Cost of Living Comparison Between Lae and Port Moresby Cost of Living Comparison Between Lae and Port Moresby

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,210 per month in Lae vs $1,674 in Port Moresby, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,298 per month in Lae vs $2,458 in Port Moresby, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,386 per month in Lae vs $3,243 in Port Moresby, rent included.

Lae is about 28% cheaper than Port Moresby, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Lae sits 9% below the global median, while Port Moresby is 26% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.62 PGK 46.84

$9.40 PGK 41.50

12.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$54.7 PGK 241

$47.05 PGK 208

16.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.89 PGK 25.98

Cappuccino

$2.91 PGK 12.82

$2.31 PGK 10.18

25.97%

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

$0.87 PGK 3.82

$0.81 PGK 3.59

7.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.62 PGK 2.73

$0.79 PGK 3.47

-21.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.52 PGK 15.55

$2.37 PGK 10.47

48.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.90 PGK 26.02

$4.03 PGK 17.80

46.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.14 PGK 9.45

$2.03 PGK 8.96

5.42%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 PGK 7.08

$1.63 PGK 7.18

-1.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.36 PGK 5.99

$1.49 PGK 6.58

-8.72%

Eggs

$4.33 PGK 19.10

$3.92 PGK 17.30

10.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.15 PGK 44.80

$4.48 PGK 19.77

126.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.65 PGK 42.57

$6.39 PGK 28.20

51.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.42 PGK 50.4

$9.66 PGK 42.65

18.22%

Apples (1kg)

$4.76 PGK 20.99

$4.00 PGK 17.67

19.00%

Banana (1kg)

$2.97 PGK 13.10

$2.82 PGK 12.44

5.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.65 PGK 29.34

$5.58 PGK 24.63

19.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.71 PGK 7.56

$5.40 PGK 23.81

-68.33%

Potato (1kg)

$3.61 PGK 15.92

$3.23 PGK 14.27

11.76%

Onion (1kg)

$2.46 PGK 10.85

$2.81 PGK 12.40

-12.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 PGK 3.07

$2.97 PGK 13.09

-76.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.00 PGK 4.41

$1.33 PGK 5.87

-24.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.23 PGK 31.91

$6.72 PGK 29.67

7.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.25 PGK 54.0

$11.90 PGK 52.5

2.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.68 PGK 11.82

$2.78 PGK 12.26

-3.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.73 PGK 20.89

$3.77 PGK 16.63

25.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 PGK 1.65

$0.46 PGK 2.03

-19.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.87 PGK 105

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.84 PGK 25.79

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.42 PGK 10.69

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.92 PGK 74.6

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 PGK 4.90

$1.14 PGK 5.04

-2.63%

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

$22.5K PGK 99.4K

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

$24.5K PGK 108.0K

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

$104 PGK 459

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

$48.57 PGK 214

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$375 PGK 1,655

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.5 PGK 289

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.13 PGK 88.8

Cinema Ticket

$9.50 PGK 41.94

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

$640 PGK 2,826

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,999 PGK 17.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.08 PGK 142

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.61 PGK 166

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.9 PGK 348

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$100 PGK 441

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,097 PGK 35.7K

$2,194 PGK 9,682

268.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$751 PGK 3,313

$478 PGK 2,108

57.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,461 PGK 6,448

$3,402 PGK 15.0K

-57.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$852 PGK 3,760

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,083 PGK 9,192

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,850 PGK 17.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$157 PGK 691

$426 PGK 1,880

-63.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.33

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

Last update for Lae: July 25, 2026

Last update for Port Moresby: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $8,097 in Lae versus $2,194 in Port Moresby. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 172% higher in Port Moresby, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $55.0 in Lae versus $47.00 in Port Moresby. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $328 vs $307 – making Port Moresby the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Port Moresby: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Port Moresby costs about 38% more than Lae, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,815 per month in Lae and $2,510 in Port Moresby. 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. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,210 in Lae and $1,674 in Port Moresby. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 7% cheaper in Port Moresby – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $1,210 in Lae and $1,674 in Port Moresby. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Lae – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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