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 $526 per month in Madang vs $1,689 in Port Moresby, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,166 per month in Madang vs $2,472 in Port Moresby, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,805 per month in Madang vs $3,255 in Port Moresby, rent included.

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

Madang sits 61% below the global median, while Port Moresby is 26% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.70 PGK 29.22

$9.84 PGK 42.93

-31.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.78 PGK 165

$47.81 PGK 209

-20.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.97 PGK 47.83

$5.94 PGK 25.92

84.68%

Cappuccino

$2.35 PGK 10.23

$2.29 PGK 10.01

2.62%

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

$1.23 PGK 5.38

$0.75 PGK 3.29

64.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 PGK 3.05

$0.83 PGK 3.63

-15.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.91 PGK 12.67

$2.37 PGK 10.35

22.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.39 PGK 19.15

$4.15 PGK 18.10

5.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 PGK 8.22

$2.00 PGK 8.72

-6.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.45 PGK 6.33

$1.56 PGK 6.80

-7.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.41 PGK 6.14

$1.49 PGK 6.48

-5.37%

Eggs

$3.34 PGK 14.55

$3.89 PGK 16.95

-14.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.56 PGK 19.88

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.71 PGK 24.90

$6.41 PGK 27.97

-10.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.14 PGK 35.49

$9.34 PGK 40.72

-12.85%

Apples (1kg)

$5.15 PGK 22.48

$3.98 PGK 17.34

29.40%

Banana (1kg)

$2.38 PGK 10.39

$2.89 PGK 12.62

-17.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.99 PGK 4.31

$5.58 PGK 24.34

-82.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.97 PGK 8.61

$5.66 PGK 24.67

-65.19%

Potato (1kg)

$4.88 PGK 21.30

$3.40 PGK 14.81

43.53%

Onion (1kg)

$2.82 PGK 12.29

$2.68 PGK 11.70

5.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$5.91 PGK 25.76

$2.96 PGK 12.89

99.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.47 PGK 2.04

$1.32 PGK 5.74

-64.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.08 PGK 22.15

$6.67 PGK 29.09

-23.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.88 PGK 51.8

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.13 PGK 9.31

$2.88 PGK 12.58

-26.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 PGK 10.75

$3.82 PGK 16.65

-35.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.47 PGK 2.04

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.77 PGK 104

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.85 PGK 25.52

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.40 PGK 10.49

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.49 PGK 71.9

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 PGK 4.82

$1.14 PGK 4.99

-2.63%

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

$22.9K PGK 99.9K

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

$24.6K PGK 107.3K

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

$67.8 PGK 296

$105 PGK 458

-35.35%

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

$46.75 PGK 204

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.17 PGK 105

$382 PGK 1,667

-93.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.2 PGK 293

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.62 PGK 89.9

Cinema Ticket

$9.73 PGK 42.44

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

$78.9 PGK 344

$639 PGK 2,787

-87.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,046 PGK 26.4K

$4,095 PGK 17.9K

47.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.45 PGK 84.8

$31.07 PGK 136

-37.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.56 PGK 63.5

$36.74 PGK 160

-60.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.1 PGK 288

$77.1 PGK 336

-14.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.07 PGK 127

$98.6 PGK 430

-70.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,151 PGK 9,380

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$481 PGK 2,096

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$957 PGK 4,175

$3,423 PGK 14.9K

-72.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$611 PGK 2,664

$826 PGK 3,603

-26.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,127 PGK 9,275

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,892 PGK 17.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$446 PGK 1,945

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Port Moresby: June 1, 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: $224 vs $308 – 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 221% 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 $789 per month in Madang and $2,533 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 37% 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 $526, than in Port Moresby at $1,689. 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.