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 $1,508 per month in Port Moresby vs $898 in Boroko, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,365 per month in Port Moresby vs $1,289 in Boroko, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,222 per month in Port Moresby vs $1,680 in Boroko, rent included.

Port Moresby costs about 68% more than Boroko, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Port Moresby sits 9% above the global median, while Boroko is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.04 PGK 34.89

$7.21 PGK 31.27

11.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.45 PGK 193

$36.26 PGK 157

22.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.61 PGK 24.33

$5.77 PGK 25.04

-2.77%

Cappuccino

$2.48 PGK 10.75

$2.45 PGK 10.65

1.22%

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

$0.79 PGK 3.44

$0.77 PGK 3.36

2.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.66 PGK 2.85

$0.65 PGK 2.84

1.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.11 PGK 13.50

$2.77 PGK 12.03

12.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.65 PGK 15.84

$3.71 PGK 16.11

-1.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 PGK 8.20

$1.57 PGK 6.80

20.38%

White Bread (500g)

$1.46 PGK 6.32

$1.18 PGK 5.12

23.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.44 PGK 6.23

$1.24 PGK 5.38

16.13%

Eggs

$3.59 PGK 15.59

$3.68 PGK 15.96

-2.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.78 PGK 38.10

$5.21 PGK 22.59

68.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.18 PGK 22.48

$5.23 PGK 22.68

-0.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.83 PGK 38.30

$6.47 PGK 28.10

36.48%

Apples (1kg)

$4.17 PGK 18.12

$4.03 PGK 17.48

3.47%

Banana (1kg)

$3.06 PGK 13.29

$3.10 PGK 13.45

-1.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.06 PGK 26.32

$2.80 PGK 12.15

116.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.09 PGK 26.43

$2.79 PGK 12.11

118.28%

Potato (1kg)

$3.34 PGK 14.49

$2.99 PGK 12.97

11.71%

Onion (1kg)

$2.58 PGK 11.19

$0.86 PGK 3.72

200.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.17 PGK 9.43

$1.12 PGK 4.86

93.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 PGK 5.43

$0.46 PGK 2.00

171.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.33 PGK 27.45

$5.70 PGK 24.74

11.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.88 PGK 51.6

$5.03 PGK 21.85

136.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.71 PGK 11.77

$1.10 PGK 4.77

146.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 PGK 14.96

$1.63 PGK 7.06

111.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.43 PGK 1.86

$0.47 PGK 2.05

-8.51%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.22 PGK 96.4

$30.65 PGK 133

-27.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.62 PGK 24.37

$4.58 PGK 19.89

22.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.21 PGK 9.61

$1.32 PGK 5.73

67.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.93 PGK 69.1

$11.29 PGK 48.99

41.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.00 PGK 4.33

$0.81 PGK 3.51

23.46%

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

$21.3K PGK 92.3K

$21.0K PGK 91.2K

1.24%

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

$17.6K PGK 76.5K

$17.9K PGK 77.6K

-1.43%

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

$117 PGK 509

$64.0 PGK 278

83.22%

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

$23.37 PGK 101

$23.80 PGK 103

-1.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$93.9 PGK 407

$92.3 PGK 401

1.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.0 PGK 269

$43.35 PGK 188

42.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.65 PGK 98.3

$14.52 PGK 63.0

55.99%

Cinema Ticket

$8.91 PGK 38.67

$6.61 PGK 28.68

34.80%

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

$839 PGK 3,643

$337 PGK 1,462

149.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,271 PGK 27.2K

$2,276 PGK 9,876

175.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.71 PGK 142

$33.26 PGK 144

-1.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.00 PGK 139

$13.70 PGK 59.4

133.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$140 PGK 607

$45.48 PGK 197

207.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$165 PGK 715

$26.86 PGK 117

513.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,627 PGK 7,059

$3,436 PGK 14.9K

-52.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$559 PGK 2,425

$224 PGK 974

149.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,758 PGK 12.0K

$3,317 PGK 14.4K

-16.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,137 PGK 4,935

$223 PGK 968

409.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,098 PGK 9,103

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,908 PGK 17.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$428 PGK 1,857

$365 PGK 1,582

17.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.17

10.64%

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

Last update for Port Moresby: September 5, 2026

Last update for Boroko: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,627 in Port Moresby versus $3,436 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 17% 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 $44.00 in Port Moresby versus $36.00 in Boroko. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $309 vs $212 – 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 68% more than Boroko, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,262 per month in Port Moresby and $1,348 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 $839 per month in Port Moresby and $337 in Boroko. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 46% 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.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Boroko, where all-in costs run around $898, than in Port Moresby at $1,508. In Boroko it covers expenses comfortably, while in Port Moresby it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.