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