😐A single person spends $473 per month in Papua New Guinea vs $402 in Fiji, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $747 per month in Papua New Guinea vs $675 in Fiji, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,021 per month in Papua New Guinea vs $948 in Fiji, rent included.
🌍The cost of living in Papua New Guinea is about 18% higher than in 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 66% lower, Fiji 71% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Papua New Guinea
Fiji
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.12PGK 30.82
$5.51FJD 12.09
29.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.01PGK 195
$41.60FJD 91.2
8.20%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.80PGK 25.09
$7.46FJD 16.35
-22.25%
Cappuccino
$2.39PGK 10.36
$3.15FJD 6.90
-24.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80PGK 3.46
$1.52FJD 3.33
-47.37%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68PGK 2.94
$0.98FJD 2.16
-30.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.77PGK 11.98
$3.26FJD 7.16
-15.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.15PGK 17.97
$4.38FJD 9.61
-5.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Papua New Guinea
Fiji
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.85PGK 7.99
$1.38FJD 3.02
34.06%
White Bread(500g)
$1.54PGK 6.66
$0.72FJD 1.58
113.89%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.40PGK 6.07
$1.10FJD 2.41
27.27%
Eggs
$3.70PGK 16.00
$3.47FJD 7.60
6.63%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.41PGK 27.74
$9.58FJD 21.00
-33.09%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.76PGK 24.95
$9.56FJD 20.96
-39.75%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.06PGK 39.23
$8.28FJD 18.17
9.42%
Apples(1kg)
$3.96PGK 17.14
$2.70FJD 5.92
46.67%
Banana(1kg)
$3.42PGK 14.80
$2.71FJD 5.94
26.20%
Oranges(1kg)
$6.23PGK 26.97
$3.41FJD 7.48
82.70%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.90PGK 21.19
$3.02FJD 6.63
62.25%
Potato(1kg)
$3.59PGK 15.53
$1.33FJD 2.91
169.92%
Onion(1kg)
$2.47PGK 10.68
$1.26FJD 2.77
96.03%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.79PGK 7.74
$1.03FJD 2.26
73.79%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07PGK 4.62
$0.76FJD 1.67
40.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.23PGK 26.96
$9.87FJD 21.64
-36.88%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.04PGK 47.78
$8.59FJD 18.83
28.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.82PGK 12.22
$2.36FJD 5.17
19.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80PGK 16.45
$3.80FJD 8.33
-
🚌 Getting Around
Papua New Guinea
Fiji
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.44PGK 1.90
$0.80FJD 1.75
-45.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.99PGK 112
$22.91FJD 50.2
13.44%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.11PGK 22.10
$0.87FJD 1.91
487.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.23PGK 9.67
$0.44FJD 0.97
406.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.45PGK 62.6
$6.83FJD 14.99
111.57%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99PGK 4.29
$1.36FJD 2.98
-27.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.3KPGK 96.4K
$24.7KFJD 54.3K
-10.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5KPGK 101.7K
$27.0KFJD 59.2K
-12.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Papua New Guinea
Fiji
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$94.1PGK 407
$57.0FJD 125
65.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.27PGK 122
$14.29FJD 31.34
97.83%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$120PGK 520
$21.26FJD 46.62
465.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Papua New Guinea
Fiji
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$64.8PGK 280
$36.54FJD 80.1
77.34%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.94PGK 90.7
$7.48FJD 16.39
179.95%
Cinema Ticket
$9.21PGK 39.87
$3.65FJD 8.01
152.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Papua New Guinea
Fiji
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$534PGK 2,313
$195FJD 428
174.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,656PGK 24.5K
$13.6KFJD 29.8K
-58.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Papua New Guinea
Fiji
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.36PGK 153
$28.15FJD 61.7
25.61%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.17PGK 135
$35.69FJD 78.3
-12.66%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$69.2PGK 299
$68.5FJD 150
0.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$93.4PGK 404
$64.3FJD 141
45.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Papua New Guinea
Fiji
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,654PGK 7,161
$938FJD 2,057
76.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$456PGK 1,972
$428FJD 939
6.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,599PGK 11.2K
$2,023FJD 4,437
28.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,058PGK 4,580
$925FJD 2,028
14.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,049PGK 8,867
$1,240FJD 2,720
65.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,872PGK 16.8K
$844FJD 1,851
358.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Papua New Guinea
Fiji
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$416PGK 1,799
$881FJD 1,932
-52.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.67
6.44
112.27%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Papua New Guinea: August 31, 2026
Last update for Fiji: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $780 in Papua New Guinea vs $353 in Fiji. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,657 in Port Moresby and $894 in Suva.
💰Average salary: $317 in Papua New Guinea vs $754 in Fiji. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 121% higher in Papua New Guinea.
⭐Dining out costs 32% more in Fiji.
⭐Public transport is 167% more expensive in Papua New Guinea.
⭐Salaries are 138% higher in Fiji, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Fiji.
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 8% 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 8% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget in Fiji or in 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 to 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