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 $682 per month in Papua New Guinea vs $795 in American Samoa, rent included.

A couple spends around $984 per month in Papua New Guinea vs $1,371 in American Samoa, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,286 per month in Papua New Guinea vs $1,946 in American Samoa, rent included.

Papua New Guinea is roughly 14% cheaper than American Samoa on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Both Papua New Guinea and American Samoa are more affordable than the global median – Papua New Guinea 49% lower, American Samoa 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.87 PGK 34.40

$25.17 $25.17

-68.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.75 PGK 209

$7.13 $7.13

569.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.90 PGK 25.78

Cappuccino

$2.31 PGK 10.10

$0.98 $0.98

135.71%

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

$0.89 PGK 3.91

$1.26 $1.26

-29.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 PGK 3.27

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.84 PGK 12.43

$1.99 $1.99

42.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.44 PGK 19.42

$2.04 $2.04

117.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.97 PGK 8.63

$2.54 $2.54

-22.44%

White Bread (500g)

$1.58 PGK 6.89

$2.84 $2.84

-44.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.48 PGK 6.46

$4.28 $4.28

-65.42%

Eggs

$3.89 PGK 16.98

$4.55 $4.55

-14.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.00 PGK 26.22

$10.09 $10.09

-40.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.63 PGK 28.98

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.04 PGK 39.52

$11.27 $11.27

-19.79%

Apples (1kg)

$4.07 PGK 17.79

Banana (1kg)

$2.74 PGK 11.99

Oranges (1kg)

$4.91 PGK 21.47

Tomato (1kg)

$4.00 PGK 17.50

Potato (1kg)

$3.44 PGK 15.03

Onion (1kg)

$2.49 PGK 10.88

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.88 PGK 12.58

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 PGK 4.60

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.54 PGK 28.58

$11.31 $11.31

-42.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.23 PGK 49.08

$14.79 $14.79

-24.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.52 PGK 11.01

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 PGK 15.43

$3.03 $3.03

16.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.50 PGK 2.20

$2.04 $2.04

-75.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.86 PGK 122

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.28 PGK 23.09

$5.12 $5.12

3.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.48 PGK 10.86

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.94 PGK 74.1

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 PGK 4.85

$1.31 $1.31

-15.27%

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

$24.0K PGK 104.9K

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

$31.3K PGK 136.6K

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

$102 PGK 448

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

$48.00 PGK 210

$30.17 $30.17

59.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$213 PGK 930

$73.6 $73.6

189.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.0 PGK 271

$49.31 $49.31

25.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.34 PGK 53.9

$9.92 $9.92

24.40%

Cinema Ticket

$9.78 PGK 42.74

$9.24 $9.24

5.84%

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

$434 PGK 1,898

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,128 PGK 18.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.81 PGK 157

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.50 PGK 155

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.5 PGK 299

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$66.6 PGK 291

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,043 PGK 13.3K

$152 $152

1895.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$473 PGK 2,066

$203 $203

133.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,230 PGK 14.1K

$885 $885

265.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$731 PGK 3,196

$697 $697

4.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,143 PGK 9,369

$17.8K $17.8K

-87.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,963 PGK 17.3K

$10.9K $10.9K

-63.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$427 PGK 1,868

$1,202 $1,202

-64.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.75

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

Last update for Papua New Guinea: June 2, 2026

Last update for American Samoa: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,958 in Papua New Guinea vs $148 in American Samoa. For reference, capital cities sit at $2,151 in Port Moresby and $148 in Pago Pago.

Average salary: $325 in Papua New Guinea vs $1,189 in American Samoa. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 1223% higher in Papua New Guinea.

Dining out costs 329% more in Papua New Guinea.

Salaries are 266% higher in American Samoa, giving American Samoa stronger purchasing power.

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

American Samoa is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 6% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.

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

Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in American Samoa, contributing to the overall 6% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.

$1,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in American Samoa, but in Papua New Guinea it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.

American Samoa 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.