Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Port Moresby and Hong Kong

For one person, living is cheaper in Port Moresby: $1,532 a month against $2,984 in Hong Kong, rent and utilities included – about $17,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Port Moresby
🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea
$1,532
/mo nomad
Hong Kong
🇭🇰 Hong Kong (China)
$2,984
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Port Moresby and in Hong Kong

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Port Moresby and in Hong Kong actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,532 per month in Port Moresby vs $2,984 in Hong Kong, rent included.

  • Port Moresby $1,532
  • Hong Kong $2,984

A couple spends around $2,418 per month in Port Moresby vs $4,558 in Hong Kong, rent included.

  • Port Moresby $2,418
  • Hong Kong $4,558

A family of three spends $3,305 per month in Port Moresby vs $6,132 in Hong Kong, rent included.

  • Port Moresby $3,305
  • Hong Kong $6,132

Port Moresby is about 49% cheaper than Hong Kong, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Port Moresby and Hong Kong sit above the global median – Port Moresby by 14%, Hong Kong by 123%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Port Moresby
Hong Kong
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.76 PGK 33.98
$8.46 HK$66.4
-8.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.89 PGK 192
$63.2 HK$496
-30.52%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.38 PGK 23.58
$6.20 HK$48.66
-13.23%
Cappuccino
$2.44 PGK 10.69
$4.90 HK$38.42
-50.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 PGK 3.38
$1.27 HK$10.01
-39.37%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67 PGK 2.95
$1.06 HK$8.31
-36.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.91 PGK 12.74
$7.68 HK$60.3
-62.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.56 PGK 15.59
$6.28 HK$49.24
-43.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Port Moresby
Hong Kong
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.82 PGK 7.97
$2.86 HK$22.45
-36.36%
White Bread (500g)
$1.54 PGK 6.74
$2.43 HK$19.10
-36.63%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.39 PGK 6.09
$2.18 HK$17.09
-36.24%
Eggs
$3.62 PGK 15.86
$3.54 HK$27.80
2.26%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.64 PGK 37.85
$25.12 HK$197
-65.61%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.60 PGK 24.55
$8.89 HK$69.8
-37.01%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.92 PGK 43.46
$17.63 HK$138
-43.73%
Apples (1kg)
$4.21 PGK 18.45
$4.11 HK$32.23
2.43%
Banana (1kg)
$3.12 PGK 13.67
$2.72 HK$21.32
14.71%
Oranges (1kg)
$7.01 PGK 30.72
$4.59 HK$36.05
52.72%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.56 PGK 28.75
$4.02 HK$31.52
63.18%
Potato (1kg)
$3.40 PGK 14.92
$3.25 HK$25.50
4.62%
Onion (1kg)
$2.92 PGK 12.79
$3.27 HK$25.70
-10.70%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.33 PGK 10.20
$1.60 HK$12.54
45.63%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.29 PGK 5.64
$1.73 HK$13.56
-25.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.26 PGK 27.45
$13.14 HK$103
-52.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.73 PGK 47.04
$16.59 HK$130
-35.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.54 PGK 11.11
$2.01 HK$15.80
26.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.51 PGK 15.38
$2.18 HK$17.13
61.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Port Moresby
Hong Kong
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.42 PGK 1.86
$1.44 HK$11.31
-70.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$21.95 PGK 96.2
$89.1 HK$699
-75.35%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.43 PGK 23.79
$3.64 HK$28.54
49.18%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.25 PGK 9.87
$1.31 HK$10.29
71.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$15.47 PGK 67.8
$15.82 HK$124
-2.21%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 PGK 4.13
$4.06 HK$31.89
-76.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$49.2K PGK 215.6K
$44.4K HK$348.2K
10.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.3K PGK 75.6K
$37.4K HK$293.2K
-53.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Port Moresby
Hong Kong
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$117 PGK 513
$247 HK$1,942
-52.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.67 PGK 99.4
$15.89 HK$125
42.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$91.2 PGK 399
$21.46 HK$168
324.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Port Moresby
Hong Kong
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.2 PGK 264
$91.4 HK$717
-34.07%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.04 PGK 96.6
$9.08 HK$71.3
142.73%
Cinema Ticket
$8.74 PGK 38.31
$13.96 HK$110
-37.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Port Moresby
Hong Kong
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$836 PGK 3,665
$1,155 HK$9,068
-27.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,242 PGK 27.4K
$22.3K HK$174.6K
-71.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Port Moresby
Hong Kong
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.86 PGK 144
$68.9 HK$541
-52.30%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.67 PGK 139
$40.44 HK$317
-21.69%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$136 PGK 595
$79.9 HK$627
69.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$160 PGK 702
$118 HK$923
36.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Port Moresby
Hong Kong
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,577 PGK 6,911
$2,180 HK$17.1K
-27.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$551 PGK 2,414
$1,718 HK$13.5K
-67.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,049 PGK 13.4K
$5,047 HK$39.6K
-39.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,129 PGK 4,945
$3,543 HK$27.8K
-68.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,035 PGK 8,917
$29.1K HK$228.7K
-93.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,755 PGK 16.5K
$17.6K HK$137.9K
-78.63%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Port Moresby
Hong Kong
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$429 PGK 1,881
$3,228 HK$25.3K
-86.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.17
3.91
211.25%

