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 $503 per month in Fiji vs $682 in Papua New Guinea, rent included.

A couple spends around $861 per month in Fiji vs $984 in Papua New Guinea, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,219 per month in Fiji vs $1,286 in Papua New Guinea, rent included.

Fiji is roughly 26% cheaper than 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 62% lower, Papua New Guinea 49% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Fiji
Papua New Guinea
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.37 FJD 9.58
$7.87 PGK 34.33
-44.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.11 FJD 96.7
$47.75 PGK 208
-7.62%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.27 FJD 15.95
$5.90 PGK 25.72
23.22%
Cappuccino
$2.84 FJD 6.24
$2.31 PGK 10.08
22.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27 FJD 2.78
$0.89 PGK 3.90
42.70%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93 FJD 2.05
$0.75 PGK 3.26
24.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.86 FJD 6.27
$2.84 PGK 12.40
0.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46 FJD 7.59
$4.44 PGK 19.38
-22.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Fiji
Papua New Guinea
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.29 FJD 2.84
$1.97 PGK 8.61
-34.52%
White Bread (500g)
$0.56 FJD 1.23
$1.58 PGK 6.88
-64.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.11 FJD 2.43
$1.48 PGK 6.44
-25.00%
Eggs
$3.21 FJD 7.05
$3.89 PGK 16.95
-17.48%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.32 FJD 18.25
$6.00 PGK 26.16
38.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.59 FJD 16.64
$6.63 PGK 28.92
14.48%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.34 FJD 16.11
$9.04 PGK 39.43
-18.81%
Apples (1kg)
$2.44 FJD 5.35
$4.07 PGK 17.75
-40.05%
Banana (1kg)
$2.51 FJD 5.50
$2.74 PGK 11.97
-8.39%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.29 FJD 7.22
$4.91 PGK 21.42
-32.99%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.64 FJD 5.79
$4.00 PGK 17.46
-34.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.37 FJD 3.00
$3.44 PGK 14.99
-60.17%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 FJD 2.65
$2.49 PGK 10.86
-51.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 FJD 2.27
$2.88 PGK 12.55
-64.24%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 FJD 1.97
$1.05 PGK 4.59
-14.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.95 FJD 21.82
$6.54 PGK 28.52
52.14%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.44 FJD 18.50
$11.23 PGK 48.97
-24.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.18 FJD 4.79
$2.52 PGK 10.98
-13.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33 FJD 7.31
$3.53 PGK 15.40
-5.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Fiji
Papua New Guinea
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.70 FJD 1.53
$0.50 PGK 2.20
40.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.27 FJD 48.85
$27.86 PGK 122
-20.06%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.85 FJD 1.86
$5.28 PGK 23.04
-83.90%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.45 FJD 0.99
$2.48 PGK 10.84
-81.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.87 FJD 10.68
$16.94 PGK 73.9
-71.25%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 FJD 2.94
$1.11 PGK 4.84
20.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.7K FJD 52.0K
$24.0K PGK 104.7K
-1.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.6K FJD 49.5K
$31.3K PGK 136.3K
-27.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fiji
Papua New Guinea
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$53.2 FJD 117
$102 PGK 447
-48.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.10 FJD 28.73
$48.00 PGK 209
-72.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.29 FJD 51.1
$213 PGK 928
-89.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Fiji
Papua New Guinea
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.45 FJD 69.0
$62.0 PGK 270
-49.28%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.74 FJD 14.78
$12.34 PGK 53.8
-45.38%
Cinema Ticket
$4.56 FJD 10.00
$9.78 PGK 42.65
-53.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Fiji
Papua New Guinea
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$172 FJD 377
$434 PGK 1,893
-60.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.6K FJD 25.5K
$4,128 PGK 18.0K
181.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Fiji
Papua New Guinea
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.87 FJD 54.5
$35.81 PGK 156
-30.55%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.44 FJD 66.8
$35.50 PGK 155
-14.25%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$67.4 FJD 148
$68.5 PGK 299
-1.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.4 FJD 163
$66.6 PGK 291
11.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Fiji
Papua New Guinea
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$617 FJD 1,354
$3,043 PGK 13.3K
-79.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$333 FJD 731
$473 PGK 2,062
-29.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,587 FJD 3,481
$3,230 PGK 14.1K
-50.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$955 FJD 2,094
$731 PGK 3,189
30.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,248 FJD 2,736
$2,143 PGK 9,348
-41.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$841 FJD 1,844
$3,963 PGK 17.3K
-78.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Fiji
Papua New Guinea
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$881 FJD 1,932
$427 PGK 1,864
106.19%
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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Papua New Guinea: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $276 in Fiji vs $1,958 in Papua New Guinea. For reference, capital cities sit at $582 in Suva and $2,151 in Port Moresby.

Average salary: $751 in Fiji vs $325 in Papua New Guinea. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 609% higher in Papua New Guinea.

Dining out costs 15% more in Papua New Guinea.

Salaries are 131% higher in Fiji, giving Fiji stronger purchasing power.

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 59% 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 59% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget in Fiji or 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 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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