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 $1,689 per month in Port Moresby vs $1,115 in Boroko, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,472 per month in Port Moresby vs $1,539 in Boroko, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,255 per month in Port Moresby vs $1,963 in Boroko, rent included.

Port Moresby costs about 51% more than Boroko, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Port Moresby sits 26% above the global median, while Boroko is 17% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.84 PGK 42.81

$8.03 PGK 34.91

22.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.81 PGK 208

$38.81 PGK 169

23.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.94 PGK 25.84

$5.94 PGK 25.82

Cappuccino

$2.29 PGK 9.98

$2.26 PGK 9.85

1.33%

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

$0.75 PGK 3.28

$0.81 PGK 3.53

-7.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 PGK 3.62

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.37 PGK 10.32

$2.45 PGK 10.64

-3.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.15 PGK 18.05

$4.17 PGK 18.13

-0.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.00 PGK 8.69

$1.63 PGK 7.09

22.70%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 PGK 6.78

$1.30 PGK 5.65

20.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.49 PGK 6.46

$1.28 PGK 5.58

16.41%

Eggs

$3.89 PGK 16.90

$3.93 PGK 17.11

-1.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.56 PGK 19.82

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.41 PGK 27.89

$6.11 PGK 26.56

4.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.34 PGK 40.60

$7.12 PGK 30.97

31.18%

Apples (1kg)

$3.98 PGK 17.29

$4.09 PGK 17.80

-2.69%

Banana (1kg)

$2.89 PGK 12.59

$2.96 PGK 12.87

-2.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.58 PGK 24.27

$2.90 PGK 12.61

92.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.66 PGK 24.60

$2.90 PGK 12.59

95.17%

Potato (1kg)

$3.40 PGK 14.77

$3.19 PGK 13.85

6.58%

Onion (1kg)

$2.68 PGK 11.67

$0.92 PGK 4.00

191.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.96 PGK 12.85

$1.22 PGK 5.29

142.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 PGK 5.73

$0.50 PGK 2.17

164.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.67 PGK 29.01

$6.07 PGK 26.42

9.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.88 PGK 51.7

$5.12 PGK 22.28

132.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.88 PGK 12.55

$1.17 PGK 5.09

146.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.82 PGK 16.60

$1.63 PGK 7.11

134.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.47 PGK 2.03

$0.49 PGK 2.14

-4.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.77 PGK 103

$31.68 PGK 138

-24.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.85 PGK 25.45

$4.78 PGK 20.81

22.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.40 PGK 10.46

$1.51 PGK 6.56

58.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.49 PGK 71.7

$11.91 PGK 51.8

38.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 PGK 4.97

$0.88 PGK 3.83

29.55%

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

$22.9K PGK 99.6K

$22.5K PGK 97.7K

1.98%

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

$24.6K PGK 107.0K

$24.5K PGK 106.7K

0.29%

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

$105 PGK 456

$67.8 PGK 295

54.84%

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

$46.75 PGK 203

$46.77 PGK 203

-0.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$382 PGK 1,663

$239 PGK 1,039

60.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.2 PGK 292

$46.41 PGK 202

44.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.62 PGK 89.7

$15.91 PGK 69.2

29.60%

Cinema Ticket

$9.73 PGK 42.32

$7.07 PGK 30.74

37.62%

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

$639 PGK 2,779

$363 PGK 1,579

75.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,095 PGK 17.8K

$2,369 PGK 10.3K

72.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.07 PGK 135

$31.80 PGK 138

-2.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.74 PGK 160

$14.15 PGK 61.5

159.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.1 PGK 335

$47.86 PGK 208

61.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$98.6 PGK 429

$28.78 PGK 125

242.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,151 PGK 9,354

$3,646 PGK 15.9K

-41.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$481 PGK 2,090

$241 PGK 1,050

99.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,423 PGK 14.9K

$3,574 PGK 15.5K

-4.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$826 PGK 3,593

$239 PGK 1,041

245.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,127 PGK 9,249

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,892 PGK 16.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$446 PGK 1,939

$369 PGK 1,604

20.93%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Boroko: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,151 in Port Moresby versus $3,646 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 21% 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 $39.00 in Boroko. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $308 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 51% 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 $2,533 per month in Port Moresby and $1,673 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 $639 per month in Port Moresby and $363 in Boroko. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 39% 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 $1,689 in Port Moresby and $1,115 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.