Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lae and Boroko

For one person, living is cheaper in Lae: $817 a month against $868 in Boroko, rent and utilities included – about $610 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

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Cost of Living Index in Boroko
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Boroko Living Index

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Lae

🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea

$817

/mo nomad

Boroko

🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea

$868

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Lae and in Boroko

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Lae and in Boroko actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $817 per month in Lae vs $868 in Boroko, rent included.

Lae $817
Boroko $868

A couple spends around $1,470 per month in Lae vs $1,259 in Boroko, rent included.

Lae $1,470
Boroko $1,259

A family of three spends $2,123 per month in Lae vs $1,649 in Boroko, rent included.

Lae $2,123
Boroko $1,649

Lae is about 6% cheaper than Boroko, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Lae and Boroko are more affordable than the global median – Lae 40% lower, Boroko 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$23.60 PGK 103

$7.29 PGK 31.67

223.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.5 PGK 219

$34.42 PGK 149

46.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.35 PGK 23.26

Cappuccino

$2.66 PGK 11.57

$2.48 PGK 10.76

7.26%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 PGK 3.23

$0.71 PGK 3.06

4.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.57 PGK 2.47

$0.64 PGK 2.78

-10.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.22 PGK 14.01

$2.58 PGK 11.22

24.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.10 PGK 22.13

$3.42 PGK 14.85

49.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.98 PGK 8.62

$1.50 PGK 6.51

32.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.45 PGK 6.28

$1.16 PGK 5.02

25.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.24 PGK 5.39

$1.16 PGK 5.03

6.90%

Eggs

$3.96 PGK 17.18

$3.55 PGK 15.40

11.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.41 PGK 40.86

$4.98 PGK 21.65

88.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.06 PGK 39.35

$4.79 PGK 20.79

89.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.59 PGK 45.99

$6.61 PGK 28.72

60.21%

Apples (1kg)

$4.30 PGK 18.67

$3.85 PGK 16.70

11.69%

Banana (1kg)

$2.69 PGK 11.68

$3.08 PGK 13.38

-12.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.87 PGK 25.50

$2.72 PGK 11.80

115.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 PGK 6.53

$2.70 PGK 11.74

-44.44%

Potato (1kg)

$3.37 PGK 14.62

$2.82 PGK 12.24

19.50%

Onion (1kg)

$2.34 PGK 10.14

$0.84 PGK 3.65

178.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.64 PGK 2.80

$1.12 PGK 4.86

-42.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 PGK 3.70

$0.42 PGK 1.83

102.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.75 PGK 29.32

$5.42 PGK 23.53

24.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.26 PGK 53.2

$4.95 PGK 21.52

147.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.59 PGK 11.27

$1.07 PGK 4.67

142.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.34 PGK 18.87

$1.49 PGK 6.48

191.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.31 PGK 1.37

$0.42 PGK 1.83

-26.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.88 PGK 125

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.40 PGK 19.11

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 PGK 5.83

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.97 PGK 47.66

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 PGK 4.46

$0.80 PGK 3.47

28.75%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$35.7K PGK 155.0K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$17.6K PGK 76.4K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$61.6 PGK 267

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$20.71 PGK 90.0

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$82.1 PGK 357

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.86 PGK 182

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.29 PGK 62.1

Cinema Ticket

$6.47 PGK 28.09

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$333 PGK 1,445

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,215 PGK 9,621

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$34.50 PGK 150

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$12.91 PGK 56.1

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$44.28 PGK 192

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$26.31 PGK 114

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$436 PGK 1,892

$3,336 PGK 14.5K

-86.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$260 PGK 1,131

$221 PGK 959

17.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,227 PGK 5,328

$3,257 PGK 14.1K

-62.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$619 PGK 2,690

$218 PGK 947

184.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$156 PGK 676

$352 PGK 1,530

-55.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Lae: October 25, 2026

Last update for Boroko: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Lae

–

Boroko

$221 25.4%

Groceries & Markets

Lae

–

Boroko

$204 23.5%

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Lae

–

Boroko

$164 18.9%

Eating Out

Lae

–

Boroko

$129 14.9%

Sport & Entertainment

Lae

–

Boroko

$55 6.3%

Clothing & Footwear

Lae

–

Boroko

$53 6.1%

Getting Around

Lae

–

Boroko

$42 4.8%

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $436 in Lae versus $3,336 in Boroko. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Boroko are about 2.3 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $50 in Lae versus $34 in Boroko. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $303 vs $204 – making Boroko the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇵🇬 Lae

🇵🇬 Boroko

🕒 Local time

00:40 12:40 AM

Same time as Lae

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

250,948

💱 Currency

Papua New Guinean Kina PGK K

📈 Exchange rate

1 PGK = 0.23 USD

1 PGK = 0.207 EUR

1 PGK = 0.23 USD

1 PGK = 0.207 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Lae Boroko 310 km

From you

Lae
Boroko

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

Lae vs Boroko: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Boroko costs about 6% more than Lae, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from utilities. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,225 per month in Lae and $1,302 in Boroko. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Lae, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $436 there versus $3,336 in Boroko.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $817 in Lae and $868 in Boroko. That’s a gap of about 6%.

Interestingly, groceries are about 33% cheaper in Boroko – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $817 in Lae and $868 in Boroko. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Lae has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $817 in Lae to $868 in Boroko. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Lae. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Boroko makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.