Cost of Living Comparison Between Port Moresby and Boroko Cost of Living Comparison Between Port Moresby and Boroko

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,702 per month in Port Moresby vs $1,120 in Boroko, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,442 per month in Port Moresby vs $1,557 in Boroko, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,181 per month in Port Moresby vs $1,995 in Boroko, rent included.

Port Moresby costs about 52% more than Boroko, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Port Moresby sits 27% above the global median, while Boroko is 16% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.40 PGK 41.38

$7.78 PGK 34.23

20.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.47 PGK 213

$37.91 PGK 167

27.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.87 PGK 25.84

$5.83 PGK 25.65

0.69%

Cappuccino

$2.29 PGK 10.09

$2.26 PGK 9.94

1.33%

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

$0.80 PGK 3.53

$0.74 PGK 3.27

8.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 PGK 3.45

$0.81 PGK 3.55

-3.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.45 PGK 10.76

$2.38 PGK 10.48

2.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.13 PGK 18.15

$4.13 PGK 18.18

Milk (1 liter)

$1.93 PGK 8.51

$1.70 PGK 7.48

13.53%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 PGK 7.02

$1.31 PGK 5.75

22.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.49 PGK 6.55

$1.32 PGK 5.82

12.88%

Eggs

$3.75 PGK 16.49

$3.84 PGK 16.92

-2.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.53 PGK 19.91

$4.31 PGK 18.96

5.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.22 PGK 27.35

$6.35 PGK 27.93

-2.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.76 PGK 42.96

$6.98 PGK 30.71

39.83%

Apples (1kg)

$4.07 PGK 17.90

$4.10 PGK 18.04

-0.73%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 PGK 12.39

$2.80 PGK 12.32

0.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.70 PGK 25.08

$3.03 PGK 13.32

88.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.41 PGK 23.81

$2.86 PGK 12.60

89.16%

Potato (1kg)

$3.25 PGK 14.29

$3.06 PGK 13.47

6.21%

Onion (1kg)

$2.78 PGK 12.21

$0.92 PGK 4.07

202.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.08 PGK 13.55

$1.19 PGK 5.22

158.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.27 PGK 5.58

$0.50 PGK 2.19

154.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.99 PGK 30.74

$5.88 PGK 25.89

18.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.86 PGK 52.2

$5.16 PGK 22.70

129.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.82 PGK 12.39

$1.23 PGK 5.42

129.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.83 PGK 16.84

$1.73 PGK 7.60

121.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.50 PGK 2.20

$0.50 PGK 2.21

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.88 PGK 105

$31.82 PGK 140

-24.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.10 PGK 26.85

$4.83 PGK 21.26

26.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.44 PGK 10.73

$1.44 PGK 6.35

69.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.09 PGK 75.2

$11.97 PGK 52.7

42.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 PGK 5.00

$0.86 PGK 3.77

32.56%

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

$22.3K PGK 98.2K

$22.5K PGK 98.9K

-0.74%

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

$24.9K PGK 109.4K

$24.2K PGK 106.4K

2.78%

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

$108 PGK 475

$66.3 PGK 292

62.66%

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

$47.63 PGK 210

$48.00 PGK 211

-0.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$377 PGK 1,657

$245 PGK 1,076

54.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.5 PGK 293

$44.74 PGK 197

48.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.71 PGK 91.1

$15.49 PGK 68.2

33.70%

Cinema Ticket

$9.84 PGK 43.29

$7.14 PGK 31.43

37.82%

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

$633 PGK 2,786

$361 PGK 1,589

75.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,013 PGK 17.7K

$2,361 PGK 10.4K

69.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.33 PGK 138

$31.74 PGK 140

-1.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.00 PGK 163

$14.69 PGK 64.6

151.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.2 PGK 335

$47.45 PGK 209

60.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$97.2 PGK 428

$28.24 PGK 124

244.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,203 PGK 9,694

$3,624 PGK 15.9K

-39.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$478 PGK 2,102

$236 PGK 1,037

102.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,447 PGK 15.2K

$3,612 PGK 15.9K

-4.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$840 PGK 3,694

$237 PGK 1,045

253.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,088 PGK 9,188

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,904 PGK 17.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$439 PGK 1,932

$360 PGK 1,584

21.94%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.33

21.18%

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

Last update for Port Moresby: July 11, 2026

Last update for Boroko: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,203 in Port Moresby versus $3,624 in Boroko. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 22% higher in Port Moresby, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Port Moresby versus $38.00 in Boroko. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $306 vs $222 – making Boroko the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Port Moresby vs Boroko: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Port Moresby costs about 52% more than Boroko, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,553 per month in Port Moresby and $1,679 in Boroko. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Boroko, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $633 per month in Port Moresby and $361 in Boroko. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 38% more in Port Moresby, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $1,702 in Port Moresby and $1,120 in Boroko. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Boroko – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Boroko. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Port Moresby makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.