Cost of Living Comparison Between Papua New Guinea and United States Cost of Living Comparison Between Papua New Guinea and United States

🙂 Solo nomad: Papua New Guinea is 20.4% cheaper than United States without rent, and 46.7% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Papua New Guinea is 28.6% cheaper than United States without rent, and 49.2% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Papua New Guinea
United States
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.74 PGK 31.61
$20.33 $20.33
-61.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.51 PGK 198
$74.4 $74.4
-34.77%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.95 PGK 24.28
$11.49 $11.49
-48.22%
Cappuccino
$2.41 PGK 9.85
$5.09 $5.09
-52.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92 PGK 3.77
$2.54 $2.54
-63.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 PGK 3.02
$2.11 $2.11
-64.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.85 PGK 11.64
$6.09 $6.09
-53.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.48 PGK 18.27
$7.1 $7.1
-36.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Papua New Guinea
United States
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.92 PGK 7.82
$1.08 $1.08
77.78%
White Bread (500g)
$1.6 PGK 6.55
$3.7 $3.7
-56.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.46 PGK 5.96
$4.65 $4.65
-68.60%
Eggs
$3.84 PGK 15.67
$4.21 $4.21
-8.79%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6 PGK 24.49
$12.75 $12.75
-52.94%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.48 PGK 26.44
$12.24 $12.24
-47.06%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.82 PGK 36.01
$16.08 $16.08
-45.15%
Apples (1kg)
$4.03 PGK 16.44
$5.41 $5.41
-25.51%
Banana (1kg)
$2.86 PGK 11.66
$1.73 $1.73
65.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.77 PGK 19.47
$4.37 $4.37
9.15%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.94 PGK 16.1
$4.94 $4.94
-20.24%
Potato (1kg)
$3.43 PGK 14.02
$2.88 $2.88
19.10%
Onion (1kg)
$2.43 PGK 9.93
$3.07 $3.07
-20.85%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.86 PGK 11.69
$2.25 $2.25
27.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.06 PGK 4.33
$2.21 $2.21
-52.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.47 PGK 26.4
$10.09 $10.09
-35.88%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.51 PGK 46.99
$14.73 $14.73
-21.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.55 PGK 10.42
$1.91 $1.91
33.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.49 PGK 14.25
$3.54 $3.54
-1.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Papua New Guinea
United States
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.5 PGK 2.03
$2.56 $2.56
-80.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.44 PGK 116
$63.9 $63.9
-55.46%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.29 PGK 21.61
$3.81 $3.81
38.85%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.47 PGK 10.09
$1.77 $1.77
39.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.57 PGK 67.6
$30.4 $30.4
-45.49%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 PGK 4.41
$0.94 $0.94
14.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.4K PGK 99.5K
$30K $30K
-18.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.1K PGK 127.1K
$25.8K $25.8K
20.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Papua New Guinea
United States
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$104 PGK 425
$209 $209
-50.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$49.18 PGK 201
$57.9 $57.9
-14.99%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$214 PGK 874
$71.1 $71.1
200.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Papua New Guinea
United States
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$63.9 PGK 261
$45.88 $45.88
39.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.47 PGK 50.9
$22.25 $22.25
-43.96%
Cinema Ticket
$9.64 PGK 39.34
$14.14 $14.14
-31.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Papua New Guinea
United States
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$443 PGK 1,809
$1,373 $1,373
-67.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,146 PGK 16.9K
$22.4K $22.4K
-81.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Papua New Guinea
United States
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.37 PGK 144
$51.5 $51.5
-31.33%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.57 PGK 145
$41.96 $41.96
-15.23%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$67.9 PGK 277
$88.3 $88.3
-23.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$65.3 PGK 267
$112 $112
-41.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Papua New Guinea
United States
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,032 PGK 12.4K
$1,731 $1,731
75.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$487 PGK 1,990
$1,446 $1,446
-66.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,232 PGK 13.2K
$2,846 $2,846
13.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$732 PGK 2,986
$2,366 $2,366
-69.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,592 PGK 6,498
$3,245 $3,245
-50.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,419 PGK 18K
$2,667 $2,667
65.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Papua New Guinea
United States
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$396 PGK 1,616
$4,312 $4,312
-90.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.75
6.51
95.85%

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

Last update for Papua New Guinea: October 29, 2025

Last update for United States: October 27, 2025

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