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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $529 per month in Madang vs $1,126 in Boroko, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,191 per month in Madang vs $1,565 in Boroko, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,852 per month in Madang vs $2,004 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 60% lower, Boroko 15% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.69 PGK 29.50

$8.01 PGK 35.36

-16.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.09 PGK 168

$39.06 PGK 172

-2.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.82 PGK 47.75

$5.83 PGK 25.72

85.59%

Cappuccino

$2.44 PGK 10.76

$2.29 PGK 10.12

6.55%

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

$1.23 PGK 5.43

$0.82 PGK 3.61

50.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 PGK 3.12

$0.79 PGK 3.47

-10.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.89 PGK 12.77

$2.47 PGK 10.90

17.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.31 PGK 19.00

$4.10 PGK 18.08

5.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 PGK 8.62

$1.71 PGK 7.54

14.04%

White Bread (500g)

$1.46 PGK 6.43

$1.30 PGK 5.74

12.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.47 PGK 6.50

$1.32 PGK 5.84

11.36%

Eggs

$3.39 PGK 14.94

$3.94 PGK 17.40

-13.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 PGK 19.42

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.75 PGK 25.36

$6.37 PGK 28.13

-9.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.21 PGK 36.25

$6.90 PGK 30.44

18.99%

Apples (1kg)

$5.41 PGK 23.87

$3.94 PGK 17.37

37.31%

Banana (1kg)

$2.38 PGK 10.51

$2.96 PGK 13.06

-19.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.92 PGK 4.04

$3.00 PGK 13.22

-69.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.97 PGK 8.68

$2.89 PGK 12.77

-31.83%

Potato (1kg)

$4.89 PGK 21.59

$3.18 PGK 14.05

53.77%

Onion (1kg)

$2.91 PGK 12.86

$0.93 PGK 4.11

212.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$5.91 PGK 26.07

$1.17 PGK 5.16

405.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.47 PGK 2.06

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.08 PGK 22.41

$6.09 PGK 26.89

-16.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.08 PGK 22.42

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 PGK 9.78

$1.23 PGK 5.44

80.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.44 PGK 10.75

$1.66 PGK 7.30

46.99%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.47 PGK 2.07

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$32.62 PGK 144

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.83 PGK 21.32

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.45 PGK 6.41

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.79 PGK 52.0

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 PGK 4.88

$0.86 PGK 3.81

29.07%

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

$22.8K PGK 100.8K

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

$24.3K PGK 107.3K

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

$65.9 PGK 291

$66.2 PGK 292

-0.48%

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

$46.81 PGK 207

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.73 PGK 105

$236 PGK 1,041

-89.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.07 PGK 199

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.53 PGK 68.5

Cinema Ticket

$7.17 PGK 31.62

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

$78.8 PGK 348

$365 PGK 1,611

-78.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,047 PGK 26.7K

$2,428 PGK 10.7K

149.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.43 PGK 85.7

$31.84 PGK 140

-38.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.52 PGK 64.1

$14.61 PGK 64.5

-0.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.7 PGK 294

$47.19 PGK 208

41.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.71 PGK 127

$28.51 PGK 126

0.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,607 PGK 15.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$236 PGK 1,043

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$952 PGK 4,201

$3,633 PGK 16.0K

-73.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$599 PGK 2,641

$237 PGK 1,046

152.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$363 PGK 1,603

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Madang: July 27, 2026

Last update for Boroko: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in Madang versus $39.00 in Boroko. Groceries tell a different story – $227 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 113% 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 $794 per month in Madang and $1,689 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 $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 $529, than in Boroko at $1,126. 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.