For one person, living is cheaper in Papua New Guinea: $1,364 a month against $2,065 in Germany, rent and utilities included – about $8,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
How much you'll spend in Germany and in Papua New Guinea
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Germany and in Papua New Guinea actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,065 in Germany versus $1,364 in Papua New Guinea.
Germany $2,065
Papua New Guinea $1,364
Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,136 in Germany versus $2,170 in Papua New Guinea.
Germany $3,136
Papua New Guinea $2,170
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,208 in Germany versus $2,976 in Papua New Guinea.
Germany $4,208
Papua New Guinea $2,976
🌍
Living in Germany is roughly 51% more expensive than in Papua New Guinea on average.
📊
Both countries sit above the global median: Germany 52% above, Papua New Guinea 1% above.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Germany
Papua New Guinea
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.61€14.77
$7.09PGK 31.04
134.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$72.4€64.4
$44.55PGK 195
62.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.15€10.81
$5.35PGK 23.42
127.10%
Cappuccino
$3.96€3.52
$2.33PGK 10.18
69.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.45€3.07
$0.79PGK 3.44
336.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06€2.72
$0.67PGK 2.92
356.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.19€4.62
$2.59PGK 11.35
100.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59€4.08
$3.97PGK 17.38
15.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Germany
Papua New Guinea
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27€1.13
$1.80PGK 7.88
-29.44%
White Bread(500g)
$2.13€1.90
$1.50PGK 6.57
42.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.56€3.17
$1.32PGK 5.78
169.70%
Eggs
$3.79€3.37
$3.63PGK 15.89
4.41%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.65€13.03
$6.49PGK 28.42
125.73%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.78€10.48
$5.76PGK 25.21
104.51%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.78€18.48
$9.18PGK 40.19
126.36%
Apples(1kg)
$3.17€2.82
$4.00PGK 17.52
-20.75%
Banana(1kg)
$1.98€1.76
$3.29PGK 14.39
-39.82%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.21€1.96
$6.15PGK 26.93
-64.07%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.28€3.81
$5.12PGK 22.42
-16.41%
Potato(1kg)
$1.45€1.29
$3.29PGK 14.41
-55.93%
Onion(1kg)
$1.49€1.33
$2.79PGK 12.20
-46.59%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.67€1.49
$2.01PGK 8.79
-16.92%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07€0.95
$1.13PGK 4.94
-5.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.90€8.81
$6.55PGK 28.66
51.15%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.56€5.83
$10.72PGK 46.94
-38.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.09€0.97
$2.47PGK 10.83
-55.87%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60€1.43
$3.71PGK 16.23
-56.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Germany
Papua New Guinea
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.84€3.42
$0.46PGK 2.01
734.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$70.9€63.1
$25.35PGK 111
179.64%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.52€4.91
$4.81PGK 21.07
14.76%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.74€2.44
$2.22PGK 9.73
23.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$38.54€34.28
$12.21PGK 53.5
215.64%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.11€1.87
$0.98PGK 4.27
115.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.0K€29.3K
$29.0KPGK 127.0K
13.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.7K€34.4K
$22.7KPGK 99.3K
70.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Germany
Papua New Guinea
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$338€301
$93.6PGK 410
261.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.76€22.02
$24.89PGK 109
-0.52%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$47.37€42.13
$104PGK 454
-54.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Germany
Papua New Guinea
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.14€36.59
$63.6PGK 278
-35.29%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.41€24.38
$24.19PGK 106
13.31%
Cinema Ticket
$14.31€12.73
$8.64PGK 37.82
65.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Germany
Papua New Guinea
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$573€510
$522PGK 2,283
9.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.6K€15.6K
$5,363PGK 23.5K
227.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Germany
Papua New Guinea
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.1€79.3
$36.28PGK 159
145.67%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.77€38.04
$33.70PGK 148
26.91%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.5€88.5
$64.1PGK 281
55.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$132€117
$85.4PGK 374
54.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Germany
Papua New Guinea
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$896€797
$1,337PGK 5,855
-33.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$703€625
$495PGK 2,167
41.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,675€1,490
$2,689PGK 11.8K
-37.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,314€1,169
$1,069PGK 4,678
22.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,163€5,482
$2,026PGK 8,869
204.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,027€3,582
$3,702PGK 16.2K
8.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Germany
Papua New Guinea
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,219€2,864
$417PGK 1,826
671.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.96
13.67
-71.03%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Germany: October 19, 2026
Last update for Papua New Guinea: October 19, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Germany
$703 34%
Papua New Guinea
$495 36.3% ↓ 29.5%$208
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Germany
$410 19.9%
Papua New Guinea
$222 16.3% ↓ 45.8%$188
🛒Groceries & Markets
Germany
$335 16.2%
Papua New Guinea
$297 21.8% ↓ 11.4%$38
🍽Eating Out
Germany
$278 13.5%
Papua New Guinea
$127 9.3% ↓ 54.2%$151
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Germany
$163 7.9%
Papua New Guinea
$99 7.2% ↓ 39.6%$65
🚌Getting Around
Germany
$105 5.1%
Papua New Guinea
$43 3.2% ↓ 59.1%$62
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Germany
$70 3.4%
Papua New Guinea
$81 5.9% ↑ 15.9%$11
🏠Accommodation & Living
Germany
$1.3K 31.2%
Papua New Guinea
$1.1K 35.9% ↓ 18.7%$246
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Germany
$435 10.3%
Papua New Guinea
$247 8.3% ↓ 43.2%$188
🛒Groceries & Markets
Germany
$794 18.9%
Papua New Guinea
$690 23.2% ↓ 13.1%$104
🍽Eating Out
Germany
$916 21.8%
Papua New Guinea
$478 16.1% ↓ 47.8%$438
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Germany
$363 8.6%
Papua New Guinea
$220 7.4% ↓ 39.6%$144
🚌Getting Around
Germany
$219 5.2%
Papua New Guinea
$87 2.9% ↓ 60.1%$132
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Germany
$167 4%
Papua New Guinea
$186 6.3% ↑ 11.4%$19
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $800 in Germany, $751 in Papua New Guinea. Capital cities: $1,398 in Berlin vs $1,507 in Port Moresby.
💰National salary averages: $3,119 in Germany, $311 in Papua New Guinea. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 7% higher in Germany.
⭐Dining out costs 274% more in Germany.
⭐Public transport is 843% more expensive in Germany.
⭐Salaries are 903% higher in Germany, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Germany.
Germany→Papua New Guinea13,690 km≈ 18 h nonstop flight
From you
Germany
Papua New Guinea
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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
Germany vs Papua New Guinea: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is more expensive to live in: Germany or Papua New Guinea?
At $2,065 per month in Germany and $1,364 in Papua New Guinea, there's a 51% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Where are groceries and transport cheaper: Germany or Papua New Guinea?
Day-to-day life is cheaper in Papua New Guinea: lower grocery prices, cheaper commutes, and more affordable meals out. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
How do rents compare between Germany and Papua New Guinea?
Rent for a central one-bedroom averages $800 in Germany and $751 in Papua New Guinea. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.
How far does $1,500 go in Germany compared to Papua New Guinea?
In Papua New Guinea, $1,500 covers most cities easily; in Germany it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
How do I choose between living in Germany and in Papua New Guinea?
It depends on what you're after: Papua New Guinea wins on affordability; Germany may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.