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 $687 per month in Papua New Guinea vs $2,642 in United States, rent included.

A couple spends around $987 per month in Papua New Guinea vs $3,857 in United States, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,287 per month in Papua New Guinea vs $5,072 in United States, rent included.

The cost of living in Papua New Guinea is roughly 74% lower than in United States on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Papua New Guinea sits 49% below the global median, while United States is 98% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.79 PGK 34.27

$19.63 $19.63

-60.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.76 PGK 210

$75.4 $75.4

-36.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.87 PGK 25.82

$11.57 $11.57

-49.27%

Cappuccino

$2.32 PGK 10.23

$5.22 $5.22

-55.56%

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

$0.84 PGK 3.69

$2.49 $2.49

-66.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 PGK 3.22

$2.06 $2.06

-64.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.85 PGK 12.55

$5.91 $5.91

-51.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.66 PGK 20.51

$7.13 $7.13

-34.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.94 PGK 8.54

$1.09 $1.09

77.98%

White Bread (500g)

$1.54 PGK 6.78

$3.56 $3.56

-56.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 PGK 6.62

$4.74 $4.74

-68.14%

Eggs

$3.88 PGK 17.06

$4.34 $4.34

-10.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.26 PGK 27.53

$12.68 $12.68

-50.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.44 PGK 28.34

$12.28 $12.28

-47.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.18 PGK 40.39

$16.60 $16.60

-44.70%

Apples (1kg)

$4.06 PGK 17.88

$5.16 $5.16

-21.32%

Banana (1kg)

$2.74 PGK 12.07

$1.70 $1.70

61.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.75 PGK 20.91

$4.45 $4.45

6.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.83 PGK 16.85

$4.80 $4.80

-20.21%

Potato (1kg)

$3.31 PGK 14.58

$2.93 $2.93

12.97%

Onion (1kg)

$2.53 PGK 11.13

$3.09 $3.09

-18.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.99 PGK 13.15

$2.22 $2.22

34.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 PGK 4.63

$2.25 $2.25

-53.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.35 PGK 27.96

$9.90 $9.90

-35.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.06 PGK 48.65

$15.28 $15.28

-27.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.60 PGK 11.44

$1.91 $1.91

36.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 PGK 15.20

$3.58 $3.58

-3.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.50 PGK 2.19

$2.46 $2.46

-79.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.57 PGK 126

$64.6 $64.6

-55.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.48 PGK 24.13

$3.77 $3.77

45.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.43 PGK 10.69

$1.71 $1.71

42.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.47 PGK 72.5

$30.08 $30.08

-45.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 PGK 4.76

$0.96 $0.96

12.50%

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

$23.7K PGK 104.3K

$29.9K $29.9K

-20.59%

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

$31.7K PGK 139.4K

$26.1K $26.1K

21.19%

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

$101 PGK 445

$210 $210

-51.86%

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

$48.55 PGK 214

$56.3 $56.3

-13.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$209 PGK 919

$72.9 $72.9

186.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.4 PGK 279

$45.39 $45.39

39.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.39 PGK 54.5

$21.60 $21.60

-42.64%

Cinema Ticket

$9.39 PGK 41.30

$14.04 $14.04

-33.12%

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

$439 PGK 1,931

$1,377 $1,377

-68.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,095 PGK 18.0K

$22.4K $22.4K

-81.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$34.78 PGK 153

$52.7 $52.7

-34.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.12 PGK 159

$42.41 $42.41

-14.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$67.2 PGK 296

$91.8 $91.8

-26.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$65.3 PGK 287

$114 $114

-42.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,107 PGK 13.7K

$1,765 $1,765

76.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$480 PGK 2,110

$1,462 $1,462

-67.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,175 PGK 14.0K

$2,849 $2,849

11.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$712 PGK 3,132

$2,369 $2,369

-69.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,131 PGK 9,377

$3,364 $3,364

-36.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,874 PGK 17.0K

$2,665 $2,665

45.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$432 PGK 1,899

$4,378 $4,378

-90.14%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for United States: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,962 in Papua New Guinea vs $1,635 in United States. For reference, capital cities sit at $2,203 in Port Moresby and $1,625 in Washington, MI.

Average salary: $319 in Papua New Guinea vs $4,500 in United States. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 20% higher in Papua New Guinea.

Dining out costs 143% more in United States.

Public transport is 213% more expensive in United States.

Salaries are 1311% 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 283% 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 283% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.

$2,500 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.