
$22.3K PGK 96.4K
11.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K FJD 59.2K
$23.5K PGK 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)
$57.0 FJD 125
$94.1 PGK 407
-39.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.29 FJD 31.34
$28.27 PGK 122
-49.45%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.26 FJD 46.62
$120 PGK 520
-82.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Fiji
Papua New Guinea
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.54 FJD 80.1
$64.8 PGK 280
-43.61%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.48 FJD 16.39
$20.94 PGK 90.7
-64.28%
Cinema Ticket
$3.65 FJD 8.01
$9.21 PGK 39.87
-60.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Fiji
Papua New Guinea
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$195 FJD 428
$534 PGK 2,313
-63.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.6K FJD 29.8K
$5,656 PGK 24.5K
139.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Fiji
Papua New Guinea
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$28.15 FJD 61.7
$35.36 PGK 153
-20.39%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.69 FJD 78.3
$31.17 PGK 135
14.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$68.5 FJD 150
$69.2 PGK 299
-0.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$64.3 FJD 141
$93.4 PGK 404
-31.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Fiji
Papua New Guinea
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$938 FJD 2,057
$1,654 PGK 7,161
-43.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$428 FJD 939
$456 PGK 1,972
-5.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,023 FJD 4,437
$2,599 PGK 11.2K
-22.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$925 FJD 2,028
$1,058 PGK 4,580
-12.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,240 FJD 2,720
$2,049 PGK 8,867
-39.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$844 FJD 1,851
$3,872 PGK 16.8K
-78.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Fiji
Papua New Guinea
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$881 FJD 1,932
$416 PGK 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.

Fiji vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar countries