Cost of Living Comparison Between Madang and Boroko Cost of Living Comparison Between Madang and Boroko

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $539 per month in Madang vs $1,113 in Boroko, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,213 per month in Madang vs $1,551 in Boroko, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,887 per month in Madang vs $1,990 in Boroko, rent included.

Madang is about 52% cheaper than Boroko, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Madang and Boroko are more affordable than the global median – Madang 60% lower, Boroko 17% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.86 PGK 29.77

$7.87 PGK 34.16

-12.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.85 PGK 164

$38.12 PGK 165

-0.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.79 PGK 46.81

$5.88 PGK 25.54

83.50%

Cappuccino

$2.47 PGK 10.70

$2.23 PGK 9.67

10.76%

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

$1.18 PGK 5.11

$0.76 PGK 3.28

55.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 PGK 3.19

$0.85 PGK 3.71

-14.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.82 PGK 12.24

$2.35 PGK 10.21

20.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.33 PGK 18.81

$3.99 PGK 17.31

8.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 PGK 8.21

$1.67 PGK 7.25

13.17%

White Bread (500g)

$1.46 PGK 6.33

$1.29 PGK 5.60

13.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.45 PGK 6.30

$1.28 PGK 5.54

13.28%

Eggs

$3.31 PGK 14.36

$3.78 PGK 16.42

-12.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.48 PGK 19.44

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.72 PGK 24.84

$6.26 PGK 27.19

-8.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.38 PGK 36.36

$6.94 PGK 30.12

20.75%

Apples (1kg)

$5.24 PGK 22.75

$4.03 PGK 17.50

30.02%

Banana (1kg)

$2.33 PGK 10.12

$2.96 PGK 12.87

-21.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.94 PGK 4.06

$3.01 PGK 13.06

-68.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.93 PGK 8.38

$2.95 PGK 12.80

-34.58%

Potato (1kg)

$4.70 PGK 20.42

$3.09 PGK 13.40

52.10%

Onion (1kg)

$2.95 PGK 12.80

$0.92 PGK 3.98

220.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$6.14 PGK 26.65

$1.18 PGK 5.10

420.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.47 PGK 2.03

$0.49 PGK 2.13

-4.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.04 PGK 21.87

$6.07 PGK 26.34

-16.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.32 PGK 49.15

$5.13 PGK 22.28

120.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.10 PGK 9.12

$1.22 PGK 5.28

72.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 PGK 10.66

$1.65 PGK 7.18

49.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.47 PGK 2.03

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.71 PGK 138

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.72 PGK 20.49

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.46 PGK 6.32

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.11 PGK 52.6

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 PGK 4.76

$0.81 PGK 3.50

35.80%

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

$22.9K PGK 99.6K

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

$25.1K PGK 109.0K

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

$66.2 PGK 287

$66.9 PGK 290

-0.97%

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

$48.14 PGK 209

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.19 PGK 105

$244 PGK 1,061

-90.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.12 PGK 200

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.32 PGK 66.5

Cinema Ticket

$7.41 PGK 32.15

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

$80.2 PGK 348

$356 PGK 1,543

-77.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,987 PGK 26.0K

$2,352 PGK 10.2K

154.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.42 PGK 84.3

$31.23 PGK 136

-37.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.64 PGK 63.5

$14.33 PGK 62.2

2.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.5 PGK 288

$48.29 PGK 210

37.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.18 PGK 127

$28.30 PGK 123

3.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,535 PGK 15.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$243 PGK 1,054

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$971 PGK 4,214

$3,574 PGK 15.5K

-72.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$606 PGK 2,631

$241 PGK 1,045

151.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$234 PGK 1,016

$363 PGK 1,575

-35.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Madang: April 28, 2026

Last update for Boroko: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 55% higher in Boroko, 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 $38.00 in Madang versus $38.00 in Boroko. Groceries tell a different story – $248 in Madang vs $222 in Boroko – so Boroko wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Madang vs Boroko: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Boroko costs about 107% more than Madang, 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 $808 per month in Madang and $1,669 in Boroko. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in Madang and $38.00 in Boroko. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 12% cheaper in Boroko – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Madang, where all-in costs run around $539, than in Boroko at $1,113. In Madang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Boroko it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Madang – 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 Madang. 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.