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 $677 per month in Papua New Guinea vs $821 in American Samoa, rent included.

A couple spends around $982 per month in Papua New Guinea vs $1,383 in American Samoa, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,287 per month in Papua New Guinea vs $1,945 in American Samoa, rent included.

The cost of living in Papua New Guinea is roughly 18% lower than in 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 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.73 PGK 34.10

$24.80 $24.80

-68.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.15 PGK 212

$6.83 $6.83

604.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.85 PGK 25.78

Cappuccino

$2.30 PGK 10.15

$0.99 $0.99

132.32%

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

$0.90 PGK 3.95

$1.27 $1.27

-29.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 PGK 3.29

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 PGK 12.99

$2.01 $2.01

46.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.59 PGK 20.23

$1.99 $1.99

130.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.98 PGK 8.74

$2.60 $2.60

-23.85%

White Bread (500g)

$1.58 PGK 6.98

$2.91 $2.91

-45.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 PGK 6.65

$4.41 $4.41

-65.76%

Eggs

$3.76 PGK 16.56

$4.58 $4.58

-17.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.32 PGK 27.85

$10.40 $10.40

-39.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.66 PGK 29.38

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.15 PGK 40.37

$11.44 $11.44

-20.02%

Apples (1kg)

$4.06 PGK 17.89

Banana (1kg)

$2.73 PGK 12.03

Oranges (1kg)

$4.92 PGK 21.68

Tomato (1kg)

$4.02 PGK 17.74

Potato (1kg)

$3.45 PGK 15.21

Onion (1kg)

$2.42 PGK 10.67

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.85 PGK 12.59

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 PGK 4.71

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.34 PGK 27.97

$11.42 $11.42

-44.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.92 PGK 48.17

$15.20 $15.20

-28.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 PGK 11.56

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.55 PGK 15.66

$3.02 $3.02

17.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.47 PGK 2.06

$1.99 $1.99

-76.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.26 PGK 125

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.51 PGK 24.31

$5.11 $5.11

7.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.50 PGK 11.02

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.09 PGK 75.4

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 PGK 4.93

$1.29 $1.29

-13.18%

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

$24.1K PGK 106.4K

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

$30.8K PGK 136.0K

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

$101 PGK 446

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

$48.45 PGK 214

$30.16 $30.16

60.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$211 PGK 929

$74.3 $74.3

183.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.0 PGK 278

$50.5 $50.5

24.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.44 PGK 54.9

$10.09 $10.09

23.29%

Cinema Ticket

$9.80 PGK 43.23

$8.80 $8.80

11.36%

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

$432 PGK 1,907

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,080 PGK 18.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.65 PGK 157

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.24 PGK 160

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.4 PGK 302

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$65.9 PGK 290

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,043 PGK 13.4K

$153 $153

1891.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$474 PGK 2,092

$202 $202

134.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,153 PGK 13.9K

$915 $915

244.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$713 PGK 3,143

$706 $706

1.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,088 PGK 9,207

$17.7K $17.7K

-88.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,779 PGK 16.7K

$10.7K $10.7K

-64.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$420 PGK 1,852

$1,219 $1,219

-65.56%

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: July 21, 2026

Last update for American Samoa: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,987 in Papua New Guinea vs $150 in American Samoa. For reference, capital cities sit at $2,149 in Port Moresby and $150 in Pago Pago.

Average salary: $318 in Papua New Guinea vs $1,224 in American Samoa. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 1225% higher in Papua New Guinea.

Dining out costs 329% more in Papua New Guinea.

Salaries are 285% 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

American Samoa is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 3% 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 3% 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.