Cost of Living Comparison Between Madang and Port Moresby Cost of Living Comparison Between Madang and Port Moresby

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $531 per month in Madang vs $1,702 in Port Moresby, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,183 per month in Madang vs $2,442 in Port Moresby, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,834 per month in Madang vs $3,181 in Port Moresby, rent included.

Madang is about 69% cheaper than Port Moresby, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Madang sits 60% below the global median, while Port Moresby is 27% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.81 PGK 29.94

$9.40 PGK 41.38

-27.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.42 PGK 169

$48.47 PGK 213

-20.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.63 PGK 46.75

$5.87 PGK 25.84

81.09%

Cappuccino

$2.46 PGK 10.83

$2.29 PGK 10.09

7.42%

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

$1.19 PGK 5.22

$0.80 PGK 3.53

48.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 PGK 3.33

$0.78 PGK 3.45

-2.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 PGK 12.87

$2.45 PGK 10.76

19.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.36 PGK 19.20

$4.13 PGK 18.15

5.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.97 PGK 8.65

$1.93 PGK 8.51

2.07%

White Bread (500g)

$1.47 PGK 6.46

$1.60 PGK 7.02

-8.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.41 PGK 6.20

$1.49 PGK 6.55

-5.37%

Eggs

$3.40 PGK 14.97

$3.75 PGK 16.49

-9.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.53 PGK 19.91

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.60 PGK 24.65

$6.22 PGK 27.35

-9.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.37 PGK 36.84

$9.76 PGK 42.96

-14.24%

Apples (1kg)

$5.23 PGK 23.01

$4.07 PGK 17.90

28.50%

Banana (1kg)

$2.43 PGK 10.70

$2.82 PGK 12.39

-13.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.00 PGK 4.39

$5.70 PGK 25.08

-82.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.89 PGK 8.30

$5.41 PGK 23.81

-65.06%

Potato (1kg)

$4.78 PGK 21.03

$3.25 PGK 14.29

47.08%

Onion (1kg)

$2.94 PGK 12.95

$2.78 PGK 12.21

5.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$5.96 PGK 26.23

$3.08 PGK 13.55

93.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 PGK 2.21

$1.27 PGK 5.58

-60.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.17 PGK 22.75

$6.99 PGK 30.74

-26.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.86 PGK 52.2

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.11 PGK 9.27

$2.82 PGK 12.39

-25.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 PGK 10.46

$3.83 PGK 16.84

-37.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.50 PGK 2.20

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.88 PGK 105

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.10 PGK 26.85

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.44 PGK 10.73

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.09 PGK 75.2

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.07 PGK 4.70

$1.14 PGK 5.00

-6.14%

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

$22.3K PGK 98.2K

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

$24.9K PGK 109.4K

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

$68.4 PGK 301

$108 PGK 475

-36.59%

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

$47.63 PGK 210

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.39 PGK 107

$377 PGK 1,657

-93.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.5 PGK 293

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.71 PGK 91.1

Cinema Ticket

$9.84 PGK 43.29

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

$80.1 PGK 352

$633 PGK 2,786

-87.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,952 PGK 26.2K

$4,013 PGK 17.7K

48.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.02 PGK 83.7

$31.33 PGK 138

-39.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.14 PGK 62.2

$37.00 PGK 163

-61.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$67.2 PGK 296

$76.2 PGK 335

-11.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.64 PGK 126

$97.2 PGK 428

-70.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,203 PGK 9,694

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$478 PGK 2,102

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$942 PGK 4,146

$3,447 PGK 15.2K

-72.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$604 PGK 2,657

$840 PGK 3,694

-28.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,088 PGK 9,188

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,904 PGK 17.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$439 PGK 1,932

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.33

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

Last update for Madang: July 11, 2026

Last update for Port Moresby: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in Madang versus $48.00 in Port Moresby. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $226 vs $306 – making Madang the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Port Moresby: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Port Moresby costs about 220% 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 $797 per month in Madang and $2,553 in Port Moresby. 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 $48.00 in Port Moresby. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 35% more in Port Moresby, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Madang, where all-in costs run around $531, than in Port Moresby at $1,702. In Madang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Port Moresby 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, Port Moresby makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.