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

Name: United States
Address: US

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $473 per month in Papua New Guinea vs $2,622 in United States, rent included.

A couple spends around $747 per month in Papua New Guinea vs $3,830 in United States, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,021 per month in Papua New Guinea vs $5,038 in United States, rent included.

The cost of living in Papua New Guinea is roughly 82% lower than in United States on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Papua New Guinea sits 66% below the global median, while United States is 91% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.12 PGK 30.82

$19.78 $19.78

-64.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.01 PGK 195

$81.4 $81.4

-44.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.80 PGK 25.09

$12.11 $12.11

-52.11%

Cappuccino

$2.39 PGK 10.36

$5.44 $5.44

-56.07%

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

$0.80 PGK 3.46

$2.67 $2.67

-70.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.68 PGK 2.94

$2.08 $2.08

-67.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.77 PGK 11.98

$6.06 $6.06

-54.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.15 PGK 17.97

$8.14 $8.14

-49.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 PGK 7.99

$1.05 $1.05

76.19%

White Bread (500g)

$1.54 PGK 6.66

$3.65 $3.65

-57.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 PGK 6.07

$4.45 $4.45

-68.54%

Eggs

$3.70 PGK 16.00

$4.35 $4.35

-14.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.41 PGK 27.74

$12.73 $12.73

-49.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.76 PGK 24.95

$12.46 $12.46

-53.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.06 PGK 39.23

$16.95 $16.95

-46.55%

Apples (1kg)

$3.96 PGK 17.14

$5.30 $5.30

-25.28%

Banana (1kg)

$3.42 PGK 14.80

$1.70 $1.70

101.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.23 PGK 26.97

$4.40 $4.40

41.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.90 PGK 21.19

$5.01 $5.01

-2.20%

Potato (1kg)

$3.59 PGK 15.53

$2.87 $2.87

25.09%

Onion (1kg)

$2.47 PGK 10.68

$3.13 $3.13

-21.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.79 PGK 7.74

$2.32 $2.32

-22.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 PGK 4.62

$2.34 $2.34

-54.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.23 PGK 26.96

$10.55 $10.55

-40.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 PGK 47.78

$14.94 $14.94

-26.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.82 PGK 12.22

$2.12 $2.12

33.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 PGK 16.45

$3.69 $3.69

2.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.44 PGK 1.90

$2.37 $2.37

-81.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.99 PGK 112

$65.1 $65.1

-60.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.11 PGK 22.10

$3.42 $3.42

49.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.23 PGK 9.67

$1.89 $1.89

17.99%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.45 PGK 62.6

$30.16 $30.16

-52.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 PGK 4.29

$0.98 $0.98

1.02%

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

$22.3K PGK 96.4K

$35.9K $35.9K

-38.05%

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

$23.5K PGK 101.7K

$25.9K $25.9K

-9.39%

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

$94.1 PGK 407

$218 $218

-56.76%

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

$28.27 PGK 122

$61.0 $61.0

-53.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$120 PGK 520

$74.8 $74.8

60.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$64.8 PGK 280

$44.42 $44.42

45.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.94 PGK 90.7

$22.53 $22.53

-7.06%

Cinema Ticket

$9.21 PGK 39.87

$14.80 $14.80

-37.77%

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

$534 PGK 2,313

$1,476 $1,476

-63.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,656 PGK 24.5K

$25.9K $25.9K

-78.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.36 PGK 153

$54.4 $54.4

-34.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.17 PGK 135

$43.59 $43.59

-28.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.2 PGK 299

$92.9 $92.9

-25.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$93.4 PGK 404

$114 $114

-18.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,654 PGK 7,161

$1,639 $1,639

0.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$456 PGK 1,972

$1,358 $1,358

-66.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,599 PGK 11.2K

$2,699 $2,699

-3.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,058 PGK 4,580

$2,199 $2,199

-51.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 PGK 8,867

$3,269 $3,269

-37.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,872 PGK 16.8K

$2,589 $2,589

49.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$416 PGK 1,799

$4,357 $4,357

-90.46%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.67

6.21

120.13%

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 United States: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $780 in Papua New Guinea vs $1,606 in United States. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,657 in Port Moresby and $1,373 in Columbia, TN.

Average salary: $317 in Papua New Guinea vs $4,519 in United States. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 106% higher in United States.

Dining out costs 295% more in United States.

Public transport is 238% more expensive in United States.

Salaries are 1326% higher in United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in United States.

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 United States: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Papua New Guinea is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 296% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.

Housing costs more in United States, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but United States consistently has higher rents.

Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Papua New Guinea, contributing to the overall 296% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.

$1,500 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Papua New Guinea, but in United States it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.

Papua New Guinea 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.