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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $530 per month in Madang vs $1,119 in Boroko, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,180 per month in Madang vs $1,547 in Boroko, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,831 per month in Madang vs $1,975 in Boroko, rent included.

Madang is about 53% cheaper than Boroko, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Madang and Boroko are more affordable than the global median – Madang 61% lower, Boroko 17% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.85 PGK 29.44

$7.77 PGK 33.38

-11.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.80 PGK 167

$39.14 PGK 168

-0.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.71 PGK 46.02

$6.03 PGK 25.89

77.61%

Cappuccino

$2.34 PGK 10.03

$2.34 PGK 10.06

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

$1.22 PGK 5.22

$0.82 PGK 3.50

48.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 PGK 3.00

$0.78 PGK 3.35

-10.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 PGK 12.68

$2.35 PGK 10.11

25.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.30 PGK 18.47

$3.99 PGK 17.16

7.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 PGK 8.08

$1.72 PGK 7.40

9.30%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 PGK 6.06

$1.26 PGK 5.39

11.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.45 PGK 6.24

$1.29 PGK 5.53

12.40%

Eggs

$3.28 PGK 14.10

$3.73 PGK 16.02

-12.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.48 PGK 19.23

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.61 PGK 24.12

$6.41 PGK 27.56

-12.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.19 PGK 35.18

$7.05 PGK 30.29

16.17%

Apples (1kg)

$5.35 PGK 22.99

$3.95 PGK 16.99

35.44%

Banana (1kg)

$2.43 PGK 10.44

$2.86 PGK 12.30

-15.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.91 PGK 3.92

$2.90 PGK 12.46

-68.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.96 PGK 8.44

$2.90 PGK 12.44

-32.41%

Potato (1kg)

$4.85 PGK 20.85

$3.16 PGK 13.57

53.48%

Onion (1kg)

$2.93 PGK 12.58

$0.94 PGK 4.02

211.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$6.10 PGK 26.19

$1.17 PGK 5.03

421.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 PGK 1.96

$0.49 PGK 2.11

-6.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.20 PGK 22.33

$5.87 PGK 25.20

-11.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.23 PGK 22.49

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.14 PGK 9.21

$1.18 PGK 5.07

81.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 PGK 10.21

$1.67 PGK 7.17

42.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.50 PGK 2.14

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$32.62 PGK 140

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.73 PGK 20.31

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.44 PGK 6.20

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.95 PGK 51.3

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 PGK 4.71

$0.83 PGK 3.55

32.53%

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

$23.0K PGK 98.6K

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

$24.6K PGK 105.7K

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

$68.1 PGK 292

$67.0 PGK 288

1.57%

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

$48.35 PGK 208

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.06 PGK 103

$236 PGK 1,012

-89.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.77 PGK 197

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.46 PGK 66.4

Cinema Ticket

$7.24 PGK 31.12

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

$80.3 PGK 345

$355 PGK 1,526

-77.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,942 PGK 25.5K

$2,442 PGK 10.5K

143.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.19 PGK 82.4

$31.00 PGK 133

-38.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.45 PGK 62.1

$14.57 PGK 62.6

-0.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$67.4 PGK 290

$48.48 PGK 208

39.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.32 PGK 122

$28.45 PGK 122

-0.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,542 PGK 15.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 PGK 1,016

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$951 PGK 4,085

$3,536 PGK 15.2K

-73.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$592 PGK 2,542

$237 PGK 1,020

149.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$363 PGK 1,558

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Madang: June 9, 2026

Last update for Boroko: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Madang versus $39.00 in Boroko. Groceries tell a different story – $225 in Madang vs $221 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 111% 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 $795 per month in Madang and $1,678 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 $39.00 in Madang and $39.00 in Boroko. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 2% 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 $530, than in Boroko at $1,119. 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.