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 21.2% cheaper than United States without rent, and 46.5% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Papua New Guinea is 28% cheaper than United States without rent, and 48.7% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Papua New Guinea
United States
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.59 PGK 32.87
$20.36 $20.36
-62.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.88 PGK 207
$74.3 $74.3
-35.59%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.13 PGK 26.52
$11.42 $11.42
-46.32%
Cappuccino
$2.30 PGK 9.97
$5.21 $5.21
-55.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91 PGK 3.93
$2.62 $2.62
-65.27%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79 PGK 3.41
$2.15 $2.15
-63.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.83 PGK 12.26
$5.84 $5.84
-51.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.48 PGK 19.39
$7.18 $7.18
-37.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Papua New Guinea
United States
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.94 PGK 8.39
$1.08 $1.08
79.63%
White Bread (500g)
$1.52 PGK 6.58
$3.59 $3.59
-57.66%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.48 PGK 6.39
$4.71 $4.71
-68.58%
Eggs
$3.81 PGK 16.48
$4.38 $4.38
-13.01%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.19 PGK 26.79
$12.67 $12.67
-51.14%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.72 PGK 29.10
$12.40 $12.40
-45.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.25 PGK 40.05
$16.39 $16.39
-43.56%
Apples (1kg)
$4.06 PGK 17.58
$5.16 $5.16
-21.32%
Banana (1kg)
$2.81 PGK 12.17
$1.72 $1.72
63.37%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.67 PGK 20.21
$4.47 $4.47
4.47%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.97 PGK 17.17
$5.01 $5.01
-20.76%
Potato (1kg)
$3.37 PGK 14.60
$2.91 $2.91
15.81%
Onion (1kg)
$2.40 PGK 10.39
$3.06 $3.06
-21.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.90 PGK 12.57
$2.16 $2.16
34.26%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.02 PGK 4.41
$2.21 $2.21
-53.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.59 PGK 28.52
$9.93 $9.93
-33.64%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.39 PGK 49.31
$14.94 $14.94
-23.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.56 PGK 11.11
$1.91 $1.91
34.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.56 PGK 15.40
$3.70 $3.70
-3.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Papua New Guinea
United States
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.50 PGK 2.17
$2.55 $2.55
-80.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.31 PGK 123
$65.0 $65.0
-56.47%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.32 PGK 23.02
$3.69 $3.69
44.17%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.40 PGK 10.38
$1.78 $1.78
34.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.59 PGK 71.8
$30.24 $30.24
-45.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.07 PGK 4.64
$0.95 $0.95
12.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.0K PGK 104.1K
$29.7K $29.7K
-19.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.5K PGK 136.4K
$26.3K $26.3K
19.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Papua New Guinea
United States
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$101 PGK 439
$210 $210
-51.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$47.81 PGK 207
$58.3 $58.3
-17.99%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$213 PGK 923
$72.1 $72.1
195.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Papua New Guinea
United States
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$62.4 PGK 270
$45.90 $45.90
35.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.32 PGK 53.4
$22.20 $22.20
-44.50%
Cinema Ticket
$9.49 PGK 41.09
$14.25 $14.25
-33.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Papua New Guinea
United States
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$443 PGK 1,920
$1,367 $1,367
-67.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,152 PGK 18.0K
$22.8K $22.8K
-81.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Papua New Guinea
United States
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.14 PGK 152
$53.0 $53.0
-33.70%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.95 PGK 151
$42.96 $42.96
-18.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$68.5 PGK 297
$89.4 $89.4
-23.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$65.5 PGK 284
$113 $113
-42.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Papua New Guinea
United States
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,126 PGK 13.5K
$1,766 $1,766
77.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$483 PGK 2,093
$1,460 $1,460
-66.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,199 PGK 13.9K
$2,865 $2,865
11.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$720 PGK 3,120
$2,360 $2,360
-69.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,692 PGK 11.7K
$3,427 $3,427
-21.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,869 PGK 16.8K
$2,624 $2,624
47.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Papua New Guinea
United States
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$408 PGK 1,767
$4,306 $4,306
-90.52%
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: April 11, 2026

Last update for United States: April 12, 2026

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

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