Cost of Living Comparison Between Papua New Guinea and Fiji Cost of Living Comparison Between Papua New Guinea and Fiji

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $682 per month in Papua New Guinea vs $503 in Fiji, rent included.

A couple spends around $984 per month in Papua New Guinea vs $861 in Fiji, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,286 per month in Papua New Guinea vs $1,219 in Fiji, rent included.

Papua New Guinea costs about 36% more than Fiji on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Both Papua New Guinea and Fiji are more affordable than the global median – Papua New Guinea 49% lower, Fiji 62% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Papua New Guinea
Fiji
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.87 PGK 34.23
$4.37 FJD 9.57
80.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.75 PGK 208
$44.11 FJD 96.6
8.25%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.90 PGK 25.65
$7.27 FJD 15.92
-18.84%
Cappuccino
$2.31 PGK 10.05
$2.84 FJD 6.23
-18.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89 PGK 3.89
$1.27 FJD 2.78
-29.92%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75 PGK 3.25
$0.93 FJD 2.04
-19.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.84 PGK 12.37
$2.86 FJD 6.26
-0.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.44 PGK 19.33
$3.46 FJD 7.58
28.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Papua New Guinea
Fiji
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.97 PGK 8.58
$1.29 FJD 2.84
52.71%
White Bread (500g)
$1.58 PGK 6.86
$0.56 FJD 1.23
182.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.48 PGK 6.42
$1.11 FJD 2.43
33.33%
Eggs
$3.89 PGK 16.90
$3.21 FJD 7.04
21.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.00 PGK 26.09
$8.32 FJD 18.23
-27.88%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.63 PGK 28.83
$7.59 FJD 16.61
-12.65%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.04 PGK 39.32
$7.34 FJD 16.08
23.16%
Apples (1kg)
$4.07 PGK 17.70
$2.44 FJD 5.35
66.80%
Banana (1kg)
$2.74 PGK 11.93
$2.51 FJD 5.49
9.16%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.91 PGK 21.36
$3.29 FJD 7.21
49.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.00 PGK 17.41
$2.64 FJD 5.78
51.52%
Potato (1kg)
$3.44 PGK 14.95
$1.37 FJD 3.00
151.09%
Onion (1kg)
$2.49 PGK 10.83
$1.21 FJD 2.64
105.79%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.88 PGK 12.52
$1.03 FJD 2.26
179.61%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.05 PGK 4.58
$0.90 FJD 1.97
16.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.54 PGK 28.44
$9.95 FJD 21.79
-34.27%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.23 PGK 48.83
$8.44 FJD 18.48
33.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.52 PGK 10.95
$2.18 FJD 4.78
15.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.53 PGK 15.35
$3.33 FJD 7.30
6.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Papua New Guinea
Fiji
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.50 PGK 2.19
$0.70 FJD 1.53
-28.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.86 PGK 121
$22.27 FJD 48.78
25.10%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.28 PGK 22.98
$0.85 FJD 1.86
521.18%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.48 PGK 10.81
$0.45 FJD 0.99
451.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.94 PGK 73.7
$4.87 FJD 10.67
247.84%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.11 PGK 4.83
$1.34 FJD 2.94
-17.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.0K PGK 104.4K
$23.7K FJD 51.9K
1.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.3K PGK 135.9K
$22.6K FJD 49.4K
38.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Papua New Guinea
Fiji
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$102 PGK 445
$53.2 FJD 116
92.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$48.00 PGK 209
$13.10 FJD 28.69
266.41%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$213 PGK 925
$23.29 FJD 51.0
813.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Papua New Guinea
Fiji
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$62.0 PGK 270
$31.45 FJD 68.9
97.17%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.34 PGK 53.7
$6.74 FJD 14.76
83.09%
Cinema Ticket
$9.78 PGK 42.53
$4.56 FJD 9.98
114.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Papua New Guinea
Fiji
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$434 PGK 1,888
$172 FJD 376
152.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,128 PGK 18.0K
$11.6K FJD 25.4K
-64.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Papua New Guinea
Fiji
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.81 PGK 156
$24.87 FJD 54.5
43.99%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.50 PGK 154
$30.44 FJD 66.7
16.62%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$68.5 PGK 298
$67.4 FJD 148
1.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$66.6 PGK 290
$74.4 FJD 163
-10.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Papua New Guinea
Fiji
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,043 PGK 13.2K
$617 FJD 1,352
393.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$473 PGK 2,056
$333 FJD 730
41.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,230 PGK 14.0K
$1,587 FJD 3,476
103.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$731 PGK 3,180
$955 FJD 2,092
-23.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,143 PGK 9,322
$1,248 FJD 2,732
71.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,963 PGK 17.2K
$841 FJD 1,842
371.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Papua New Guinea
Fiji
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$427 PGK 1,858
$881 FJD 1,930
-51.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.75
6.5
96.15%

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 Fiji: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,958 in Papua New Guinea vs $276 in Fiji. For reference, capital cities sit at $2,151 in Port Moresby and $582 in Suva.

Average salary: $325 in Papua New Guinea vs $751 in Fiji. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 609% higher in Papua New Guinea.

Dining out costs 15% more in Papua New Guinea.

Salaries are 131% higher in Fiji, giving Fiji 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 Fiji: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fiji more expensive than Papua New Guinea?
Fiji is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 59% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
Which country has higher housing costs?
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.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Fiji, contributing to the overall 59% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget in Fiji or Papua New Guinea?
$1,500 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Fiji, but in Papua New Guinea it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Fiji or Papua New Guinea?
Fiji 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.

Papua New Guinea vs other spots: cost of living compared

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