Cost of Living Comparison Between Lae and Madang Cost of Living Comparison Between Lae and Madang

😐 Solo nomad: Lae is 1.8% more expensive than Madang without rent, and 128.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Lae is 32.8% more expensive than Madang without rent, and 26.2% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lae
Madang
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.68 PGK 46.05
$6.58 PGK 28.36
62.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.9 PGK 237
$37.88 PGK 163
44.88%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
-
$10.96 PGK 47.22
-
Cappuccino
$2.80 PGK 12.08
$2.46 PGK 10.61
13.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81 PGK 3.47
$1.17 PGK 5.05
-30.77%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.58 PGK 2.50
$0.73 PGK 3.15
-20.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.56 PGK 15.33
$2.91 PGK 12.56
22.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.79 PGK 24.95
$4.34 PGK 18.71
33.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lae
Madang
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.10 PGK 9.07
$1.90 PGK 8.18
10.53%
White Bread (500g)
$1.53 PGK 6.58
$1.46 PGK 6.30
4.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.42 PGK 6.12
$1.46 PGK 6.31
-2.74%
Eggs
$4.19 PGK 18.07
$3.43 PGK 14.79
22.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.23 PGK 44.10
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.92 PGK 42.77
$5.66 PGK 24.38
75.27%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.34 PGK 48.89
$7.95 PGK 34.27
42.64%
Apples (1kg)
$4.84 PGK 20.85
$5.25 PGK 22.62
-7.81%
Banana (1kg)
$3.02 PGK 13.00
$2.38 PGK 10.28
26.89%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.74 PGK 29.07
$1.00 PGK 4.32
574.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.66 PGK 7.15
$1.88 PGK 8.10
-11.70%
Potato (1kg)
$3.70 PGK 15.95
$4.94 PGK 21.29
-25.10%
Onion (1kg)
$2.46 PGK 10.59
$2.82 PGK 12.17
-12.77%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.73 PGK 3.15
$5.98 PGK 25.79
-87.79%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.94 PGK 4.07
$0.49 PGK 2.11
91.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.17 PGK 30.90
$5.17 PGK 22.27
38.68%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.71 PGK 54.8
$11.78 PGK 50.8
7.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.68 PGK 11.56
$2.22 PGK 9.58
20.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.70 PGK 20.27
$2.46 PGK 10.62
91.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Lae
Madang
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 PGK 1.48
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.13 PGK 4.87
$1.10 PGK 4.75
2.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lae
Madang
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$68.2 PGK 294
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$23.73 PGK 102
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lae
Madang
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$79.5 PGK 343
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$6,066 PGK 26.1K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lae
Madang
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$19.37 PGK 83.5
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$14.36 PGK 61.9
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$66.6 PGK 287
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$28.50 PGK 123
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lae
Madang
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$7,964 PGK 34.3K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$763 PGK 3,287
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,456 PGK 6,276
$979 PGK 4,220
48.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$594 PGK 2,561
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lae
Madang
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$161 PGK 693
$231 PGK 998
-30.51%

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

Last update for Lae: March 1, 2026

Last update for Madang: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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