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

Last update for Port Moresby: October 6, 2026

Last update for Hong Kong: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Port Moresby
$551
Hong Kong
$1.7K 212% $1.2K
Groceries & Markets
Port Moresby
$320
Hong Kong
$415 29.7% $95
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Port Moresby
$231
Hong Kong
$285 23.3% $54
Clothing & Footwear
Port Moresby
$162
Hong Kong
$138 14.8% $24
Eating Out
Port Moresby
$135
Hong Kong
$205 52.2% $70
Sport & Entertainment
Port Moresby
$78
Hong Kong
$119 53.5% $42
Getting Around
Port Moresby
$40
Hong Kong
$105 160% $65

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,577 in Port Moresby versus $2,180 in Hong Kong. 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 652% higher in Hong Kong, 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 $63.0 in Hong Kong. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $320 vs $415 – making Port Moresby the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇵🇬 Port Moresby
🇭🇰 Hong Kong
🕒 Local time
13:56 1:56 PM
11:56 11:56 AM
2 h behind Port Moresby
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
364,145 Capital
1,367,900 Capital
Exchange rates and currency converter

HKD, USD, EUR to PGK – Papua New Guinean Kina Converter

Papua New Guinean Kina exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 4.38 PGK (1 PGK = 0.228 USD). 1 EUR = 4.91 PGK (1 PGK = 0.203 EUR).

Hong Kong Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 7.85 HKD (1 HKD = 0.127 USD). 1 EUR = 8.8 HKD (1 HKD = 0.114 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Port Moresby Hong Kong 5,040 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Port Moresby
  • Hong Kong

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Hong Kong: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Port Moresby and in Hong Kong compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,532 in Port Moresby, $2,984 in Hong Kong – roughly 95% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Port Moresby compared to Hong Kong?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,298 per month in Port Moresby and $4,476 in Hong Kong. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Port Moresby and Hong Kong?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Port Moresby, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Port Moresby and $63.0 in Hong Kong. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Port Moresby or Hong Kong?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,532 in Port Moresby and $2,984 in Hong Kong. That's a gap of about 95%.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Port Moresby, where all-in costs run around $1,532, than in Hong Kong at $2,984. In Port Moresby it covers expenses comfortably, while in Hong Kong it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Port Moresby and Hong Kong?
It depends on your priorities. Hong Kong has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,532 in Port Moresby to $2,984 in Hong Kong. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Port Moresby or Hong Kong safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Port Moresby and Hong Kong?
If budget matters most, go with Port Moresby. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Hong Kong makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Port Moresby vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?