Cost of Living Comparison Between Lihir Island and Lae Cost of Living Comparison Between Lihir Island and Lae

🙂 Solo nomad: Lihir Island is 41.2% cheaper than Lae without rent, and 80.2% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Lihir Island is 47.7% cheaper than Lae without rent, and 51% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.88 PGK 20.99

$10.68 PGK 45.94

-54.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.18 PGK 125

$54.9 PGK 236

-46.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.04 PGK 25.98

Cappuccino

$2.36 PGK 10.16

$2.80 PGK 12.05

-15.71%

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

$0.69 PGK 2.98

$0.81 PGK 3.46

-14.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 PGK 3.01

$0.58 PGK 2.49

20.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.65 PGK 15.69

$3.56 PGK 15.30

2.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 PGK 10.21

$5.79 PGK 24.90

-58.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.69 PGK 7.27

$2.10 PGK 9.05

-19.52%

White Bread (500g)

$1.40 PGK 6.04

$1.53 PGK 6.56

-8.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.48 PGK 6.37

$1.42 PGK 6.10

4.23%

Eggs

$2.27 PGK 9.76

$4.19 PGK 18.03

-45.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.23 PGK 44.00

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.43 PGK 19.03

$9.92 PGK 42.67

-55.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$2.35 PGK 10.11

$11.34 PGK 48.78

-79.28%

Apples (1kg)

$4.84 PGK 20.80

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 PGK 6.26

$3.02 PGK 12.97

-51.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.74 PGK 29.00

Tomato (1kg)

$1.66 PGK 7.14

Potato (1kg)

$2.37 PGK 10.17

$3.70 PGK 15.92

-35.95%

Onion (1kg)

$0.99 PGK 4.24

$2.46 PGK 10.57

-59.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 PGK 3.15

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 PGK 2.13

$0.94 PGK 4.06

-46.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.02 PGK 25.89

$7.17 PGK 30.83

-16.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.44 PGK 40.59

$12.71 PGK 54.6

-25.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.43 PGK 10.45

$2.68 PGK 11.53

-9.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 PGK 10.57

$4.70 PGK 20.22

-47.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 PGK 1.48

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 PGK 4.86

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$7,964 PGK 34.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$763 PGK 3,279

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,456 PGK 6,261

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$161 PGK 692

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

Last update for Lihir Island: March 1, 2026

Last update for Lae: 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

Similar cities

Altos

🇵🇾 Paraguay

Mandalay

🇲🇲 Myanmar

Urganch

🇺🇿 Uzbekistan

Moshi

🇹🇿 Tanzania

Pyongyang

🇰🇵 North Korea

Nalut

🇱🇾 Libya

Afgoye

🇸🇴 Somalia

Carriacou

🇬🇩 Grenada