Cost of Living Comparison Between Madang and Lae Cost of Living Comparison Between Madang and Lae

🙂 Solo nomad: Madang is 1.8% cheaper than Lae without rent, and 56.2% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Madang is 24.7% cheaper than Lae without rent, and 35.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Madang
Lae
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.58 PGK 28.63
$10.68 PGK 46.47
-38.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.88 PGK 165
$54.9 PGK 239
-30.98%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.96 PGK 47.65
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.46 PGK 10.71
$2.80 PGK 12.19
-12.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.17 PGK 5.10
$0.81 PGK 3.50
44.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 PGK 3.18
$0.58 PGK 2.52
25.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.91 PGK 12.67
$3.56 PGK 15.47
-18.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.34 PGK 18.89
$5.79 PGK 25.19
-25.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Madang
Lae
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.90 PGK 8.26
$2.10 PGK 9.15
-9.52%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 PGK 6.36
$1.53 PGK 6.64
-4.58%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.46 PGK 6.37
$1.42 PGK 6.17
2.82%
Eggs
$3.43 PGK 14.93
$4.19 PGK 18.24
-18.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
-
$10.23 PGK 44.51
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.66 PGK 24.61
$9.92 PGK 43.17
-42.94%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.95 PGK 34.59
$11.34 PGK 49.35
-29.89%
Apples (1kg)
$5.25 PGK 22.83
$4.84 PGK 21.05
8.47%
Banana (1kg)
$2.38 PGK 10.37
$3.02 PGK 13.12
-21.19%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.00 PGK 4.36
$6.74 PGK 29.34
-85.16%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.88 PGK 8.18
$1.66 PGK 7.22
13.25%
Potato (1kg)
$4.94 PGK 21.49
$3.70 PGK 16.10
33.51%
Onion (1kg)
$2.82 PGK 12.28
$2.46 PGK 10.69
14.63%
Lettuce (1 head)
$5.98 PGK 26.03
$0.73 PGK 3.18
719.18%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 PGK 2.13
$0.94 PGK 4.11
-47.87%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.17 PGK 22.48
$7.17 PGK 31.18
-27.89%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.78 PGK 51.2
$12.71 PGK 55.3
-7.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.22 PGK 9.67
$2.68 PGK 11.67
-17.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46 PGK 10.72
$4.70 PGK 20.46
-47.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Madang
Lae
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.34 PGK 1.50
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.10 PGK 4.79
$1.13 PGK 4.91
-2.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Madang
Lae
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$68.2 PGK 297
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.73 PGK 103
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Madang
Lae
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$79.5 PGK 346
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,066 PGK 26.4K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Madang
Lae
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.37 PGK 84.3
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$14.36 PGK 62.5
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$66.6 PGK 290
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$28.50 PGK 124
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Madang
Lae
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$7,964 PGK 34.6K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$763 PGK 3,318
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$979 PGK 4,259
$1,456 PGK 6,334
-32.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$594 PGK 2,585
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Madang
Lae
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$231 PGK 1,007
$161 PGK 700
43.90%

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

Last update for Madang: 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

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