Cost of Living Comparison Between Papua New Guinea and American Samoa Cost of Living Comparison Between Papua New Guinea and American Samoa

Name: American Samoa
Address: AS

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $465 per month in Papua New Guinea vs $1,465 in American Samoa, rent included.

A couple spends around $741 per month in Papua New Guinea vs $2,287 in American Samoa, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,017 per month in Papua New Guinea vs $3,109 in American Samoa, rent included.

The cost of living in Papua New Guinea is roughly 68% lower than in American Samoa on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Papua New Guinea sits 66% below the global median, while American Samoa is 6% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.40 PGK 32.12

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.53 PGK 198

$36.55 $36.55

24.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.70 PGK 24.74

$9.90 $9.90

-42.42%

Cappuccino

$2.40 PGK 10.42

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

$0.80 PGK 3.49

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 PGK 3.00

$1.01 $1.01

-31.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.62 PGK 11.38

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.08 PGK 17.69

$4.10 $4.10

-0.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 PGK 8.46

$2.61 $2.61

-25.29%

White Bread (500g)

$1.47 PGK 6.38

$2.88 $2.88

-48.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 PGK 6.17

$4.19 $4.19

-66.11%

Eggs

$3.73 PGK 16.18

$4.52 $4.52

-17.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.29 PGK 27.29

$10.11 $10.11

-37.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.80 PGK 25.15

$10.04 $10.04

-42.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.15 PGK 39.72

$11.48 $11.48

-20.30%

Apples (1kg)

$3.98 PGK 17.27

$6.12 $6.12

-34.97%

Banana (1kg)

$3.38 PGK 14.67

$0.97 $0.97

248.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.94 PGK 25.78

$3.06 $3.06

94.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.05 PGK 21.91

$4.11 $4.11

22.87%

Potato (1kg)

$3.73 PGK 16.19

$4.05 $4.05

-7.90%

Onion (1kg)

$2.51 PGK 10.88

$3.92 $3.92

-35.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.80 PGK 7.82

$2.01 $2.01

-10.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 PGK 4.44

$1.98 $1.98

-48.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.15 PGK 26.70

$11.30 $11.30

-45.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.01 PGK 47.80

$15.27 $15.27

-27.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.81 PGK 12.20

$0.98 $0.98

186.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 PGK 16.11

$2.93 $2.93

26.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.47 PGK 2.04

$1.97 $1.97

-76.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.44 PGK 115

$123 $123

-78.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.20 PGK 22.56

$4.95 $4.95

5.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.28 PGK 9.90

$2.05 $2.05

11.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.84 PGK 64.4

$29.91 $29.91

-50.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 PGK 4.43

$1.31 $1.31

-22.14%

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

$22.2K PGK 96.3K

$30.3K $30.3K

-26.90%

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

$23.4K PGK 101.4K

$20.4K $20.4K

14.76%

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

$96.6 PGK 419

$405 $405

-76.15%

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

$27.50 PGK 119

$29.78 $29.78

-7.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$118 PGK 514

$74.3 $74.3

59.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.3 PGK 288

$50.5 $50.5

31.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.17 PGK 87.5

$9.98 $9.98

102.10%

Cinema Ticket

$8.81 PGK 38.21

$8.92 $8.92

-1.23%

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

$536 PGK 2,326

$984 $984

-45.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,649 PGK 24.5K

$9,989 $9,989

-43.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.70 PGK 159

$70.6 $70.6

-48.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.22 PGK 136

$50.6 $50.6

-38.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.6 PGK 298

$81.3 $81.3

-15.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.9 PGK 403

$99.9 $99.9

-7.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,655 PGK 7,181

$320 $320

417.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$460 PGK 1,996

$199 $199

131.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,644 PGK 11.5K

$915 $915

188.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,086 PGK 4,713

$691 $691

57.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,080 PGK 9,028

$17.8K $17.8K

-88.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,753 PGK 16.3K

$10.8K $10.8K

-65.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$421 PGK 1,829

$1,188 $1,188

-64.52%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.67

355.67%

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

Last update for Papua New Guinea: September 6, 2026

Last update for American Samoa: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $787 in Papua New Guinea vs $319 in American Samoa. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,627 in Port Moresby and $319 in Pago Pago.

Average salary: $317 in Papua New Guinea vs $1,214 in American Samoa. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 147% higher in Papua New Guinea.

Dining out costs 89% more in American Samoa.

Public transport is 1450% more expensive in American Samoa.

Salaries are 283% higher in American Samoa, and purchasing power comes out stronger in American Samoa.

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

Papua New Guinea vs American Samoa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Papua New Guinea is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 94% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.

Housing costs more in American Samoa, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but American Samoa consistently has higher rents.

Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Papua New Guinea, contributing to the overall 94% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.

$1,500 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Papua New Guinea, but in American Samoa it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.

Papua New Guinea is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.