Cost of Living Comparison Between Lae and Boroko Cost of Living Comparison Between Lae and Boroko

🙂 Solo nomad: Lae is 42.8% cheaper than Boroko without rent, and 9.4% more expensive with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Lae is 12.1% cheaper than Boroko without rent, and 31.6% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.45 PGK 45.24

$8.01 PGK 34.67

30.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$56.3 PGK 244

$38.89 PGK 168

44.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.14 PGK 26.59

Cappuccino

$2.94 PGK 12.73

$2.27 PGK 9.81

29.52%

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

$0.87 PGK 3.75

$0.75 PGK 3.24

16.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.62 PGK 2.68

$0.83 PGK 3.61

-25.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.66 PGK 15.85

$2.37 PGK 10.28

54.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.74 PGK 24.87

$3.96 PGK 17.15

44.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.11 PGK 9.12

$1.70 PGK 7.35

24.12%

White Bread (500g)

$1.52 PGK 6.59

$1.25 PGK 5.39

21.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.41 PGK 6.10

$1.29 PGK 5.57

9.30%

Eggs

$4.18 PGK 18.11

$3.77 PGK 16.32

10.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.94 PGK 43.02

$4.55 PGK 19.69

118.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.04 PGK 43.45

$6.39 PGK 27.66

57.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.42 PGK 49.44

$7.21 PGK 31.23

58.39%

Apples (1kg)

$4.77 PGK 20.67

$4.00 PGK 17.33

19.25%

Banana (1kg)

$3.03 PGK 13.13

$2.87 PGK 12.42

5.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.44 PGK 27.89

$2.98 PGK 12.91

116.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.71 PGK 7.39

$2.81 PGK 12.18

-39.15%

Potato (1kg)

$3.67 PGK 15.88

$3.07 PGK 13.31

19.54%

Onion (1kg)

$2.56 PGK 11.09

$0.98 PGK 4.26

161.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 PGK 3.17

$1.23 PGK 5.34

-40.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 PGK 4.08

$0.47 PGK 2.03

100.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.17 PGK 31.06

$6.06 PGK 26.25

18.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.96 PGK 56.1

$5.25 PGK 22.75

146.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.71 PGK 11.74

$1.23 PGK 5.33

120.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.59 PGK 19.86

$1.66 PGK 7.21

176.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 PGK 1.62

$0.46 PGK 2.00

-19.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.96 PGK 138

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.94 PGK 21.38

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.44 PGK 6.23

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.90 PGK 51.6

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 PGK 4.80

$0.82 PGK 3.54

35.37%

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

$22.9K PGK 99.1K

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

$24.3K PGK 105.3K

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

$68.1 PGK 295

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

$47.74 PGK 207

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$237 PGK 1,028

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.81 PGK 198

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.46 PGK 66.9

Cinema Ticket

$7.32 PGK 31.68

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

$366 PGK 1,584

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,427 PGK 10.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.38 PGK 136

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.65 PGK 63.4

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$48.77 PGK 211

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.00 PGK 126

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$7,995 PGK 34.6K

$3,627 PGK 15.7K

120.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$745 PGK 3,226

$241 PGK 1,043

209.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,444 PGK 6,251

$3,633 PGK 15.7K

-60.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$243 PGK 1,052

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$164 PGK 710

$366 PGK 1,584

-55.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Lae: April 12, 2026

Last update for Boroko: April 13, 2026

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 other spots: cost of living compared

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